The Cult of Celebrity – Chuck Fromm
The Lord tells the prophet Amos: “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies…. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your guitars! (Actually He said “harps” to the ancient Israelites.)” (Amos 5: 21:23 NIV).
The great struggle of the Israelite prophets was against the constant tendency of God’s people to forsake His true worship and return to idolatry. We still have a tendency toward idolatry today-but it’s not about worshiping statues, it’s the cult of celebrity. It’s not a coincidence that one of the most popular television shows today is called American Idol. When we employ music and other arts in the service of worship today, do we really use it in service? Who is the audience for the prayer that we sing when we sing a hymn? Is God the Audience or is the audience your god? read more
