Beyonce's latest album, Lemonade, has once again made her the subject of headlines, think pieces and articles all remarking on her greatness. In the aftermath of the unexpected release, people of all ages and backgrounds have continued to express how they have felt empowered, liberated and understood by her most recent body of work. One famous fan has even compared her to Jesus Christ. In a clip shared by World Star Hip Hop, the singer Adele can be heard telling the audience at her live show in Denmark: "How is it even possible that she only ever gets better? How is that possible? She is Jesus ******* Christ."
Adele's comments unsurprisingly received a lot of backlash from offended Christian fans. But the Hello singer isn't the only one to indulge in celebrity worship. Many people do it every day and it's often more subtle and sustained than her outburst.
Drawing inspiration from another person isn't un-Christian. As we attempt to become more Christ-like we hope that our actions will encourage others. But there are some dangers of looking to others as role models, and celebrities in particular.
We become quick to judge
It may seem obvious enough that no one is perfect but for people in the limelight, we often expect them to be. In such situations it's common for individuals to be held up to standards which are unachievable. When our favourite star makes a mistake or says something which is out of sync with our beliefs, we're inclined to immediately lambast them for it. We do this instead of trying to understand what led them to that decision and appreciating that, just like us, they also struggle with temptation and sin. Adele's comments about Beyonce are obviously offensive but they also highlight how little she knows about Christ and Christianity. But how many of the comments criticizing her actually sought to educate her about Jesus as opposed to simply point out that she was wrong and 'disgusting'? And how many of us do this when a similar situation arises in own lives?
The next time someone you admire does something which you disagree with because it conflicts with your beliefs or is simply wrong, instead of internalising your anger about it, why not take the opportunity to compassionately improve their understanding as to why what they've said or done is offensive?
We neglect the extraordinary in the ordinary
Fame and fortune aside, celebrities are just people. It's easy to forget this when our society elevates them to a superhuman status, whether this means refusing to accept that they need a break like the rest of us, or assuming that they're perfect. How many of the celebrity snaps that fill entertainment magazines are actually of them doing pretty ordinary things, like grabbing a Starbucks or doing the school run.
By contrast, there are many ordinary, unknown people doing some pretty remarkable things in the name of Jesus every day. By focusing so much on the achievements of those in the spotlight, we neglect the efforts of our neighbours who serve without the regardless of recognition by their peers. And it's often here where we can find better inspiration for how to live like Christ instructed.
In many ways Jesus exemplified the extraordinary in the midst of the ordinary. His extremely modest birthplace, his upbringing and the people he surrounded himself with don't bear any comparison to the lifestyles of celebrities our society puts on pedastals. And this is partly what makes him the most extraordinary role model.
We risk dismissing Jesus as the perfect example
If we look to celebrities to teach us how to react to certain situations, how to communicate with others and what to value, we put Jesus' teaching on the sidelines. As Christians, we have the best example of a role model in Christ. Of course we can learn life lessons from our friends, families, religious leaders and yes, even celebrities, but He is the only complete and perfect role model. Beyonce might sing about how she 'wakes up flawless' but the reality is none of us do, nor will we ever. However, with Jesus' help we can navigate our flaws and reduce the power that they have over us.
If you think you're at risk of elevating celebrities to an unhealthy status, make a list of the lessons you're learning from them and see if you can trace them back to Jesus'. If you can't, you'll be able to see for yourself that they're incompatible with Christianity.
