The Mefferd-Driscoll controversy points to another aspect of celebrity culture: celebrities are routinely allowed to behave in ways which would not be tolerated in ordinary mortals. For example, being drunk on the job and hurling abuse at an employer would make one unemployable in the real world. Not for Charlie Sheen. A conviction for rape would be enough to have you characterized as a monster in the real world who had forfeited the right to sympathetic media exposure. Not for Mike Tyson or Roman Polanski (just ask that champion of women's rights, Whoopi Goldberg). In short, normal rules do not apply to celebrities in the same way as they do to others.
Whatever one may conclude concerning Dr. Trueman's affiliation with or "pal" to C.J. Mahaney, he surely offers sober wisdom concerning the Mefferd-Driscoll controversy. "Pay to all what is owed...honor to whom honor (Romans 13:7).
Hence, our thanks to Professor Trueman for pointing out that whether it's Evangelical celebritism, Baptist celebritism, Reformed celebritism, Arminian celebritism, YRR celebritism, Conservative Resurgence celebritism, Protestant celebritism, Catholic celebritism Christian celebritism, or Hollywood celebritism matters not a trifling bit. It's celebritism nonetheless and consequently a social malignancy upon the Christian church.
“At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Who then is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?… . Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:1, 4, NASB)
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