World Champions of Triviality (UPDATED)
UPDATE: Thank you all for your constructive criticism. We realize that the sarcasm and satire has overshadowed our disclaimers, and indeed, the foundational purpose and message of the post. This was partly because it has been re-posted without the context of its original series, and we are very sorry for the offense caused by this oversight.
Our purpose in this post is not to put down athletes and celebrities. These men and women can, and do, use their platforms to do great humanitarian good. There are Christians in the sports and music industries who bear testimony to Christ and use their gifts to bring glory to God. However, we would offer that such men and women are the exception, not the rule.
The problem is not that these activities exist, the problem is that our culture has become enamored with them and has idolized those who participate in them. The “hero” has been redefined as the rich, the popular, and the glamorous, instead of the faithful, courageous, principled, and humble. “Hero,” like the words “excellent,” “awesome,” and “wonderful,” has been cheapened and its meaning lost. “Heroes” today are adulterers, thieves, rapists, even murderers.
This is not indulging in the sacred/secular split (i.e. removing the applicability of faith and God’s Word from the public sphere). This is the exact opposite: viewing all areas of life from a biblical worldview.
It is what Paul commands in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world…”
It what we read in 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “[T]rain yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.”
It what the Corinthians were told in 1 Corinthians 9:25. “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”
Our crown, our goal, our values, and our heroes, as Christians, should be starkly different from the world. It is not that we cannot enjoy, participate, and support competitive activities, watch movies, or listen to music. But we must exercise self-control and caution. To make heroes, even worse, idols, out of these things is to stumble into dangerous territory.
I find it hard to respect intelligent, humanitarian-minded women who resort to prancing around on stage in bikinis to gain recognition. Nevertheless, Natalie Glebova was dubbed Miss Universe for doing precisely that.
And though the organizers of the world’s largest beauty pageant insist that contestants are judged for their intellects and attitudes as much as for their figures, it is very probable that Miss Glebova has been declared the most beautiful woman in the universe primarily for showing off parts of her body that most beautiful women I know keep appropriately concealed.
Still the fact remains that Glebova is the world champion of her particular silly activity. And though I don’t watch beauty pageants—never have, never will—I must admit that her preening is no sillier than a myriad of other activities whose competitions we follow and whose champions we idolize.
Regrettably, we have formed a culture of the trivial. We all want to be champions of our own silly activity. Just ask Emily Fox, the current world-record holder in the fast-paced sport of cup stacking, or champion eater Takeru Kobayashi, who downed 83 streamed dumplings in eight minutes during an August 13th contest.
Yet these champions are no sillier than Tiger Woods who is idolized for hitting a little white ball with a certain metal club so that it goes into a special little hole in the ground. They are no sillier than Misty May and Kerri Walsh who are recognized for wearing little more than their underwear while batting a cushy ball back-and-forth over a net. And they are no sillier than Barry Bonds, who is paid millions of dollars for hitting a ball with a stick and then running around in circles.
Although it concerns me when young competitors at the World Cup Stacking Championship speak of making a career out of it, I am equally concerned that a majority of American young people long for nothing more than to become kings and queens of their own particular triviality. It might be Hollywood that beckons them; it might be the NBA, or it could be American Idol. Whatever it is, the sad truth remains that America has prioritized entertainment and celebrity over true service and heroism; and our young people have taken the cue.
The tone of this article shouldn’t be taken as condemning, only concerned. I am not against the existence of these ‘silly activities’ that make life more enjoyable for many and bearable for some. I enjoy the thrill of watching Emily Fox stack cups faster than the eye can see and rooting for American athletes at the summer and winter Olympics. I’ve had 15-minute crushes on my own share of movie actresses and even voted online during last season’s American Idol competition. But then, after my niece was born with an extremely serious heart defect, I found myself in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at OHSU; and I met true heroes.
Shaun, Pam, and Colleen. They are nurses. They are heroes. And they symbolize millions of people across the globe who sacrifice, who serve, and who receive small thanks next to the Michael Jordans, Marilyn Monroes, and Elvis Presleys of our day. It often takes catastrophes to remind us of these people. September 11th did. It was policemen and firemen; rescue workers and soldiers who lifted our nation back up. And we honored them for it.
Even so, nearly four years later, my generation is still pursuing triviality at the expense of true service. Everyone wants to be the cherry on top, but no one is making ice cream. It is as if we have completely forgotten the steady, shining glory of heroism, because of the glaring, flashing glamour of celebrity.
Until we take the time to re-examine our ideas of what’s important we will continue to choose lesser professions and America will keep getting weaker. As our culture continues to embrace the trivial we will become increasingly incapable of responding to the significant.
Continue Series with Part Four: The American Idol Syndrome
Begin Series with Part One: Competition On Our Plateau
February 20th, 2006 at 7:23 pm
My cousin is the first runner up for 2006 Miss America, and she does it for several reasons, none of which include preening and prancing around in a bathing suit. She does it to win scholarship money for college, promote the charity that she is involved in, and to showcase her talent of playing the piano.
I found this comment in your entry “…I met true heroes,” rather condeming in a way I don’t see precedent for in the Bible.
February 20th, 2006 at 8:08 pm
Thanks, that’s a really timely reminder. I’ve been watching the Olympics too much. And even if among the athletes there are” true heroes” I think obsessing about is not healthy.
February 20th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Thank you for reminding us of where true heroism lies!
February 20th, 2006 at 10:24 pm
Thank you for the encouragement again in scripture memorization. I lost some steam last week, but I am going to keep memorizing! Also, thank you for your post on memorization. I have for a long time thought about and known I should be memorizing long passages of scripture - and your encouragement has prompted me to stop waiting for “later” and to begin.
February 20th, 2006 at 10:40 pm
Very interesting post. I’ve often wondered how people become famous for hefting rubber spheres into metal rings. True heroes are the work-a-day people you never hear about. My pastor uses the metaphor of the engine room of a luxury liner; nothing would run at all if it weren’t for the sweaty, dirty men in the engine room, but they don’t get any attention at all.
February 21st, 2006 at 1:07 am
I see your point Brett, but who says athletes can’t be heros? Think about it, those olympians have been training for years just to represent their country on the world’s stage. Whats the point of the olympics? Whats the point of the miss world pagent?
Its not about self golorification, its about representing your country. Its like being a diplomat.
Not only in the way they compete, but in the way they act.
February 21st, 2006 at 2:54 am
Seth: I’m not sure you understand my point. I was not condemning Olympic athletes as unheroic. I appreciate their talent and skill. I appreciate the job they do in representing their countries. I made that very obvious in my post.
My concern is that my generation dreams of celebrity status for being the most beautiful or the most talented, and cares nothing for the life-callings that require them to be the most faithful, and the servants of all.
It is always a question of comparative worth. Celebrity status is not without value, especially if one uses it for God’s glory. My concern is that we don’t allow our longing for the recognition of man to outshadow our calling to perform for the audience of One.
February 21st, 2006 at 4:08 am
Excellent post! We can appreciate the God-given skills the Olympic athletes, baseball players, and record-holders have, but they are not real heroes, in the correct sense of the word.
February 21st, 2006 at 7:18 am
And a good point that is. But still, these people are difference makers too. In America, everyone has a voice, everyone has a chance to make an impact. Even cup stackers.
February 21st, 2006 at 2:04 pm
I’d like to bring your attention to Queen Esther, who in all respects competed in a beauty pageant to become queen to a pagan king. And yet God was able to use her, and she, you might agree, become a true hero.
I was upset with this entry because of what seems to me uses a demeaning tone. Who is to judge which people are worthy of making an impact, worthy of being looked at as a leader, and most importantly, worthy of God using?
God chooses the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong. (1 Cor 1:27)
I would be careful in using your position as a writer, a writer whom I’m positive many students read regularly, to uplift, rather than put down certain groups of people. In my time this morning, what came to my heart concerning this situation was a prayer for humbleness - to realize that each of us were put here for a reason - and yes, beauty queens and rock stars and Olympic athletes, are all are capable of using their position of what one might term “shallow celebrity” for the greater good of God’s kingdom.
February 21st, 2006 at 3:39 pm
Thank you for that reminder of the “silliness” of life. I enjoy your posts and find encouragement for the Christian life in them. I am realizing in my life the importance of being 100% for God and that He desires nothing less.
As I was thinking about your post, I started wondering why it was that we all compete…or what is it that makes competition so important in the lives of humans. My conclusion is that people enjoy making themselves better than others and enjoy being the “top dog.” When we as Christians view this in light of Scripture, we understand that we depraved hungering sinners. Although we strive we continually fall short of true glory. When we praise people for their achievements, our praise should be so much greater for the One who has done so much more than any human ever could. He is so worthy! It gives us all the more reason to worship Him who has done it all. It kind of dampens the spirits of those who strive but adds wood to the fire of the true worshipper. It is sad in the end to realize that without Christ, even the gold medal winners will not find true joy. They are enjoyable to watch though…even the “Grandma Luge.”
Thanks for the Reminder
February 21st, 2006 at 3:45 pm
Sarah, interesting allusion to Queen Esther, who has always been one of my personal “heroes”
I would submit that many winners of beauty-oriented scholarship competitions/pageants for young women HAVE done extraordinary things with the platforms which they earned through the discipline and training which preceeded their pageant victories.
My own mother, a former model, recently hosted an enormous convention for women, at which the keynote speaker was Ms. Heather Whitestone, Miss America 1995, the first young woman to win the competition with a serious disability- total hearing impairment- and she is a committed Christian. Her message has not only helped to spread the Gospel, but has provided tremendous encouragement for young people persevering through disabilities. Anyone who doubts the “seriousness” and worth of her enterprise should read her book.
Pat Robertson’s co-host on the 700 Club, Mrs. Terry Dorian, was Miss America in 1979. She uses her title when she ministers to women in South African prisons each summer.
And a friend, Ms. Lynette Cole, Miss USA 2000 and a runner-up in Miss Universe the following year, has done more for networking and fundraising on behalf of adoption for needy children in this country than anyone Ive ever known.
Perhaps there are other “trivialities” which are more worthy of Rebelution time…?
February 21st, 2006 at 4:03 pm
Thank you for the post, but I read a very interesting article yesterday titled, “Loving Christ While I Cheer for the Yankees” and it touched on some major points about being a Christian and still following (for example) sports. The main point of the article (and I heartily agree with it) is thus: “But the answer is not to keep away from sports. Rather, it is to ‘take sports captive and make them obedient to Christ.’” The article is here: http://www.byfaithonline.com/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID323422|CHID664014|CIID2172430,00.html. I do believe that sports players can do what they do for God and give Him glory that way. And thank you again.
February 21st, 2006 at 4:37 pm
It’s unfortunate to see false dichotomies, and generally tired rhetoric, still finding a pulse in modern Christendom. The sacred/secular split that is set forth here, with things like nursing on the sacred side, is poor at best. Using our God given gifts, whatever they may be, is the best thing we can do for God no matter how “trivial” some try to make them seem. Altogether a poor attempt at pretending that only certain things are “adult” while others are “trivial”.
February 21st, 2006 at 5:58 pm
This is a grating article. I liked it. It was well written, and it had pictures.
I have a few questions: what defines a “lesser profession”? What makes something beam with “the steady, shining glory of heroism” compared with the “glaring, flashing glamour of celebrity”? What defines what is worthwhile and what’s not?
And one more - can we get along without the cherries? I’m not sure if you meant it, but it sounded like everyone should be “making the ice cream” so-to-speak. Is that what you meant?
(BTW, I really liked your Jane Austen ad for your conference!
February 21st, 2006 at 8:11 pm
It seems to me that the main point of this post is not to cast judgement on these professions, but to question who we are establishing as our role models. Many celebrities are celebrated because they are famous, beautiful, and/or athletic, but are those the qualities that we should aspire to? Do these qualities make these celebrities the kind of people that we should glorify?
-True heroes are people who, in spite of adversity, have done not only “hard things” but the right things.
-The things they have done are not always witnessed by huge audiences, but true heroes continue without applause.
-True heroes follow after the greatest Hero of all, who never sought to walk a red carpet or stand in the spotlight, but instead could be found washing His disciple’s feet.
February 21st, 2006 at 10:36 pm
After reading the article and comment, I would say that the whole crux of it goes back to the heart and motives. What are these “celebs” trying to accomplish and what is the status of their hearts going into it? Are beauty contestants participating soley for the sake of scholarship money and advancing their causes or is there an underlying motive of feeling good about themselves, if only for a moment. As for the former, are money and causes always admirable and appropriate anyway?
The bottom line is that there are always going to be “celebs” admired by the masses, but we have to choose our own “celeb” to admire. I’d much rather admire my grandmother or best friend teaching in China anyday over the champion cup spinner anyday. (Where do they come up with this stuff?)
God tells us to think on things “true, noble, right, pure… (Philip. 4:8) and that’s the most important thing to me. What has God promised to be true? He has promised that the things of this world will pass away, so why am I consumed with the fleshly things in front of me? We are fed lies daily and we need to ascertain the truth. Obviously, we don’t know the personal motives and hearts of “celebs,” but we do know our motives and hearts when we admire them and support them. That still, small voice inside of us will guide us. We just need to listen…
February 22nd, 2006 at 8:46 pm
Well, it sounds like Brett touched many people’s nerves in this post. Now everyone wants to shoot the messenger. There are some things in life that ARE trivialities and we all know it. Idolatry abounds to the point that there’s even a tv show devoted to creating them. The Bible has more to say on Christian’s affections in this life than most care to recognize.
Since when did it become okay for Christian women to show off their bodies, and claim they did it for God’s glory?
Since when did it become okay for Christians to give inordinate amount of attention to athletes to the neglect of studying what the Bible says, or what great patriarchs of the faith (puritans, martyrs, etc.) wrote?
When I stand before God, if the only “talent” I had ever used for His glory was dribbling a ball down a court, or parading my body in front of strangers, I would be ashamed. Those things are trivial. Saving babies lives, rescuing people from burning buildings and training up a houseful of children are NOT trivial and should be praised just as much or more than these celebrities.