The Rock Star Apostle
How cool would it be to have as your calling to be the one sent by the Holy Spirit of God to hang out with Matt Damon, Fred Durst, Jessica Simpson, Jay-Z, Michael Jordan, and Mary J Blige?
I agree with the article in that if cultural impact is going to be made then we must have ongoing conversations with the leaders in the culture, but I think it will take a very special person to do it with a heart of humility and not out of selfish ambition. It’s hard to look at these people with all of their stuff and feel sorry for them, but in actuality that is where Jesus would be…weeping over their lives. However, as the church begins to refocus on caring about the social ills of the world and how we might fix extreme poverty, access to clean water and food, and the basic provision of opportunity to participate in society might we also be looking for some help from the culture?
The possibility excites me…taking Jay-Z to Uganda I think would be life changing not only for him but for every person we came into contact with.
So, Jay-Z if you read this…the invitation is open…
What do ya’ll think?
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This article is moving, and excellently written. Makes me want to rent “Amazing Grace” to get a visual idea of how the whole Clapham Circle worked.
I think that the idea of culture trickling down the social caste is accurate, however anti-“small town America” it may seem. We’ve been a country of little people rising up, but as stated, the elites had to come from somewhere (Ben Franklin) and were not as influential on a large scale until they were in the inner circle.
Puts an intimidating twist on things. Wouldn’t it be nice to mingle in these circles, take your pick- politically, philosophically, artistically. They are all quite different, and speak totally different languages. To get into those circles though take a thought process shift (out of our grassroots dirty work, and into a effectively played out “in but not of”) and above all: connections. Or…you have to be inherently talented, intellectual, or just plain aloof. Not something to be faked, you must be called.
What I wonder currently is “How many people are already doing that now?” Social Gospel is in right now, green is the new black, adoption is very celebrity, and so is taking care of the poor. Tomshoes, Project Red, One, all fundraisers supported and endorsed by people in the public eye. So…which one of them is the Wilberforce? Which one of them is a devout Christian portraying Christ in front of the fanfare and paparazzi, as the country is lulled into their philanthropic melody to save the world? My first thought is Bono, he’s been a down-low Christ lover from way back, and alot of people not only love U2’s music, but have been swept into his love for the world.
I’d say “Please Lord send me!” That side of life would be amazing. Little extra money to blow, concerts to scream at, celebrities to dine with, but wow, how easily it must be to forget your maker when things look that great. How hard it must have been for Will to keep his head about him. Lucky for him that he didn’t have to struggle to get inside as a Christian, he was already there and then got saved. He already knew the lullabies and caressing temptations to avoid at all cost. He could see them coming.
Still, I’d be a roadie. Just give me a band to love. Although, this article also inspired me to see what was in my own reachable culture that I could be involved in now. Wilberforce was of that culture that he influenced, and was used mightily. Could that be all of us on our own small scale? Love people as Jesus did, they sought him out, He could bring them to us if our Lighthouse is bright.