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We have got to get over our obsession with celebrity and start making connections between what people say and what they actually do. It is never going to be a good thing for Christianity for us to hold these celebrities up as examples of what a Christian should be. If we want to show the world examples of Christianity that should make us cheer, it’ll be our faithful pastors, our grandmothers who have lived quiet sacrificial lives, our friends who would lay down their lives for us, the teachers who go to school every day and live out the commands to love the unlovable and to value every life." Read the rest of this post here from Your Mom Has a Blog
and her follow up to the criticism:
"Yesterday’s post was not about whether Matthew McConaughey is a Christian. It wasn’t about whether I am better than him or worse than him. It wasn’t even about him thanking God in his acceptance speech. The post was a reaction to what I was seeing on the internet in the hours following his speech. What I saw was Christian people reaching up to that stage in Hollywood to cling to Matthew McConaughey’s nice tuxedo jacket, to hang on to his coattails and excitedly exclaim that he is one of us. That he validates us and he makes our God more acceptable, and if Matthew McConaughey is going the praise the Lord, then that must make our faith worth more. I didn’t want us, as Christians, to feel like Matthew’s speech somehow legitimized our trust in Jesus." Read the rest.
Matthew 7:21-23 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
While none of us are perfect, we, the redeemed who make up the Body of Christ, can speak up for the truth and identify what is helpful and harmful to the church. God gave us the Word. He expects us to act it out in our own lives. Don't get me wrong. I am glad Mr. McConaughey acknowledged and gave thanks to God, but seeing everyone hold him up as a 'Christian role model' because of he merely mentioned God disturbs me. I'd give him credit for being a role model if he stood out as an actor and encouraged Hollywood to make God honoring films by refusing to participate in anything less. That would get my attention and earn my respect the same as Melissa did by speaking out so bravely.
