Saturday Side Quest - What You Get Is No Tomorrow
Where has faith and fandom intersected this week?
A few weeks ago, I found myself particularly flummoxed by a creator on TikTok who was sharing their opinion that “TikTok is a platform for people who would never be allowed to teach in a church.”
I agree. But I also find it troublingly reductive. As a United Methodist, I believe we generally need far more accountability, regardless of platform or size. The process of ordination in the UMC is notoriously daunting. But I didn’t mind. It took time, sure, but it was thorough. And rewarding.
I rarely find myself asked a question I don’t have an answer to or at least know where to look. Even better—I often get asked unanswerable questions and know how best to respond gracefully. I learned that during the process.
Should we all have a platform? Should anyone have a platform?
It’s certainly not my end goal.
I don’t want the fame I see in the celebrities I follow. It seems overwhelming. Being noticed is nice, but I’ve been noticed by millions before, and it doesn’t feel even better… it feels worse. The videos I’ve made that go ‘viral’ make me feel weird.
Why did that go viral?
Why not the thing I work x number of hours on longer than that?
Am I this person now?
Do I need to make the 7-Eleven my whole personality now?
No thanks.
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