Nov 24, 2009
Why Celebrities Wear Sunglasses
Is it a little ironic that some people desire to be famous and then, once they have it, wish they didn't?
I was thinking about this today. Celebrities, whether they be famous for movies, music or crime, wear sunglasses, go without make-up and dress down when they are in public in order to not be recognized. They spend so much time and effort trying to get recognized and then when it happens they realize they got more than they bargained for.
But, why the cover-up? There are many reasons, and I don't assume to know all of them. A lot has to do with just getting tired of being noticed. They want privacy. They would like to be left alone.
However, I think there is another, more theological, reason for this phenomenon. We are not made to be worshipped and there is something in our nature opposed to receiving it. Even fallen people, who are without the Spirit of God, recognize it. The very thing we long for turns in on us. We spend time regretting we were ever famous.
I experienced this on a small scale in college. I was part of a band that placed highly in a collegiate "Battle of the Bands" competition. We had our 15 minutes (more like 15 seconds!) of fame after the performance. And, while everyone was telling us we were the greatest, I had this sinking feeling in my stomach. I was not intended to be worshipped, but I was made to worship. I learned a very important lesson that night: contention with God for His glory leads to short-term joy and long-term misery.
And, this isn't even the worst of it. Those who worship themselves or other creatures instead of God rob of the glory that rightfully belongs to him alone. And, he has pledged himself to vindicate it by punishing with everlasting wrath all who do such things. Read Romans chapter one.
As John Piper has said so well, we are not made for mirrors. We are not made to be made much of (see Genesis 11 for one such conquest), but to find our joy in making much of God forever. To the degree that we desire self-worship, we forfeit joy. True and lasting joy is found in worshipping God - in esteeming him, drawing attention to Him, and seeking to make famous what He has done in Christ, his eternal Son, to reconcile a sinful world to himself.
Comments
Jeremy Bennett on Dec 1, 2009 12:21am
Great insights Mark. Thanks
Ron Harl on Dec 1, 2009 12:59pm
I never thought about this in a spiritual manner. I really liked the Piper quote on mirrors.
Kathy Eby on Dec 1, 2009 4:56pm
Have observed that often but never attributed it to self-worship and idol-worship. How true though. Thanks Mark.