Whose Church?

For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1: 16 – 18)

I was watching a music (nowadays called worship) video with my children.

I chose it because the singer was an old man who has been at it for a long time and so was sure there would be some solid ‘vibes’.

He was ‘performing’ at the invitation of a pastor (I don’t know his title) across the oceans and so it was a different audience he was singing with.

But this is not the reason I am writing this.

In the video, at least in the first thirty or so minutes before I became fed up, the video could not run for a minute without showing the superstar pastor, his wife and two grown daughters who were dancing in front of him.

Though he was doing nothing in the performance apart from his introduction and invitation of the guest singer to the pulpit, the cameras would always zoom in on him all the time.

You could be mistaken for thinking that he was the only reason for that session, probably he was.

Though it was in a stadium sized church auditorium that was full to the balconies, there was very little footage of the congregation, unless of those who appeared as the cameras were zooming on the superstar.

Even the guest singer did not receive as much footage as the superstar.

As a musician (former of course), I would be interested in seeing the backup singers and instrumentalists since it was a musical performance.

But I was disappointed, as were my children.

As a former media person, also, it would have been good to see the extent of the congregation and the lay of that huge stadium. It would have been of interest to see how the extremities of the congregation were taking the session.

But it was all about the standing and then sitting man of God. And sadly so because he was surrounded by throngs of very excited dancing crowds, even some prostrating themselves in worship.

Lest you think it was for lack of equipment, there were over thirty cameras. And from the footage they were very good ones, able to zoom very well. Ther were even those remote-controlled boom ones that could perform wonders if used properly.

There really was no reason to restrict the shooting to one person and his family when there was a myriad of options, better options, richer options, more enriching options and an abundance of equipment.

The problem was something so rampant in the church today.

The church has been converted into personal property only using Christ as a prop.

That church is about the superstar and nothing and nobody else, even the One supposed to be the head of the same.

I do not care for the theology of that church. Their doctrine may be as solid as Martin Luther’s.

But he has surely stolen the limelight from the One who is supposed to be the core of everything in and concerning the church. He has stolen the glory that should be directed at Jesus. It has diverted the worship from Jesus to the superstar pastor.

Could this be your church?