The 12 Most Influential Christians in Hollywood
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, March 03, 2008
- Viewed 110
- (39) comments so far
Yet another list... but one I thought you might find interesting? Who are the 12 most influential and powerful Christians in Hollywood? Well, Beliefnet has come up with their list, and it includes names like Mel Gibson, Denzel Washington, Patricia Heaton, Angela Bassett, and Martin Sheen. Sounds like a pretty diverse list with a pretty broad theological definition, but none the less, interesting. You can read more here...
Comments
if you want a Globally Recognized Avatar (the images next to your profile) get them here. Once you sign up, they will displayed on any website that supports them.
Wendi on Tue, March 04, 2008
Ricky –
I think that the BeliefNet article listed Hollywood people who professed Christianity, not who had been labeled Christian by the unbelieving media, as you suggest happened when the name first came into use.
If whether or not someone is truly a Christian is something you and I get to determine based solely on the actions or behaviors of someone, then we’re all in trouble. Let’s let God make those decisions and take people at their word.
And in regard to judging behavior, it would serve us all well to look not just at what people SHOULD NOT do (make foul movies, have sex, get drunk, blah, blah, blah), but also what we SHOULD, care for the widows and orphans, feed the poor, visit those in prison, so on and so on. It this regard, Denzel and other public figures put many ordinary Christians like us to shame.
Wendi
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Wendi:
“Not that I agree with it, or feel an overuse of foul language (or worse) is necessary to depict our world in the art of film. But I also know that nothing in scripture gives me permission to judge the “Christian-ness” of a person who claims to be a Christ follower. Let’s just take Denzel at his word, thank God for his generosity of time and resources, and focus on fulfilling our own calling, shall we?”
Please direct me to a verse in the Bible where when someone claims to be a Christ-follower, that we should just accept this and let it be? Please also direct me in the Bible to something that shows that when a person is charitable and has been married for a long time that we can overlook things like blasphemies and coarse language?
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008
CS,
Is the fruit of the spirit a clean mouth and polite behavior? Or is it love, joy, peace…
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Peter:
“Is the fruit of the spirit a clean mouth and polite behavior? Or is it love, joy, peace…”
Let’s go up a couple of verses in the same area of Galatians 5, which should be equally quoted.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
—
CS
deaubry on Tue, March 04, 2008
wendi, i agree with you we should let god judge who is a christian or who are not, and as for danzel talking fowl language in a movie , i think he should do his lines and let the world know how things really are. and i think the preachers and teachers of the bible should do the same thing,we shoul call people the same thing as danzel, somthing like , danzel would say , {i give millions to hurting people you #%&%$# should do the same. if you got in your pulpit and used the language that he uses in his movies, someone would get you in a streight jacket real quick, but if it alright for him, it would be alright for any christian even in church services, hey just my thoughts on the subject.
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008
CS,
Nobody disputes that those things are bad, but these actors are not doing those things, they are portraying them. If you argue that we should never paint a picture of how a sinful life is lived, then we have a problem with a LOT of the Old Testament. Incest, Rape, Murder, Torture… it’s all in there. I don’t think I’ll ever let a pre-teen kid read Ezekiel 23.
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Peter:
“Nobody disputes that those things are bad, but these actors are not doing those things, they are portraying them. “
So if an actor shouts a blasphemy in a movie, would God differentiate between the acting and the actor? Would a porn star be separated between their on-screen actions and their “real life”?
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008
I would counter with the question, is there a difference between telling the story of a sinful behavior or actually “simulating it” in a dramatic presentation and actually doing it?
I think a “porn star” is a bit of an exaggeration of what these particular individuals do, is it not?
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Peter:
“I would counter with the question, is there a difference between telling the story of a sinful behavior or actually “simulating it” in a dramatic presentation and actually doing it?”
Of course there are differences there. A simulated murder in a Shakespearian play is not the same as true murder. But, again, would someone shouting a blasphemy be differentiated in God’s eyes? Especially a self-professed Christian, who should presumably know that, “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
“I think a “porn star” is a bit of an exaggeration of what these particular individuals do, is it not?”
Not at all, when you compare some of the films of modern days to those of older days or to pornography. Again, would God differentiate the two?
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008
Why would he not?
I would counter with the question, what is more important, not using bad language… or giving to and helping those far less fortunate?
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Peter:
“Why would he not?”
I noticed in reading the Third Commandment that God did not put in an exclusionary clause for acting. In fact, the proper treatment of God’s name was so serious that in Leviticus 24, a person who blasphemed God’s name was to be stoned to death. While we don’t stone people today, this verse shows the reverence that we should have in using God’s name.
But, nowadays, people interject creative middle names into the name of our Messiah, use the G - D curse words regularly, and even “Oh my…” is regularly used on kids’ shows. Where has the reverence gone for our Holy God?
When an unbeliever does it, I can understand that a little more, because that person is an enemy of God. When a person who professes to be a Christian does that, I can’t rationalize it away.
The same standard could be applied for people engaging in sexual activities or nudity in modern-day, “non-pornographic films.”
So, going back to my first post in this thread, can a “Christian” act in roles that are littered with blasphemy and obscenity, but as long as it tries to guide Hollywood to more Christian influence, it’s all good?
—
CS
deaubry on Tue, March 04, 2008
i would like to ask a question addressing pastors. if anyone is a christian do we separate being a christian from acting , what i mean is, has one got anything to do with the other or does it, and, does helping people and giving to the poor make us christians, is it alright for anyone to use filthy language christians included? do we keep ourself unspotted from the world just part time? and is it alright to be anything you want to be and still be a christian, is it alright for an actor to talk and act filth, i sure would like to know what you believe on this subject.
Peter Hamm on Tue, March 04, 2008
I would counter with a question.
Which is Jesus more likely to condemn, profanity and blasphemy… or not doing anything for the poor? Hint: Matthew 25.
And on that… I’m out of this one.
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008
Peter:
“Which is Jesus more likely to condemn, profanity and blasphemy… or not doing anything for the poor? Hint: Matthew 25.”
So as long as you do things for the poor, you don’t have to worry about things like blasphemy? How about this: a Christian should avoid blasphemy and do things for the poor. Both are important, and an “influential Christian” in Hollywood should do both.
—
CS
Wendi on Tue, March 04, 2008
CS –
Even if you believe (which you obviously do) that portraying sinful people doing sinful things is just as bad as doing those things yourself, you can’t make a biblical case that we are supposed to be the sin police and denounce one another for our sin. Unless you and Denzel are buds, then you can offer him counsel. Otherwise, I believe you need to leave his accountability to his pastor and his own network of Christian advisors.
As I type the above words, I wonder why I think I have the right to criticize the conservative Christian political right, as I have vehemently on this very forum. Some of you might find me a hypocrite, and I welcome your feedback. Here is why I think I’m not.
I find fault with Christian conservatives who lobby to persuade politicians about the “evangelical vote” (I am so sick of that phrase), because their power is dependent upon their ability to convince politicians that they speak for me. I never gave anyone the right to speak for me, and on many issues the are far from representing my views. Yet, to those outside the faith, because this conservative Christian lobbyists have done such a good job over the years, I have to convince people I am not in their camp in order to have a conversation.
Hollywood Christians don’t claim to speak for anyone but themselves. The movies Denzel and others make don’t cause me to be painted with the same brush, because my life can speak for itself.
Granted, Todd invited us into this discussion so CS and others have been invited to offer their opinion about these people as influential Christians. My problem isn’t that we would state and have different opinions, but that any random Christian believes he/she has the right to tell all others how to live, or worse, that any Christian would question whether someone who professes to be a Christ follower really is one.
CS – you asked me: [Please direct me to a verse in the Bible where when someone claims to be a Christ-follower, that we should just accept this and let it be?]
First, I cannot think of a place in the NT that admonishes us to question whether someone who “claims” to be a Christ follower really is one, and that we should put all their actions under our microscope - - - when that person is not part of our church or family or network of Christian relationships - - - when we don’t even know the person. Our church is not jeopardized, nor is our family (we can counter their influence).
So in the absence of instruction to do so, in this case, I would answer your question by saying that Jesus words about not judging apply, that the bible instructs us to let Denzel be (except to teach our family and those we have been given to shepherd as we believe the Lord has led us.)
Wendi
Page 2 of 3 pages < 1 2 3 >
Post a Comment