Watching a hero fall. Do we accept the actions of those we admire even if they’re not Biblical?

This morning was a damp and cool morning here in Vegas, so I decided to Watch a movie with one of my favorite actors, Denzel Wahington. The movie was called flight. The story centered around a pilot who was an alcoholic/drug addict, who by the fickle finger of fate was high and drunk the day his plane had a serious malfunction causing the plane to plumet to the ground. During the rapid descent, we was able to perform a maneuver that was nothing short of miraculous, and saved almost everyone on board. I’ll leave it to you to see the rest of the movie, but something started bothering me as I watched the movie unfold.

Now one of the reasons why I have always admired Mr. Washington’s career is that he is a Christian. His father wa a prominant Pastor, and Denzel even gave thought of becoming one as well. But here’s what started bothering me as I watched the plot unfold. Here’s a man who is claiming to be a Christian (which I believe he is), cussing on screen, running around with naked women on the show, and a few other things that clearly do not reflect the Christian lifestyle. Something about it just didn’t seem to fit, and it just seemed wrong. Now if I thought this, what would the people who don’t know Jesus think of this “Double life” that many Christian leaders and role-models display?

I will always think very highly of Mr. Washington’s on-scree skills, and would like to reitterate that I love his acting. I just pray that there will be more roles open up that would enable him and other actors to show the world that there are good movies out there that reflect Christian lifestyles. Ones that will show a more positive spin on the rewards and joy that a Christian life can bring. But most of all, I pray that more of our role-models will find the strength to turn down roles that will compromise what they say and do offscreen.

Here are some verses that relate to my little jaunt on a touch subjest these days… 🙂

 

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

 

James 4:4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

 

Acts 17:28 For “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’

 

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

 

Titus 2:1-15 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine. Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. …

 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.