Somebodyism

But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. - Galatians 2.6

'The Danny Thomas Show' was an American comedy in the late 50s and early 60s. It featured the comedic adventures and misadventures of entertainer Danny Thomas and his family. 

In one episode Danny and his family are stopped in a small town in North Carolina by a young eager sheriff named Andy Griffeth. Andy stops Danny for not stopping at a stop sign, even though there was no crossroad. Danny is appalled and when Andy gets the numbe of his reg plate Danny yells at him 'you just check that out and you'll see that I am somebody.' Andy replies 'ya know, I knew that the first time I saw you. Yup, I never have seen a moving car that wasn't driven by somebody' 

The world is all about somebodies. They make the newspapers. When a somebody dies everybody cares. When a somebody says something everyone listens. When a somebody gets married or has a baby or gets divorced the whole world cares and it is all people talk about. 

There is definitely a cult of somebody in our culture. 

And, like so much else, the church is not immune to the cult of somebodyism. Even in the church the somebodies stand out as authorities. It doesn't hit the news or Facebook until a somebody says it. If a somebody says it it must matter. 

Paul wasn't at all impressed with somebodies. They meant nothing to him because in God's eyes they were of no importance than anyone else. 

That is comforting to all of us nobodies. God doesn't favour somebodies any more than the nobodies. 

Nobody is somebody more than anybody else in the church.