John the Baptist vs Mega Church Personality

I'm not sure how to process the difference between the life of John the Baptist - a man who shook his world - and the mega-church stars of our era. Certainly John would be marginalized for his message and practices and certainly not invited to the conferences and pulpits that seek to shape American Christianity. John was just a weirdo and lacked the savvy to build an empire.

For instance what is with his clothing? Camel skin? Seriously? And could he ever have picked a worse location than the middle of nowhere? And where was his building, his band, the laser lights, production crews, the hipster associates, the book deals, the cool logos, the marketing team and his media presence? He lacked a swinging children's area, a cool youth center and his messages were one-size-fits-all.

And what about that message? It lacked the psychobabble and sensitivity that people wanted. He was way too hard on tradition and religion, he was way too black and white, he was not user-friendly, he exposed sin and called for repentance. Who does that? He seemed to care nothing for the self esteem of those who came to him. He even failed to get the approval of his religious associates of the day; they couldn't stand them either!

Maybe the biggest difference with John the Baptist and modern day preacher mentality can be summed up in this one verse; John 3:27-30 (NLT) John replied, "God in heaven appoints each person's work. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you that I am not the Messiah. I am here to prepare the way for him—that is all. 29 The bride will go where the bridegroom is. A bridegroom's friend rejoices with him. I am the bridegroom's friend, and I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

John understood that he was here to point to Jesus. His role was to increase the size of Jesus while he decreased his own size. His total life happiness and joy was wrapped up in the success of Jesus, not in the success of himself. For the giant that John was in his day, the ego was missing.

I know that the world could use a lot more of Jesus and a lot less of me.

What must become less in me?

• My pride in the way I think of myself first.

• My feelings and how they become the gauge of my living.

• My agenda which is usually about what I think that I need.

• My need to be recognized and awarded so that I can feel good about myself.

• My need for control.

• My desire to be right.

• My tongue and its propensity to blurt out dumb things.

• My fear which seeks to paralyze me.

• My self dependence needs to decrease.

• My arrogance needs to decrease.

• My competitiveness and comparison toward others needs to decrease.

• And about 1 million other things!

And He must increase. His power upon me, his love through me, his word in me, His Spirit…ALL MUST INCREASE!

What is amazing to me is how God raised up a man in the middle of nowhere and broke all the rules that we try to keep to ensure our success and yet he shook the nation. This reminds me that what I need above all other things is the spirit of God. When the spirit is upon me it can take the mess that I am and turn it into a message.

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