Reverence where awe is deserved

Eugene Peterson has died. For so many of us this frail man has been a paragon. His approach to ministry has called us back to the heart of pastoring; to jettison the role of administrator and to become true shepherds again. Yet, I am forced upon Peterson’s death to admit an allegiance that surpasses mere admiration.

If I had have met Peterson when he was alive I’m sure I would have been nervous. I’d have been tempted to take a selfie with him, and plaster the fact that I had met him all over my social media. In my heart of hearts I would want everyone to know. Yet, the kind of person Peterson was would dictate that he would have been abjectly uncomfortable with that kind of admiration.

This is why today is a good day to publish this post.

Today of all days is a good day to recommit to an idea that has long been lost: to cast all our reverence toward God, the Maker of great men and women, human beings whom ought to be admired and respected, yet not revered.

I’m repenting of the awe I’ve given to so many men and women over my life. I have inadvertently placed them in a position of authority above me, and it hasn’t been good for them or me. The praise of humanity can only do us harm. Even the humblest of human beings cannot stand the test the power of reverence accords.

We live at a time when idol worship is at its zenith so far as instant glorification is concerned. In our hearts are bent toward idols. We instinctively crave something with which to attach to and praise. And it is a bondage is that we are far too rarely aware of.

We all worship something. We all give our heart, our allegiance, our time to something/s or someone. One thing I want avoid though is giving my heart in any way to Christian celebrity/ies, locally or globally. Not a single person on this planet is due the glory that God alone should get. Respect is a quality to be given ubiquitously. We ought to love everyone with the same open handedness, and because we cannot is all the more reason to devote our lives to it.

Part of the problem we’re facing in the modern church is we’ve glorified our living deities that much we completely besmirched our own name (the church) in the sight of those who would be attracted. It is little wonder that many have no problem with God but are put off by his fan club (see photo above).

We need to stop drawing attention to ourselves. We need to stop worshipping those who are fallible and fallen like we are. Sure, we can admire their work, but why don’t we ascribe a true respect to every human being before us?

Let’s go back to Peter and to Paul, our pioneer heads of Christian state, and hear their words ring out: “Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him. But Peter helped him up. ‘Stand up,’ he said. ‘I am only a man myself.’” (Acts 10:25-26) And Paul: “Men, why are you doing this [reverencing us]? We too are only men, human like you.” (Acts 14:15)