Oh, the power, the subtlety of what the apostle John might label today as “the big three”: “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world” I John 2:16.
We all have vulnerability in these areas, perhaps one more than the other: physical desires and needs become raging, excessive passions; material increase can become an obsession; success feeds the ego with self-admiration, sufficiency, glorification.
An example of over-emphasis on self is the following chart! While there are true statements contained therein, an over-emphasis can lead to what John might dub excessive pride: Obviously, numbers 9, 14, and 15 are completely unbiblical; many others are marginal at best, a subtle denial of our depravity, fallen nature, and desperate need of a Savior, a Redeemer who makes us sufficient to stand shameless before a Holy Creator.
With this propensity in mind (caving into one or more of John’s “big three”), consider the following: A subtle danger for us lies with the human tendency to esteem certain people, putting them on a pedestal so to speak — and when they fail us in one of these three areas (which is nearly sure to happen at some level) we are shaken — sometimes to the core.
Example: We are all very much aware of the moral failures of “people at the top” — true believers in Christ who serve as pastors, musicians, artists, actors, mentors in the faith, etc. In fact, Terry Taylor ( a pioneer in Contemporary Christian music), in his song “Jesus Wept” (from the Daniel Amos album “Dig Here Said The Angel”) writes about the many brothers in Christ he has personally known over the years who “…mounted up like eagles, now they’re dropping like flies.”
Terry no doubt refers to the death of some, but so many more have/are falling prey to sexual scandal.
Besides devastation for the fallen, here’s the bad fruit of this kind of news: I know of too many folks who get their encouragement and passion for God from the inspiration they receive from these gifted people — and when they fall, those anchored in charisma instead of Christ are either so devastated by this that they bail on their faith — or use it as an excuse to descend in a moral abyss themselves.
There are so many points of application we could draw from this very present, prolific concern, but allow me to simply cite one: May the words of the great old hymn be our anthem, our anchor: “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand, All other ground is sinking sand.”
Christ alone is our standard, our unfailing example. Others can surely inspire — only Jesus is forever incorruptible, infallible, immaculate; Christ alone has already conquered sin, Satan — and the sentence of death itself for all who put their full hope in Him alone.