Sometimes people confuse popularity and respect. They should not be confused. Just because an actor is a box office attraction does not mean that people have high regard for their counsel, advice or lifestyle. Not many seek to emulate their real life if there is nothing in their lives to get them where they ultimately want to go. Conversely, just because a person is highly regarded by others does not mean that they are popular. Sadly, though the difference is stark, sometimes the two are confused.
Jesus was highly regarded by the people, but he was killed- not what happens to popular people. High regard or respect makes people listen and, in Jesus’ case, be lastingly impacted. Jesus would not have been so readily dispatched to the cross if he were overwhelmingly popular. Popularity draws a crowd, but never changes it. High regard rarely draws a big crowd, but the crowd it draws is seriously impacted by what they see and hear.
A fascinating verse is Acts 5:13. Fear gripped the people who watched the firestorm around the apostles and kept them from joining in. That is a clear indication that they were not popular- with the powers that be. It also indicates that even if they were popular with the masses, that popularity didn’t allow the masses to overcome their fear. Fear gripped the people. And, since popularity is a fleeting thing, it was not an important ingredient in the impact of the disciples. Popularity draws crowds, but does not change them.
But, the second half of the verse says, “But all of the people had high regard for them” (the apostles). People want to get close to popular people. People do not need to be close to respectable people for them to be impacted. They want to watch carefully those they regard highly. Even Gamaliel (5:34f), a member of the Sanhedrin seemed to have some respect for the disciples- even if somewhat masked. He noted that if this enthusiasm among this cadre of disciples was just a rush from of excitement from following a martyr, it would die (as popularity dies). But, if there was something more substantial, something meaty about their claims and life (high regard/respect) then it would not quickly die. High regard is a lasting thing. It does not draw crowds, but does change them. The proof is in the pudding after a couple Millennia.
The stark difference in outcome between popularity and high regard is in the long term result. Note 5:13’s clear statement that they were not popular enough to help people overcome their fear and join them. However, it is followed by a surprise conclusion in verse 14, “more and more believed. . . crowds of men and women.” Crowds got in the game. The Sanhedrin is dead. Jesus is alive. A lot of smart people from that era remain nameless today. Peter’s name is a common household name. Jesus was not imminently popular. Peter was not popular enough to draw the crowd out to overcome their fear. But, people were ultimately changed by these folks because they saw something true, resilient, miraculous, bold, respectable and transferrable in Jesus and Peter and the others.
Odd isn’t it. These folks did not have rock star status. But, they had truth in life. People forget the rock star when their music fades. But, when someone is living in a way that makes others say, “I want that,” there is greater substance and potential influence.
I would rather be held in high regard any day of the week than be popular. One lasts. The other fades. One allows people to take you seriously when you say something. The other affords many to hear, even if for a moment, whatever you have to say without it impacting them to their core. They have remarkable different results. People need and want to see something that will help them realize their hopes.
I have kids like that. They are all held in pretty high regard. It humbles me as their father. One of them is no longer here. He was not imminently popular- arguably the fourth most popular among his siblings, of which there are only four. In fact, many people looked right past him through much of his life- some forgetting his name when he was young or leaving him out of the invite list when his siblings were invited. However, in the final analysis, so many people have held him in high regard, that a pretty large group of people are still referencing his life, chatting on his Facebook as if he were there to respond, quoting his words, thinking through how they will live their lives, writing us about how he was the best example of a Christian they know and yearning to seek Jesus more. For me, that is a tangible, very present example of the difference between popularity and respect. I’ll take the latter any day. I’m glad he did. By the way, the world is looking for those to hold in high regard even though it has many popular people to attract them. The best thing Christians can do is quit trying to be popular with folks in the world and live in a way as to earn their respect.