Fame: The Writer's Achilles Heel
Fame is the world’s standard of success, especially for people called to create. By human standards, the purpose of art is to be seen and admired by as many people as possible. For writers, the world pressures them to create famous works as well. People outside the writer’s sphere are not the only ones who pressure writers to be famous, well-known, and beloved. Writers themselves don’t want their precious and time-consuming creations to sit on a shelf without being read. This leads many writers to place pressure on themselves to become famous and measure their success by how well-known and loved their books are.
However, writers shouldn’t focus on their own success, and Christian writers must understand that the world’s definition of success—fame—is not true success. To have a book which fulfills its purpose, Christian writers don’t have to worry about measuring up to the world’s standard of fame.
Christian writers only need to focus on honoring and glorifying God through their books, no matter how many or how few people end up reading them.
Dangers of Focusing on Fame
When writers become fame-focused, they set a standard that is far from legitimate. Because not all writers are suited to be famous, focusing on fame creates a goal which may draw authors away from God’s purpose in their lives. God’s design for each person and his works is unique and different; fame doesn’t fit into every calling. Idolizing fame sets a measure of success an author will constantly fail. Eventually, fame-seeking writers will become disheartened, feeling as though there is no greater purpose for them or their books than entertainment. Writers who push to become famous may succeed through their own efforts, but may fall into self-idolization or discouragement. If they do not idolize themselves, these self-famous writers may find that fame does not hold the fulfillment of purpose it seemed to promise.
Nowhere in the Bible are God’s people called to worldly fame. Many people Christians find famous in the Bible were not famous in their own times or may have been background characters to their world. Peter, James, John, and Andrew were fisherman. Yet, Christ called them from their positions to shine His glory. What’s more, the Christian model of fame is to be hated and persecuted by the world, such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and even Christ. Christian writers should define success differently than how the world does: Success in not becoming famous and popular, but shining God’s truth and glory—even if only God sees.
Humbly Accepting the Opportunity of Fame
Christians shouldn’t desire fame and should never idolize it. Neither do Christians need to fear fame or deliberately avoid it. No writer wants their books to sit unread on a shelf. No writer should write as if their books will sit unread. The possibility for fame can be used to ensure a writer’s words are glorifying to God no matter how large of an audience the book reaches. Christian authors should write as if they will reach a large audience and be prepared to present deep truth to many people. Writing with possible fame in mind as a quality check prevents writers from falling into the trap of creating poor quality because they believe no one will read or care.
However, while fame for a book can be used as a quality check, worldly fame should not be used as a standard of success. Neither should Christian authors set worldly, personal fame as their goal.
Ultimately, personal fame is of the world and, like other worldly possessions, will fade away. Only heavenly possessions cannot be destroyed, and heavenly treasure cannot be gained by worldly success (Matthew 6:19-21). Christian writers who do achieve fame must always ensure that their hearts are in the correct place, focused on God’s truth rather than their own desires. A desire for personal fame stems from the wrong ideas. The only type of fame a Christian author can use and should desire is God’s fame.
“Beware of practicing your righteousness by other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1, ESV)
Exploring the Types of Fame
Only one type of fame can be a true desire or standard for Christian authors. As Matthew 6:1 states, Christians must not desire fame to showcase their own works, skills, or righteousness. Christian writers must understand that any fame they receive comes from God and exists for His glory. Writers must remain founded in glorifying God, not themselves. All writers must desire fame but not fame which leads people to read their books and admire the writer. Rather, Christian authors must be led by the desire for God’s fame—writing so that many people may see the truth. Worldly fame necessitates the author being admired and Christian authors cannot desire this, since their works and redeemed lives do not stem through their own power.
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
Although fame may come of an author’s writing, Christian authors must always desire fame not for themselves but for God. Only writing which consistently point readers to God’s truth will ever satisfy an author purpose and provide true fulfillment in Christ.
The Christian View of Fame
Many Christians may consider the figures of the Bible famous. However, in both Biblical and modern times, the world holds Biblical characters in a different light than Christians do. In the times Bible characters lived in, not everyone was famous and not everyone became famous. Biblical characters who were famous often became so because they were hated. Most people knew about the Biblical figures such as Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and other prophets and apostles because they hated what they taught. While those who agreed with the Biblical message admired the figures who stood for God’s truth, the world didn’t. Much of the worldly fame of Biblical figures was born out of hatred.
Christian writers must be prepared to face this sort of hated fame. If their books become famous, they may be hated by the majority of the world. The world despises those who stand for God’s truth and seek to trip up those who radiate Biblical truth. Christian authors must be prepared to face this but not frightened. Although Christians will be hated by the world (John 15:20), God will keep them and prepare them for the situations they come against, no matter what walk of life they are in. Nothing is impossible when Christian authors stay focused on Christ, remembering that it is Christ in them which shines truth to the world and prepares the author for the challenges they face (Philippians 4:13).
It isn’t bad or wrong when Christians become famous, and Christian authors shouldn’t deliberately avoid fame. If a Christian author will be famous, God will prepare that person for fame so he is not unprepared or easily stumbles but can rather face the world with confidence in Christ and shine His glory before all the people who face them. Along with this, Christians don’t have to fear failure to become famous. They simply let their words declare God’s fame. Christian authors, who desire this don’t have to worry about or pursue renown in their own power. Instead, Christian authors should seek to glorify God first in all that they do; fame for God will be born from Christ’s blessing of their actions.
When Christians don’t desire the wrong type of fame, or stress themselves with working towards fame through their own power, Christian authors are not burdened or disheartened if they never become famous. Understanding that a book’s fulfillment of purpose doesn’t depend on how many people read it, but how it glorifies God frees Christian writers from the pressure to need fame. Some books that never become famous may be the most impacting, for a more unique group of people because of the truth that book portrays about God. When Christians work to glorify God rather than to glorify themselves, Christians do not need to fear not becoming famous. Even though a book may stay on a shelf without being read whatsoever, it wasn’t written without a purpose. Like a beautiful flower that blooms in the forest, never seen by human eyes, good books bring glory to God, His character, and His beauty without needing to be seen by the world. Christian writers are free when they understand that even if no human sees their work, God still does and is glorified in their work.
Pulling Fame Together
Christian writers need not be afraid of the world when they seek to honor God through their writing. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 states that the Bible is good for teaching, reproof, and more so that Christians are prepared for the good works they accomplish.
Christian writers do not need to fear being famous. They can trust God to prepare them for their work, if they are to be famous. At the same time, Christians are freed from the pressuring need to be well-known, understanding that they should not idolize fame or feel unsuccessful if they never become famous. If authors write for the glory of God and seek to honor Him through every word they write, staying grounded in the truth, they will write strong books which fulfill their purpose. Even if they are not destined to be famous, Christian writers do not need to fear being unknown or even unread. God is honored by their work when they seek to honor Him before all things—and in God’s glory, the Christian purpose is fulfilled. Christian writers have no need for fear or pressure to be successful in the world’s eyes: fame does not determine Christian success.
