MondayMorningInsight - Leadership & Encouragement for Church Leaders

The 12 Most Influential Christians in Hollywood

Posted by: Todd
Posted on: Mon, March 03, 2008
Viewed 109
(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

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Jim on Tue, March 04, 2008

Wendi, I truly appreciate your passion, but you have some weak theology. For example, the Scripture does tell us to look at the fruit that a tree bears to tell what kind of tree it is. That is not judgement, that’s discernment. Therefore, when one looks at immoral behavior and condons it, I find it hard to believe that Scripture just gives one a pass just because one is playing a role. What happened to becoming the Spirit of Christ? Remember, “thou shalt be holy!” Second, Scripture is very clear about the gifts of the spirit-love, joy, peace, etc., but it is also very clear about Jesus’ demand: if you love Me, you will keep my Commandments. I find no accounts in Scripture where Jesus, or His Apostles used the gutter cultural behavior and language of the Greco/Roman world to be a witness. If immoral behavior and language becomes a good witness to promote positive change, then stealing should promote generosity. A negative does not produce a positive. Third, to try and split hairs over embracing an acting part with immoral language and behavior as not being a true representation of one’s self and faith is giving a lot of wiggle room that Scripture does not give. Remember, our first obedience is to follow Jesus, and not to be conformed to the world’s way of doing things. Plus, to compare that with not feeding the poor, is an argument that says one wrong then justifies another wrong. Neither are right, and both are unacceptable in the Believer’s life.

Your being upset over the evangelical political voice is also a weak argument, because if the evangelical voices did not speak out on moral issues, which many are Scriptural, then by not speaking out then only voices that would be heard would be those who are often, notice I did say all the time, wrong on moral and social issues.

I appreciate that Denzel gave 2.5 million dollars to the Church. Yet, with his salary, it would be the same as a child who earns a dollar giving a dime. The amount of the gift is not important, it’s the heart and intention behind the gift, which I believe you would agree with. We get impressed with large sums that are donated, yet with the income that one is making, it may be far less than what one is being lead to give.

I hope that those on the list are devote Believers, but there are some who don’t just reveal the struggle with the sin nature, which we all have, as well, they promote an acceptance of the sin that Scripture says God says we are to be separate from.

I look forward to your taking me to task on the above.
CS on Tue, March 04, 2008

Wendi:

Jim covered many of the points I had with better precision. I admit, I can be a bit of a blunt object dropped on the head when it comes to many of the posts here, and sometimes other people voice things better than me. Addressing one point you said:

“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). “

Aside from examinations of fruits, as Jim referenced, I can provide examples in the NT when people are examined publicly. Paul calls Peter out in the Book of Galatians publicly when he was teaching about circumcision improperly. Paul also cautions against several people by name, such as Alexander the coppersmith and Hymenaeus. We are warned in all sorts of places such as Jude about various people, and cautioned of false teachers in other books (not to say these actors are teachers, mind you).

Many cite Matthew 18 for rebuking people privately and only with intimate knowledge. However, those verses are for when a brother sins against you. If private admonishment was the mode provided for erroneous theological teaching or acting out of turn in public, Paul likely wouldn’t have called out Peter the way he did on that topic.

—

CS
Wendi on Tue, March 04, 2008

Jim and CS –

I never suggested that immoral behavior becomes a good witness. I said that depicting a behavior in film is not the same as behaving. An actor who portrays a murderer does not face criminal charges, we can all tell the difference between acting and reality. I don’t think I would act in a film where I had to drop F-bombs to depict the character I was hired to play, but I’m not going to question whether Denzel is a Christian when he claims to be one because he chose to do so. Once I go there, it is a slippery slope and I’ll have to analyze everyone’s Christianity based on what I think is acceptable scripturally. And don’t go to “use scripture as the barometer,” because there are very few specific 21st century activities which scripture absolutely clear about. We must each stand before the Lord and listen to the HS in our own ears. And we are not the Holy Spirit.

Paul called out his friend Peter, in the Galatian church which he had planted. No comparison to you calling out Denzel. I believe we are to consider the fruit people produce, and the people on this list have produced much good fruit. There is much more in Denzel’s charity portfolio than the 2.5 million he gave to his church, much of it focused on global poverty and the African Aid’s pandemic. This is the kind of fruit Jesus talked about when He said, “when I was hungry . . . when I was naked . . . when I was imprisoned.” You wish to negate this fruit, and even question his salvation, because he has acted in some films that depict society at it’s worst. I’m not willing to do so. We’ll just have to disagree.

Wendi
Ricky on Wed, March 05, 2008

Wendi:

“Otherwise, I believe you need to leave his accountability to his pastor and his own network of Christian advisors.”

What a load.

Aren’t those of us who call on the name of Christ in the same Body? As a former police officer, I can tell you that when bad policemen are exposed, we all shudder because we wear the same uniform.

When a professing “Christian” sells himself/herself out for money whether it be for sex or just “playing roles,” how is the witness of the Body of Christ strengthened?

It is not because it causes damage to all who profess to be “Christians.”

And this business that only certain people are in a position to judge the actions of another person is ridiculous and underscores the immaturity that is rampant in the Body of Christ.
Peter Hamm on Wed, March 05, 2008

Ricky

“What a load.”

There is simply no scriptural basis to call out and judge and confront another believer who you are not in a relationship with.

In CS’s examples, for instance…

Paul was in relationship with Peter out in the Book of Galatians.

Paul cautions people such as Alexander the coppersmith and Hymenaeus, who he knows and has a relationship with.

Jude is referring to people who are known and in community with the hearers of his letter.
Wendi on Wed, March 05, 2008

And in my opinion, there are several reasons our scriptural examples for accountability are only those with whom we have a relationship. Once we start publically calling one another out, those outside the faith watch on and think to themselves “why on earth would I want to become part of that group,” and who could blame them. Plus, when we get into the habit of criticizing people who cannot respond to us, check us on our words and motives, we become very susceptible to “log/eye syndrome,” and less likely to respond when the HS nudges us about our own sins. Finally, it’s just not effective. I feel quite sure that Peter responded to Paul’s admonishment because they he knew that Paul knew him and loved him. I doubt that the response would have been the same if a stranger walked into town and called him out.

Wendi
CS on Wed, March 05, 2008

Wendi:

“And don’t go to “use scripture as the barometer,” because there are very few specific 21st century activities which scripture absolutely clear about. “

For my own knowledge and growth, could you please illustrate some of these for me?

Peter:

“There is simply no scriptural basis to call out and judge and confront another believer who you are not in a relationship with.”

I have to admit, you’ve got me on this one. The examples I used did show relationships that had been established to some degree. I cannot find anything specific at the moment, explicit or demonstrative, to counter aside from talking about examining peoples’ fruit. I may have to say that I am wrong here. We shall see… =)

However, jumping back to Wendi’s later post:

“Once we start publically calling one another out, those outside the faith watch on and think to themselves “why on earth would I want to become part of that group,” and who could blame them.”

I would also say that when those outside the faith watch on and see people who profess themselves to be Christians behaving distinctly in a non-Christian way by breaking the core Commandments, they must also think to themselves, “why on earth would I want to become part of that group?” and who could blame them? Kind of like “Christian” actors spouting blasphemies or acting in movies that degrade the faith.

—

CS
Peter Hamm on Wed, March 05, 2008

[I would also say that when those outside the faith watch on and see people who profess themselves to be Christians behaving distinctly in a non-Christian way by breaking the core Commandments, they must also think to themselves, “why on earth would I want to become part of that group?” and who could blame them?]

This is also the frustration that I feel when people think that as a Christ-follower, I am represented by people like Oral and Richard Roberts or Pat Robertson or ______________(fill in the blank).
LD on Sat, March 08, 2008

Perhaps the focus need not be on man but our Living God. It is not what ‘we’ think, but what HE is doing . Sin has entered the world and no man is exempt from sinning. It is only through the mercy of our Living God that man is a vessel at all for His work. We are nothing without His grace. Is it outside that grace for God to utilize men and women in Hollywood for His will, and yet know they will continue to sin? (Like He is currently doing in each life reading and adding to this blog) King David was a man after God’s heart, yet He continued to sin. Peter and Paul were sinners. Every pastor is a sinner. Let’s focus on Christ and His Good work, not on whether Hollywood passes our litmus test.