Give us a King

Recently I have found myself in the midst of “celebrity.” I came face to face with the beast of fame. I attended a dynamic lecture by Jeffrey Sachs on the Future of the Global Economy. He left us wanna be world changes oohing and ahhing… and groaning. Not only are his books great, he is a terrific public speaker. I think I got some stardust on me just before he went up to speak. Earlier in the week I found myself in the audience at the Oprah Show. She bathed in the adoration of the audience. I personally, was a little Oprahed out by the time she actually showed up. By midday I had definitely O.D.ed on Oprah. On the weekend a friend took me to a Bulls game where the CPS kids were going nuts for the Bulls... Oh, those lovable losers.

I saw it in myself at the lecture, the women at the Oprah show and the fans at the United Center.

Does the human condition cause us to crave a hero? Why do we so align our identity with our heroes… till they let us down. Society is addicted to celebrity. Yet celebrity is so fickle. Human beings can go from flipping burgers one day to becoming an Idol the next. Sadly we thrive on celebrity. You can text vote your worship or worship online… whatever is comfortable for you. Are our lives that boring? Are we still pursuing the mythical cool, introduced to us in Jr. High? Like candyfloss we consume it and are never satisfied and all the while making us sick. Why do we turn everyone and everything into a golden calf? I see it in the church just as much as in the world. Choose your super hero... Rob Bell or John Piper, Rick Warren or Bill Hybels, Donald Miller or Shane Claiborne?

I just finished reading this part in 1 Samuel where the people ask for a King… like everyone else. I imagine them chanting before Samuel “give us a King, give us a King!” Samuel is grieved, goes and prays and God warns them of what they’ll get; slavery, oppression etc… but they insist on it. They want it coz suddenly they know what’s best for them. So God gives them their King and they replace God with celebrity… and of course they get what He said they would. Oh, they/we never learn.

King Jesus, forgive our false-hero worship. Cast down the idols in my heart and make me as Samuel. May no one or nothing take your rightful place.