For some it is shame but for others it is fame!

The world is after fame. The greatest goals are to be famous and rich.
There is a way of being known though it may not make you rich. Let me explain.

Paul begins his letter to the Romans with thanksgiving and prayer. He does so in most of his letters. The reason for thanksgiving is that their ‘faith is proclaimed in all the world’ (1:8). Here, 'faith' is not the dogma or the act of believing. Faith here means how one struggles to keep what one has come to believe as true.

We don’t know how the believers in Rome were famous for their faith. It is clear from the latter part of this epistle that Paul knew many of them by name (Rom 16:1-16). We may guess that many of the believers or even the church collectively had to struggle to keep their faith alive in hostile circumstances. Their battles to keep their faith might have become known in all the churches all around the world. Note that Paul later commends them also for their obedience that had become famous all over the world (16:9). In similar ways, the church in Thessalonica was also known around the world among the believers for their faith (1 Thess 1:8).

Being known for the steadfastness of faith is highly commendable. We are familiar with the inspiring stories of the courage of the Christians in persecuted countries. Many of them who followed Jesus to the point of their death or imprisonment are famous—not for their contribution to art, literature or sports like many famous people. But they are known for their integrity and steadfastness of faith. They held on to Jesus and hated their own life. The churches in Rome and Thessalonica and many other places rose to fame through ways that for the world were shameful. Imprisonment, suffering and public execution are shameful by the world's standards. But their faith that made them uphold Christ turns out to be something to be remembered for ever.

When the Idols fall

A proper perception of human beings will enhance our appreciation of God and lead us to praise him more meaningfully. In a Psalm of Praise of God (Psalm 8) the Psalmist exclaimed "what is man that you are mindful of him?" Which meant man is not anything that God should mind especially compared to the celestial bodies that God has created. However, he goes on to say that in spite of this, God still gave man a place of honor and glory since his position is just below the angels. Human beings are incomparable to God.

One popular metaphor of life is that of a journey: A journey that we start at birth and end in death. In this journey we meet people of all sorts and learn many things from them. It is possible that we are drawn to some people because we see rare virtues in them. They become our role models and even idols in our lives. We adore them, we follow them because their exhibited virtues and charisma. All idols are multi-dimensional or multi-faceted. There are facets of these idols that may disappoint us. When we discover those facets (for that we need to view the idols from more than one angle) of these idols we become discouraged and frustrated. Idols fall and we are confused not knowing whom to follow or in whom to be excited in!

Let me elaborate on this a bit! People marry each other after long courtships. They may have had courtships which helped them to get to know each other better and tried different persons before proposing to the one whom they really love and would like to spend their life with: as some say to love, grow together and get old together. But then why such marriages fall apart at the same speed to they came together and almost at the same rate? In some countries every fifth marriage ends up in divorce! Our knowledge of each other is partial and there are facets of personalities that we find despicable as life rolls on. This is true of friends, leaders and all sorts of human relationships that we can think of.

We live a world where there are no constants. Even the majestic mountains made of rock change as the rock crumble in the heat of the sun and tiny pieces are carried away in torrents or by winds. Anyone who looks for consistency in human beings will be terribly disappointed.

However, this unfolding knowledge of people on our journey of life certainly has a positive side if we don't let its negativities weigh us down. These inconsistencies point us to God, the one who is always constant. When I discover that the person whom I considered to be the person of highest integrity is the supreme example of dishonesty I am learning to turn my attention to God. When human dishonesty leads us to appreciate the integrity of an unchanging God, that is best antidote for frustration.

Discovery of human weakness which leads us to a comprehension of the greatness of God results in praise and adoration of God. Such redirection of our thinking is greatly rewarding. Otherwise, we will be crushed under the weight of our own idols that are fallen from their pedestals.

Paulson Pulikottil Ph. D. is Professor of Old Testament at Union Biblical Seminary, Pune, India and Pastor of the COMMUNITY OF THE REDEEMED (CORe) a Full Gospel Church in Pune, India.