The Dangerous Desire to Be “Anointed,” Apostles, and Prophets

Quick Overview

The speakers strongly criticize the "Popularity Gospel" and the desire for people to be considered "anointed" or "prophetic" based on external metrics like influence, fame, or Instagram presence, asserting that true spiritual gifting is demonstrated through works and faithfulness, not popularity, evidenced by the fact that many popular figures lack tangible spiritual results like raising the dead.

Key Points: The "Popularity Gospel" is described as a doctrine of demons, equating spiritual anointing and favor with being influential or famous on platforms like Instagram. The speaker contrasts this with authentic spiritual work, noting that when asked, fewer than ten hands went up among pastors regarding raising the dead, suggesting a lack of genuine supernatural activity among the influential. Genuine spiritual credit belongs to God for performing wonderful works through people, not to the individual's fame or influence. The concept of the priesthood of all believers implies that all Christians are anointed to be a mom, dad, friend, or student, and should use their anointing faithfully, rather than seeking elitist status. The danger lies in flattening spiritual terms like 'anointed' to mean something merely popular or worldly, leading to an expectation of immediate, visible success. The discussion highlights that true ministry involves long-suffering and patience, contrasting with modern trends that equate spiritual success with viral fame or large followings.

Context: This clip features a discussion, likely from 'The Study + Boys' podcast, where speakers critique modern spiritual trends, specifically targeting what they term the 'Popularity Gospel.' This concept revolves around measuring a minister's or believer's spiritual validity (anointing, favor) by their worldly success, social media reach, or fame, rather than by demonstrable spiritual fruit or adherence to scriptural principles.

Detailed Analysis

The conversation aggressively critiques the modern church's focus on popularity, labeling the idea that one's anointing or favor is equivalent to their influence or fame (like being 'big on Instagram') as the 'Popularity Gospel,' which they declare is a 'doctrine of demons.' One speaker recounts an experience in Mozambique where he asked pastors how many had raised the dead, noting that fewer than ten hands rose, implying that popular religious figures often lack true supernatural evidence of their claimed anointing. The speakers argue that God gets the credit for any wonderful workings done through people, not the person's fame; they suggest that the true anointing is meant for everyday roles like being a parent or student, requiring long-suffering and patience, not worldly success. They criticize the tendency to flatten biblical terms like 'anointed' to fit modern metrics, concluding that true ministry is often characterized by faithfulness and hardship, as exemplified by those who preached faithfully while their churches were shrinking, contrasting sharply with those who are 'blowing up' or 'going viral.'