Throughout history, many people have aspired to elevate themselves to power, fame, riches, and the adulation of others. However, with the advent of the smart phone and social media, the whole landscape of platforming yourself in some way to others has been amplified to extremely unhealthy and distorted levels. This has negatively impacted leaders, politicians, artists, extremists and sadly the church. When we make ourselves or our success (however you measure that) the focus of our actions, presentation, or presence; we fall quickly into the age old trap of idolatry. That is, we place ourselves or our actions and success and profile above the purpose and task for which we exist, in either a role, a relationship, or as an image bearer of God.
Politicians should be there to serve and govern the people with justice and equity, yet now they platform themselves and put more time into their image and sound bites than their civic duty. Institutions and companies should be there to provide fair and honest services, yet now they focus heavily on brand and marketing and image rather than on substance and trust. Schools and universities also seek to “platform” and position themselves against others and are heavily invested in their image and brand. So what about churches, pastors, and even us as individual followers of Jesus? Churches sadly have similarly become at times, more concerned about their image the giving people a good “experience”. Pastors of large churches can become celebrities and worship can be more about performance and showmanship than worship of Jesus.
As a church we should be focused each week on platforming Jesus not people or image; giving the Spirit room to lead our gatherings rather than being polished and produced. Being a conduit to the Father rather than a concert or homage to our buildings or brand. Similarly our lives should “platform Jesus” in a way that reflects his teaching and kingdom life. People may not agree or like us as followers of Jesus, but that should never be because we live in a way that does not truly reflect Jesus. More than ever as followers of Jesus we will be judged for any hypocrisy or inconsistency in the way we live out our faith. If people come to Parkside and don’t encounter Jesus, but only encounter people and performance, then we are not being the body of Christ.
As we start this new sermon series on 1 Corinthians, there are lessons for us to learn from a church that had lost its way and was focused more on celebrities, charisma, and platforming people than it was on about serving and worshipping Jesus. Although it is a very specific letter to a local church in a cultural time, there are many things for us to consider and reflect on which can help us mature as followers of Jesus in 2024. May we have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to us individually and as a community in the coming weeks.
Grace and Peace - Garry