Matthew 6

Our generation is in love with flashing cameras. So much that we imagine that life that is not on the spotlight is non-existent.

Sadly, we have exported the error to spiritual things.

We even think and treat piety in the same way.

What about sharing every small thing they do on their page? What about sharing that worship moments with the nations? What about sharing that song and getting a vote on the net?

And what about those who are paid by the media owners as influencers?

It is no wonder that the filth of our altars has been pouring out ceaselessly and the people of faith have started walking in the shame of their exposed papas and mamas.

You see, if you feed on the limelight, you have no right to demand privacy on any aspect of your life.

If you want the good side of your life broadcast to the world, do not be surprised when the lurid side is also broadcast.

You see, you are the one who brings the publicist close to you. They are therefore at liberty to decide on what to make public according to the kind of purses opened to them. Just as you ‘paid’ them to paint you nicely, you gave them access to contacts and information your enemy can use against you.

That is their job, you know.

But there is another danger.

Living for the limelight is many times like wooing a suitor (do you call it dating?). You will sweep all the unpleasant aspects of your life under the bed until at times you might forget they exist.

The suitor becomes your spouse and will in a very short time look under the bed and see all that ‘dirt’.

And that is what happens with ministry on the spotlight, especially one feeding on the same.

I have interacted with people who work in those high end hotels and resorts. I have also done the same with some VIP drivers and bodyguards.

The sad reality is that some of these people we love and wish to emulate are moral sewers.

But you do not know the same because they keep their lives outside their jobs (and sadly for some, ministries) completely out of the public eye.

Though the truth eventually comes out, they had no active part in it since their private life was private, with their drivers and hotel staff being sworn to secrecy, many time by the perks thrown their way.

Now suppose they invite a journalist to walk with them for a week, a week they have decided to live an exemplary life to paint a picture of the perfect leader.

They will go to the hotels he goes to and interview those staff who have been paid to say the right things.

But as he compiles the story, his journalistic nose smells something else, a hidden bombshell of a story.

He will do the perfect story but later come back to the same people with some inducement from his bosses. He will look for the watchmen and house girls. He will look for the driver and bodyguard.

He will simply dig the story the guy was trying to cover up and like the devil keep it for the opportune time. And that story many times could be the last nail on this guy’s coffin.

Who is to blame?

The guy invited the limelight to his life. And light does not bend over obstacles. It reflects and illuminates everything it comes across. His love for publicity is what exposed the unpleasant aspects of his life.

Publicity feeds on itself.

What am I aiming at? I know someone is wondering.

Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

Our piety should simply be directed at God. Our prayer should be directed at God. Our generosity should be directed at God.

Never should we seek for approval from men when we do things that are a response to our relationship to God. Never should we invite the world to look at how we respond to God. Because Jesus said that that is the reward we will receive, meaning that we should expect nothing from God in that case.

With the corona narrative, one statement took centre stage. The church is not a building.

Some people were annoyed when I countered and said that the church is also not a media link.

And it is not because there is something inherently wrong with a zoom link.

But we can’t fellowship properly in a zoom meeting. Communicate we can, but not fellowship.

We cannot break bread and share the Lord’s Table on a media link. We cannot know who is in need on a media link, especially because he won’t be able to afford the link. We can’t anoint the sick on a media link.

And most importantly, the miracle that is the touch is absent in a media link.

The greatest danger I feel is produced by moving worship from the building to the media is trashing Matthew 6 instructions altogether.

You see, I must then have a camera to lead in prayer. And giving on the media means that my giving must be known, among many other infractions.

That breeds other problems. I must be pimped to appear for the camera. I must be make-upped to appear to the camera. I must be voice trained to sing on camera.

In short, spontaneity and simplicity dies when the camera appears. And it is worsened by the fact that we believe the media really expands our reach and so I must impress those new ‘customers’.

Another problem with publicity is that it is addictive.

We love those cameras. We love those likes from Philippines and Australia and Croatia and Afghanistan. We love it when our peers are directing their congregations to our link. We love it when all the bedside worshippers are on our channel. And we can do anything to make them remain.

All those response and replies really feed our ego.

Let me stop here for now