Celebrity Jesus
September 7th 2007 22:42
While it seems the vogue thing for many celebs to wear their faith on their sleeve, that's not what really bothers me about celebrity Jesus. When some suddenly "find Jesus" when they run afoul of the law. I mean, that is pathetic too. Like Paris Hilton or Michael Vick, to name two of the most recent. One has to ponder, if Jesus was indeed "found" by Paris, why he didn't tell her to trade the Bentley in for a Honda and give the proceeds to feed the poor. Or maybe he could tell Mel Gibson to kick down some of the profits from the movie Mel made about him. He must hold some of the rights, after all. Oh yea, that's right...celebrity Jesus wants-no, demands- that you be rich. And don't give me that tired old argument stating it's "their money" or "Jesus calls us to different things." The bible is very clear about how the Christian is to care for the poor. It is perhaps the greatest single calling in the book.
While that makes me question the veracity of their faith, it's not what really gets me. The celebrity Jesus trait that really frosts me is when they pay homage to God and/or Christ after winning a big event or an award. And the further they go, the worse it gets. Rappers who write songs that completely denigrate women and then claim him. Tony Dungee, after winning the Superbowl, saying he did it "the Lord's way." Fair enough, if the rest of the world's problems were solved.
If God is interested enough to care about how the Superbowl is won, or how many awards a singer received, or the success of a movie, then he damn sure should be interested in the thousands of children that die each and every day. You know maybe, just for the hell of it, end war. Of course, some will argue against divine involvement, citing "free will." I agree, we have free will. Why is it, Christians claim anything good comes from God, and anything bad is the result of "free will" or the actions of the Devil? Couldn't a person choose to do good, all on their own?
The smugness of thinking that God somehow smiled down on a particular person and decided to make them the best singer of the year or a great football player is beyond me. "I'm so special, God loves me, screw the poor, the sick, the victims of genocide."
Don't get me wrong, I am not against success, I am not saying that we all have to give up everything we have or own and devote it to the poor. Although, to borrow a phrase, I am sure that answers the question, "What would Jesus do?"
While that makes me question the veracity of their faith, it's not what really gets me. The celebrity Jesus trait that really frosts me is when they pay homage to God and/or Christ after winning a big event or an award. And the further they go, the worse it gets. Rappers who write songs that completely denigrate women and then claim him. Tony Dungee, after winning the Superbowl, saying he did it "the Lord's way." Fair enough, if the rest of the world's problems were solved.
If God is interested enough to care about how the Superbowl is won, or how many awards a singer received, or the success of a movie, then he damn sure should be interested in the thousands of children that die each and every day. You know maybe, just for the hell of it, end war. Of course, some will argue against divine involvement, citing "free will." I agree, we have free will. Why is it, Christians claim anything good comes from God, and anything bad is the result of "free will" or the actions of the Devil? Couldn't a person choose to do good, all on their own?
The smugness of thinking that God somehow smiled down on a particular person and decided to make them the best singer of the year or a great football player is beyond me. "I'm so special, God loves me, screw the poor, the sick, the victims of genocide."
Don't get me wrong, I am not against success, I am not saying that we all have to give up everything we have or own and devote it to the poor. Although, to borrow a phrase, I am sure that answers the question, "What would Jesus do?"
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Comment by Winston
Small Thoughts on Big Questions