A little food for thought
Sophie - June 29, 2010
There's no question that recapping events is one of my most favorite parts about blogging for AllAccess. As somebody who is just way past grateful for what I've learned from some really gifted teachers at different women's events over the last six or seven years, it makes me all kinds of happy to be able to share bits and pieces what goes on at Living Proof or Going Beyond or Deeper Still with blog readers who weren't able to be there.
But.
One of the things Melanie and I try to be really careful about is that we don't unintentionally elevate the people who speak or lead worship on the platform to some sort of "untouchable" status. A culture of celebrity or even competition has NO PLACE in the body of Christ. And I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the people who are on that platform wouldn't want us to see them as anything other than servants. They take their callings and their responsibilities very seriously, and they love the people that they have the privilege to serve so deeply and so sincerely.
They want all of us to follow hard after Jesus - not to follow hard after them.
Sunday night at church our pastor said something that resonated with me so deeply that I wrote it on the back of my worship guide: "It's tempting in our culture to put an unhealthy dependence on a personality instead of a healthy dependence on the Word of God."
Isn't that a good word? Because yes, it's fun to talk about Beth's hair or Priscilla's shoes or Vicki's jeans because that's just the kind of stuff that we love to discuss with our girlfriends. But at the end of that day, none of that stuff can save us. None of those women can save us.
So all that to say: as much fun as the events are - and as much as we treasure the people who lead us while we're there are - it's all meaningless if we're somehow worshipping the event or the people on the platform instead of the one true and living God.
I think it's good and healthy for all of us to remember that. And it just seemed fitting to mention it before we dig a little deeper into our LPL St. Louis recaps.
Love y'all!
Melanie
Melanie
Sophie
Sophie
Paige
Paige
Kris
Kris
Comments (10)
Great words, great reminder, Sophie. Pressing hard after Jesus with you!
Posted on June 29, 2010 2:41 PM
PREACH!!!!!! And I love it and it must be something we constantly keep in check.
Bless you!
Posted on June 29, 2010 6:08 PM
GO SOPHIE. Well said. (I almost said PREEEAAACH, but realized that Fran said it right before me). :) But this is RIGHT ON. And I loved it. Thanks for keeping us in check.
Posted on June 29, 2010 6:26 PM
Good reminder Sophie…Only God needs to be elevated and worshipped :)
It was so nice to meet you this time at the St Louis event…
Blessings, Kim
Posted on June 29, 2010 7:00 PM
Good Reminder Sophie…
It was so nice to meet you this time in St Louis…
Blessings, Kim
Posted on June 29, 2010 7:02 PM
YES! Love this Sophie!
steph.
Posted on June 29, 2010 7:48 PM
Wow! That’a great word!
Its true too… there is no other name by which we are saved! Jesus Christ is LORD!!
Posted on June 29, 2010 11:17 PM
So true! And while it’s so much easier to put a human on a pedestal, it’s wrong. My prayer is not to be ‘like’ Beth, Priscilla, Kay, Lysa, Vicki, Angela or any other Bible teacher, my prayer is that I’m faithful with the calling the Lord has placed on my life. My prayer is that I have a passion to serve Jesus however and where ever He calls me to serve.
I love to enjoy solid Bible teachers and I’m always up for a discussion on hair, jeans, or accessories, but Jesus must remain the main focus.
Posted on June 30, 2010 10:26 AM
AMEN!! this is so important and something I fought about 3 years ago. Praise God for his grace to move us all beyond it!
Now, I get to read the recap!! Yipee! love you, rachel
Posted on July 1, 2010 11:14 AM
Beth would say, “GLORY!” I say, “TESTIFY!” Whatever — you nailed it. Or your preacher did. Love it. thanks for the reminder.
Posted on July 3, 2010 5:40 PM