A daily struggle for Raleigh Christians is learning to be in the world but not of it. When Jesus prayed for future believers, He prayed not that they would be taken out of the world, but that they would be sanctified by the truth as they shine His light in the world.
15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. (John 17: 15-18)
Unfortunately, the aspects of pop culture that most often consume the media are usually characterized by corruption and moral depravity. Movie stars and musicians make headlines every week with their scandals and short lived marriages. The O.J. Simpson murder case and Tiger Woods' epic issues with adultery have cast a grim shadow over professional sports. Recently, however, the tides are beginning to turn as God has been lifting up committed Christians, many from the Raleigh area, to shine as bright lights for Christ in the entertainment industry.
Raleigh residents could not be more proud of their hometown hero in country music, Scotty McCreery, who received over 122.4 million votes to become the 2011 American Idol winner. He was also named Top New Artist at the 2011 American Country Awards. McCreery has consistently lived out his Christian faith and has publicly shared his personal testimony of how Christ changed his life.
X-Factor winner, Melanie Amaro, is also a committed Christian who gives all glory to God for her singing success. She credits her faith in God and the comfort found in church music for sustaining her during the long months of separation from her parents during her difficult childhood. Read more here.
Another X-Factor contestant who made it to the judges' houses performance, Tim Cifers, is a native of the Raleigh area, having grown up on a farm in Willow Springs. He attends the same church, Garner First Baptist, which Scotty McCreery has attended throughout his childhood. Tim Cifers is a devoted husband and father who espouses Christian family values. Raleigh area resident, Jessica, is convinced Tim Cifers could have made it to the top 12 had his mentor been one who appreciates country music.
Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Denver Broncos, has lived out his Christian faith on and off and field in such a way that even the most staunch atheists are shaking their heads. Google reported record Google searches for John 3:16 following the Broncos' miraculous win over the Steelers during the shortest overtime ever. Instead of sports columns being filled with news of the latest misdemeanor by a professional athlete, cameras regularly zoom in whenever Tebow bows to one knee, and commentators are discussing God's role in Tebow's life.
God will go to great lengths to draw people to Himself. Sometimes, He will allow natural disasters to serve as a wake-up call. At other times, He may use economic crisis to capture a nation's attention. The God who works all things together for good can bring eternal benefit out of something as sinister as cancer. Or, God may choose to raise up Christian role models, many from the Raleigh area, to shine as lights for Christ in modern pop culture.
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. (2 Corinthians 4:6-7)
Let us be faithful to pray for these Christian pop stars as they live out their faith in the world without becoming like the world. Instead of taking all the praise from their fans for themselves, may they direct all the praise and glory to God.
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