Only One on the Throne

I see it all the time. Perhaps you have too. I’m at a camp meeting or a large Adventist event featuring a well-known speaker. Immediately after the meeting, a group of well-meaning saints forms a circle around or lines up to take a photo with or get an autograph from the Adventist celebrity. And as much as I’d like to say I’ve never put a spiritual leader on a proverbial pedestal, I’ve been in that camp before.

My attitude changed, though, as I watched well-known men and women of faith fall victim to the same sinful tendencies we all have, and realized they were just like me. In fact, the crowd’s admiration might have contributed to their moral decline. Constant praise can cause even the most sincere leaders to struggle.

Unchecked Admiration

Christian fandom isn’t always obvious at first. It starts with admiration—we’re grateful for the way someone explains Scripture, leads worship, or inspires spiritual growth. And just as Israel said, “We want a king over us,” we often tend to exalt people, celebrating their abilities, and there’s a subtle shift toward taking our eyes off God and giving too much glory to human beings. Without our realizing it, admiration can morph into something deeper: a loyalty that borders on idolatry.
When we hold someone in high regard—especially a spiritual leader—it becomes incredibly easy to overlook or excuse their mistakes. We may find ourselves saying such things as “Well, I’m sure they had a good reason” or “They know the Bible better than I do, so I can trust them.” Unchecked authority can lead to spiritual abuse, manipulation, or unwise decisions that affect many members.

In extreme cases this mindset can lead groups of people into spiritual deception, simply because no one is willing to question the leader or compare their words with Scripture. This is what has happened in cult movements and religious scandals throughout history: sincere people stopped thinking critically and stopped testing the message against the Bible.

Paul praised the Bereans because they didn’t take his word at face value—they went back to Scripture and checked for themselves: “Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character. . . , for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true” (Acts 17:11, NIV).

This is a powerful example for us today. No matter how respected a preacher, author, or influencer is, their words must never be accepted above the Word of God.

The danger isn’t just in what they teach—it’s also in the blind loyalty we can develop, which causes us to defend them instead of discerning what is true. This lack of discernment can lead to compromise, spiritual manipulation, or even heresy creeping into our thinking and practices.
This isn’t just a modern problem. Even the early church dealt with it.

Constant praise can cause even the most sincere leaders to struggle.

The apostle Paul addressed unhealthy Christian admiration head-on in 1 Corinthians 1:12-14: “One of you says, ‘I follow Paul’; another, ‘I follow Apollos’; another, ‘I follow Cephas’; still another, ‘I follow Christ.’ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul?” (NIV). Paul recognized that the church’s unity was being threatened by people aligning themselves with human leaders instead of remaining rooted in Christ. He reminded the church that no one but Jesus was crucified for them, and no name but His is worthy of ultimate loyalty.
James, also, warned about showing favoritism within the body of believers (James 2), and even Paul and Peter, two giants of the early church, had a public disagreement (Gal. 2:11-14, NIV), reminding us that no one is beyond correction.

When Admiration Becomes Dangerous

How can we know when our feelings toward a Christian speaker or leader have crossed the line? Consider these questions: Are you more excited about a person’s podcast or sermon than spending time in the Word? Do you accept everything a leader says without comparing it to Scripture? Would your faith be shaken if that person had a moral failure or stepped down? Do you find yourself arguing with or not associating with others in church who don’t share your perspective about the leader?

These are warning signs that we may be building our faith on a person instead of the Savior. Putting people on pedestals is dangerous — not just for the admirer but also for the admired.

When we rely solely on someone else’s teaching, we fail to develop our own personal discernment and biblical understanding. When a leader’s voice outweighs the voice of God in our lives, we’ve made them an idol—even if unintentionally. If our foundation is tied to a person’s reputation, we’re at risk of spiritual collapse when they fail.

Now, admiring or exhibiting qualified leadership skills isn’t bad—far from it. Scripture affirms the role of pastors, teachers, and evangelists (Eph. 4:11-13, NIV), but their role is never to take Christ’s place. Healthy leaders point others to Jesus, not themselves. They welcome and invite accountability. They equip the church for ministry rather than building a following. John the Baptist had it right when he said of Jesus, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). That’s the heart of godly leadership—pointing people upward.

Turning the Tide

So how do we respect and value Christian leaders and thinkers without idolizing them?
Go to the Word first. Don’t just take a preacher’s word for it—be like the Bereans, who examined the Scriptures daily.

Check your heart. Ask, “Am I more interested in this person’s content than in knowing Christ?”

Celebrate spiritual gifts, not personalities. God uses many people in different ways. Stay open to hearing the truth from unexpected sources.

Discernment over devotion. Honor faithful leaders, but don’t give them the reverence that belongs to God alone.

Pray for them. Leaders are often under intense spiritual attack, and they need our prayers more than our praise. The more we pray for them, the more we see them as fellow soldiers in the battle—not spiritual celebrities.

Keep accountability in place. Respecting someone doesn’t mean excusing sin or ignoring red flags. In fact, loving a leader means encouraging integrity and openness. Be a person who speaks the truth in love, if needed (Eph. 4:15, NIV).

Leaders come and go. Platforms rise and fall. But Jesus remains. Let us admire, encourage, and honor those who serve—but reserve our worship for the One who died and rose again for us. There’s room for only One on the throne.