Poked in over at Out of Ur. Angie Ward was asking for a Hero Boycott. She had recently attended a conference and was very turned off by the groupies of one speaker. Most of the commenters witnessed similar problems, a few didn’t. A few things:
1. I used to work for Ligonier, and would work many of the conferences and seminars. I witnessed the way some people go beyond appreciation to adoration. They hang on nearly every word, seek autographs and as Steve Brown notes in A Scandalous Freedom, just want to touch them as if they would receive some sort of special blessing.
2. I recently talked with my sister-in-law about a problem in her church. There are a number of guys whose appreciation of one pastor/author/theologian probably goes too far. This particular pastor is one I have a great deal of admiration for, and whose books usually find their way on my shelf. They recognize this man’s great contributions to the health of the Church. But their admiration is causing some strife within the congregation.
3. This week I was talking to a friend about his sermon for this Sunday. It is on 1 Corinthians 3:1-4, and the party spirit that plagued Corinth. He didn’t think the congregation would put him on a pedestal. I reminded him that like many a congregation they may put a former pastor on that pedestal. All subsequent pastors are measured by this “ideal” pastor.
The party spirit is in all of us, and will blossom bearing its bitter fruit unless we put it to death by the power of the Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 3 Paul redirects them from the messenger to the Living Word, Jesus. Most of these pastors are trying to point to Jesus. But, since we are all fallen, we tend to worship the messenger.
It is okay to appreciate someone’s ministry. But are you able to disagree with them? On this blog, I have mentioned areas of disagreement with nearly all of my ‘heroes’. There are times when I think Calvin, Piper, Driscoll and the rest are not properly exegeting or applying Scripture. I’m not threatened by that. They are fallible, just like me. They have blind spots, just like me.
Do you balance them out with other gifted teachers? If you only focus on one guy, no matter how gifted they are, you will become increasingly divisive. Reading a plurality of gifted teachers will enable you to see their blind spots because you see where they disagree with one another, and you have to dig into Scripture to find the answer. Tim Keller puts it well- “If you read one guy you’ll be narrow. If you read two guys you’ll be confused. Read a bunch of guys and you’ll be wise.” Yeah, I paraphrased that. I don’t remember any points of disagreement with Keller, but that will come. And I won’t be devastated or put into a tail spin. Tim Keller is wise, but he is not the Wisdom of God.
Another important question is how do you handle it when someone else disagrees with them? If you take it personally, or get defensive, you have probably gone beyond admiration into adoration. We should not be defending our favorite teacher so much as defending the truth.
If you can’t disagree, read too narrowly, and fight with people who disagree…. it is time to repent because you have entered the dangerous territory Paul warned the Corinthians about. Don’t worry… Jesus died for that sin too!
Cavman Considers 
Hmm . . . so does this apply to all of us Keller sycophants in the PCA?
Hopefully they take his advice, and read widely, and recognize he’s wrong sometimes even if they can’t notice it.
One of the really nice things about Keller is that he seems so unassuming, he really doesn’t want attention like that (so it seems). I’ve seen some who seem to thrive on it/seek it.
His humility helps. And that he’s not bent on building a mega-church but continuing to plant new churches to reach the city. It goes beyond theology to a whole mindset which seems hard to have and be a groupie. but you PCA guys are capable 🙂 Aren’t we all?
Idolatry in the PCA?
Schisms in the PCA?
Party Spirit in the PCA?
No way, in fact, I will check w/ what RC Sproul says on this, because I agree with everything he teaches / has written.
🙂
[…] December 11, 2007 by cavman I’m looking forward to Tim Keller’s new book, and so are all the PCA guys who make an idol of him (just a joke flowing from a previous post). […]
tough call…hero worship. I’ve had to work hard at finding a balance at times between gratitude for the gift of a ‘Paul’ in my life versus an adoration which belongs only to my King. Yet I do not shy away from recognizing and delighting in these ‘good gifts’. I may belong to that church you mention ;)…when you’ve been in the desert for too long, a long cool drink is hard not to enjoy AND pass along. A lack of good teaching/discipleship creates a void and that void will look to be filled. I appreciate the wisdom of many counselors…I also am finding too many worthless counselors out there. So, while I am slow to accept the latest and greatest buzz word or ‘buzz preacher/author/theologian’ I am finding ways to increase my exposure to others…sometimes through sites like this one…whowouldathought! I’m resisting the pleasure of experiencing some of your recommended ‘good gifts/brew’ for the moment.
You are free to abstain from some of those good gifts. We can easily rejoice in them more than the Creator & Redeemer. Oh, the pervasive power of the flesh. I average about a cigar/month and 2 brews/week. So I’m not dropping lots of $ (especially buying cigars by the box), nor do I “have” to have them.
It can be difficult if your church remains on the surface. Been there…
Sometimes you need to be the guy to step up and offer material that challenges the minds, hearts and wills of the people in a small group or SS setting. Sometimes those opportunities are not available.
Thankfully, there are many “mentors” available in church history, and even if it’s just a friend or 2 joining the discussion and seeking to work out the application … that’s great.
Hang in there, Tim.