Candace Cameron Bure Applauds Poem Critiquing Today's Christian Celeb Culture: "There Was Nothing Bougie About Calvary"
Candace Cameron Bure is using her celebrity platform to remind us that the gospel is not about celebrity.
It’s not about wealth, popularity, glittering jewelry, or sparkling lights. No one, in fact, rolled out a red carpet for Jesus. Just the opposite.
Bure’s share has gone viral.
Via Instagram, the “Fuller House” star posted a video for her 5.6 million followers with the caption “Glory to God.”
According to The Christian Post, the video features “Cherry Paul Ede from CORIC Children Church of The City of Refuge International Church of Abuja, Nigeria, passionately recited a poem by African spoken-word poet Fragile Dogubo.”
“‘I don’t know who needs to hear this, but Jesus was not crucified on a Gucci cross. He didn’t have on a crown of Versace thorns or Nike shoes on his feet when the nails pierced through. There was nothing bougie about Calvary,’ Ede said, reading from the poem.”
Christian celebrity has become a current conversation following the August release of journalist Katelyn Beaty’s book Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church.
Part of the description of the book describes the problem.
“Fame that is cultivated for its own sake, without attendant spiritual maturity and accountability, has a shadow side that runs counter to the heart of the gospel. Celebrity–defined as social power without proximity–has led to abuses of power, the cultivation of persona, and a fixation on profits. In light of the fall of famous Christian leaders in recent years, the time has come for the church to reexamine its relationship to celebrity.”
Bure’s post, which was reshared also by Priscilla Shirer, has received overwhelmingly positive reactions from the famous and unknown alike.
In Christians’ sincere pursuit of opportunities to share the truth of Jesus with “the world,” it’s tempting to rely on achieving celebrity and using that platform to proclaim Him. Many have and they’ve done so with integrity.
But others have succumbed to immoral temptations or deconstructed and denounced their faith after developing great followings.
Or, some have appropriated the guise of faith in Christ to achieve fame and are clearly hypocritical in loving riches more than Christ. This abuse damages the spread of the gospel.
With the persecution of Christians escalating in many areas and knowledge that these believers suffer rejection, loss of employment, separation from loved ones, sometimes even imprisonment, beatings, and death, it’s important to emphasize what is stated in this poem.
“I thought the crucifixion was like the Grammys, an award show only for a self-righteous view. But the Bible didn’t mention an ovation — only wrongful accusation, hate speech and boos from fools. The King of Glory came through.”
Fame always comes with a price. But, Jesus paid the price for all our sin and there was nothing glamourous or “bougie” about it.
We’re thankful Bure used her platform to provide us all with food for meditation, reflection, and repentance if we’ve worshiped at the throne of celebrity rather than at the foot of the cross.
