Thursday, September 13, 2007

Is Recognition Our God?

Kathy Griffin's acceptance speech at this weekend's Creative Arts Emmy Awards had Christians in an uproar.
Her words were so off color that the TV Academy and E Channel will censor her speech before its telecast this weekend.
"A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus... This award is my god now!"
-Kathy Griffin's speech after winning a creative arts Emmy for her television show, Life on the D-List.

I like Kathy's show, but I don't like her statement. I don't like what it might say about us. I have interviewed many Christian artists, ministers and authors. I have provided marketing support for a few. Lately, what I have witnessed is more of us are believe that recognition and popularity equates to a successful ministry. Although our hearts are in the right place, we are not leading our lives with out souls in mind.

Honestly, I think we are a little confused about what barometer we should use to monitor ourselves. Sure we have taken Christ's conversation with Mathew, the tax collector in the fig tree and tried to apply it to our lives. Based on that passage it is easy to believe that a Christian artist's success is measured by the fruit the art bears. But what is this fruit we're looking for if not recognition or popularity?

I would love your thought to help me compose my Sept. 24th article for The Master's Artist

Related blogs on this topic: Reverend RockStar

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Celebrity proves nothing. It doesn't prove talent (i.e. Britney Spears, Paris Hilton), it doesn't prove "worth" (same examples and add all the rest of the human race to them), and it doesn't prove wisdom, intelligence, or common sense (same examples, politicians, any number of human beings).

Humility is the key to ministry, and when an individual or group is recognized because of something worthwhile, it is only fitting to slide the praise to the One who is ultimately responsible for it. The dangers inherent in being recognized for one's work or creation are what our flesh craves--praise and adoration. If we're not careful, we'll eat it up.

(Dee, check out "The Lost and Famous" over at my blog.)

Anonymous said...

But what is this fruit we're looking for if not recognition or popularity?

Is that your statement, Dee?

What about fruits of the spirit--faith, joy, love? There is more than appearances in this life.

Unknown said...

it's not my statement, anonymous. I posed the questions to start the conversation.

the fruits of the spirit could be the fruit Christ is talking about.

are there any others?

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