If you’re a Christian who hasn’t yet found something today that offends you, here’s a cartoon that will provide an excuse for your ‘righteous indignation.’ Go ahead and drop a comment reminding everyone that even the worst sinners can be redeemed. Tell us that only God knows what’s in someone’s heart. Rebuke us for our pathetic imitation of Christ and then move along. Savor your bitter outrage.

I won’t bother telling you that this meme is NOT really a critique of new converts to Christianity. It’s a critique of older Christians (like you) who get super-excited when famous pagans convert to Christianity. While you’re vaguely aware that coming to Jesus requires losing every aspect of the old self, you think that celebrity status survives being buried with Christ. You hand these famous baby Christians a towel as they step out of the baptistry and thrust them back into the spotlight to share the sordid details of their pagan lifestyle (minus swear words, of course).

Idolatry requires idolaters. An idol has no power. It can only ascend when elevated by its worshipers. A Christian cannot become a celebrity without fans. When the celebrity overshadows Christ, that’s not the fault of the celebrity. The fans made that happen.

While assuring the rest of us that only God can judge hearts, you judge celebrity hearts to be fully renewed. The testimony of a person whose faith is 24 hours old carries more weight than the counsel of saints who have been disciples for decades. The Bible calls this ‘showing partiality’ and it’s not a good thing.

Every day we each do battle with our egos. It is a constant struggle to overcome the desire to shove Jesus out of the way and become Lord of our own lives. Celebrities not only struggle with their own egos, they must also fight the urge to believe the hype generated by their adoring fans. Your starry-eyed celebration when famous people follow Jesus is literally making it harder for them to keep following.

(James 2:5) Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court?