Reviews
Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church by Katelyn Beaty
jtisreading's review against another edition
3.0
This book is worth reading. It is interesting, but it could have been so much more. I simply hoped that Beaty would have attacked the topic with journalistic fervor. She cares about the topic but I felt she was timid in a lot of areas about what she really thinks because this assessment was extremely pedantic and surface-level. The problem with celebrity and its involvement within Christian circles is much bigger and needs a closer look than 8 chapters on a few men in the past 60 years of evangelical Christianity. Even the chapter on Kanye West was lacking in analysis. There just should have been much more in this book. Statistics, logistics, and a real focus on the narrative and the problem. Maybe Beatty didn't want to attack, but I felt there just is so much more that I've encountered in ten minutes of reflection and contemplation that is addressed in the book. I do think the chapter on Billy Graham set up the book nicely and was very fair and thoughtful.
bubbajones1221's review against another edition
4.0
Some really interesting points and things to think about concerning celebrity Christian culture and the American church as a whole.
I liked the point that there's no real proximity to the fake closeness celebrities have with their fans (or celebrity pastors with their “congregants”). There's often not accountability and it gets dangerous when the celebrity pastor gets further isolated.
Chapter 5 is especially compelling and relevant considering who should write a Christian book (she thinks most pastors shouldn't) and many of the woes and considerations one should have before writing a Christian book.
I would note that I probably wouldn't agree with this author's POV about certain doctrines and theology, but she stays within the scope and thesis of the book and her resume as a practiced Christian journalist can speak to this topic very well.
Overall, very relevant to where our society is at and worth the read and consideration.
“The right kind of fame arises from a life well lived, not a brand well cultivated.”
I liked the point that there's no real proximity to the fake closeness celebrities have with their fans (or celebrity pastors with their “congregants”). There's often not accountability and it gets dangerous when the celebrity pastor gets further isolated.
Chapter 5 is especially compelling and relevant considering who should write a Christian book (she thinks most pastors shouldn't) and many of the woes and considerations one should have before writing a Christian book.
I would note that I probably wouldn't agree with this author's POV about certain doctrines and theology, but she stays within the scope and thesis of the book and her resume as a practiced Christian journalist can speak to this topic very well.
Overall, very relevant to where our society is at and worth the read and consideration.
“The right kind of fame arises from a life well lived, not a brand well cultivated.”
nate_meyers's review against another edition
3.0
My one-line review is that this book might've been more effective as a series of essays.
Even so, some of the books strengths are:
1. Effectively and efficiently chronicling the rise of celebrity culture within modern Christianity (Part 1 of the book) and describing three problematic temptations that intrinsically come with celebrity culture in the church (Part 2 of the book).
2. Providing nice distilled summaries of other works on "the fall of white male pastors with large followings," such as Mike Cosper's podcast on the Rise & Fall of Mars Hill (Mark Driscoll) and the book A Church Called Tov (covering Bill Hybels).
3. A clear view of certain Christian celebrities strengths along with their weaknesses. For instance, she recognizes the many positive elements of Billy Graham's ministry alongside the new kind of Christian celebrity culture it ushered in
4. Chapter 5 is maybe the best in the whole book, as it draws on the authors experience within the Christian publishing industry
Even so, some of the books strengths are:
1. Effectively and efficiently chronicling the rise of celebrity culture within modern Christianity (Part 1 of the book) and describing three problematic temptations that intrinsically come with celebrity culture in the church (Part 2 of the book).
2. Providing nice distilled summaries of other works on "the fall of white male pastors with large followings," such as Mike Cosper's podcast on the Rise & Fall of Mars Hill (Mark Driscoll) and the book A Church Called Tov (covering Bill Hybels).
3. A clear view of certain Christian celebrities strengths along with their weaknesses. For instance, she recognizes the many positive elements of Billy Graham's ministry alongside the new kind of Christian celebrity culture it ushered in
4. Chapter 5 is maybe the best in the whole book, as it draws on the authors experience within the Christian publishing industry
sonora_jean's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
leh97's review against another edition
4.0
Especially helpful for (aspiring) writers and/or leaders, but an important call for everyone to everyday, small, unaspiring faithfulness.
geneticginger's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic book delving into how celebrity and a focus on money can really hurt the witness of the church. Beaty describes celebrity as 'social power without proximity' and chronicles several instances where great Christian leaders fell due to lack of accountability because they were abusing power and focusing on creating a personal vs having people speak into their lives. At the end of the book she brings it back to Christ and emphasizes 'maybe it means casting off the big ideals of living big lives for God and accepting that our greatest moments of faithfulness may be achieved in complete obscurity.'
kimberwood's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and researched, injected with moments of humor and levity while also not pulling any punches about the state of Christianity and the pedestals that we place those of influence on. I feel like this should be a must read for anyone working or volunteering for a church, but also is an important read for everyone else that follows Jesus.