Over the last twenty years we have seen a shift in the way the average individual views those whom society deem popular. Once upon a time they were called stars, then celebrities but now they are viewed as, and even called, idols (thanks to the massively popular Reality Television contests). The most popular are worshiped.

People transform themselves to look like them, they name their children after them, they hate the people that they hate and love those that they love. The best example for this is Jennifer Aniston. How many people out there hate Angelina and Brad solely because they love Jen? How ridiculous is that, and yet it happens.

I’m warning you before I say it, but I’m about to say a ‘blanket statement’. All celebrities have compromised at least one of their beliefs in order to fit the ‘idol’ mold. How do I know that you ask? Because it is impossible to be yourself and remain popular in today’s society, that same society which stresses individualism. This I find quite ironic.

Just look at some of today’s most popular music artists. Many of them began their career singing and playing in church. Katy Perry was raised in a preacher’s home and the first album she released in 2001 was, you guessed it, gospel. This is the same woman who 7 years later would sing ‘I Kissed a Girl’. Beyoncé started singing, as a young girl, in the church choir and claims to pray before every performance. This doesn’t stop her from wearing clothes that are barely there and flaunting her famous figure around on stage.

Ask almost any young lady today who their favorite singer is and they will say Justin Bieber. This 16-year-old Canadian is the biggest sensation on the planet. His most popular song, ‘Baby’, has over 140,000,000 hits on YouTube but the one to your right was recorded almost 4 years ago and has barely 7,000 hits.

Bieber’s mom, Pattie Mallette, when approached by a secular producer prayed, “God, I gave him to you. You could send me a Christian man, a Christian label!” However, after praying with her church elders and receiving their encouragement, she permitted the producer to fly Bieber to Atlanta, Georgia to record demo tapes. The rest is history.

Now Bieber, who is 16, is singing songs about loving and kissing girls (check out the lyrics to ‘Kiss and Tell’) in order to appease his adoring fans. The Bieber Team realized it just like every other celebrity out there has, if you want to be an ‘idol’ you have to compromise.

This is just a simple blog from a simple guy reminding you to not forget who you are in this great big ole’ world. Jesus once said, “What do you profit if you gain the whole world and lose your soul?” You haven’t really accomplished much if you are not able to look yourself in the mirror. Fame and fortune are so low on Heaven’s priority list.

One of the wisest and probably the most wealthy man to ever live looked back at his life and realized that everything that is of value in this material world is like chasing after the wind. In other words: It’s pointless. He wrote an entire book trying to convince the reader not to make the same mistake he did.

This book is Ecclesiastes written by none other than Solomon himself.

No matter what you do, no matter where you go, no matter the circumstances, do not forget who you are. If you climb the tallest mountain or sing the greatest song but in the end do not recognize who you have become it is never worth it. Stay true. Be you.