Here are some comments I have posted on the Christian post and the comments of others responding to me: here is the article
here are the comments: check back because I will post futher responses in the comments of this post:
amendoza
I think this made Christianity worse in peoples eyes. Underwood and Washington have lives that somewhat follow the faith (I am not judging their Christianity) but the other two: Montag, who openly sleeps with her boyfriend, gets trashed at clubs and Madden who, is having a baby with his girlfriend which is fornication (not repentent might I add). I like how the article comes from the highly thological US weekly. This is annoying
Anthony
mcfbc
I am excited to read that Montag and Madden are seeking God. I am also thankful that they are in God's hands and not in the hands of so many moralists that post here. I am praying that wherever they are in their relationship with God He will honor their searching and draw them closer to Him. I will also pray that we as Christians will be less condemning and more excited when we read about people seeking truth.
amendoza
mcfbc, the post doesnt say they are seeking, it says they found God. I can understand if the two came out saying 'the lifestyle I am living has been wrong and I repent and put my faith in Christ' instead they just claim they believe and read the bible. Remember James 2:19(paraphrase) You believe in God, good. Even the demons believe and trembile. and according to scripture (matthew 3 I believe) when Satan tempts Christ HE USES SCRIPTURE which means he must have read it.just because I read a book about plants doesnt make me a tree so just because they read the Bible it doesn't make them a Christian!
God bless,
Anthony
mcfbc
God has us all in different places. I am thankful that He has revealed the truth of the gospel to you and me. I agree reading the Bible doesn't make one a Christian. However, I am hopeful that through their reading God will reveal his grace to them. We have all been at places where we have been ignorant of God's ways, both as believer and non-believers. Yet God showed much mercy to each of us. Instead of condemning them for their ignorance, we need to be praying that God's grace woud be revealed in their lives.
amendoza
I hope you do not misunderstand me, I in no way am condeming them but what frustraights me is that US weekly has published this and it makes it out to be ok to do all the forementioned things they are doing. thats what bothers me not the fact that they say they are reading the bible.
God bless,
Anthony
prv3116
1st...I here reading the bible but what about the "Word' in motion? Where is the salvation and if we are believers it is our reasonable service to show God in all we do. I pray that their faith increases. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing the Word of God.James 1:22 (King James Version)But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.2nd... When we state that we as believers read the bible but live contrary to the bible are we really believers or "carnal Christians". Carnality is an emnity against GodRomans 8:7 (kjv)Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.James 1:22-25 (New International Version)22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does.
ndmaster
Listen up guys! Stop bible quoting because you are essentially being argumentative and counterproductive to the will of the Holy Spirit. Given the influence that hollywood has on the lives of millions of people, we need to SUPPORT any indications that the Holy Spirit of God is growing in it's presence even in Hollywood (the last place on earth that you might think that this kind of miracle could happen). Encourage those who would be first to blaze the path for Christ in Hollywood - let them know that they have our prayers and support! All of sinned and fall short...and are a work in progress...let's be careful not to cast any stones on our imperfect brothers and sisters in Christ, but encourage them all the more as we see the day approaching...
faithcomesbyhearing
We shouldn't be bashing others for reading the Word, when nearly 65% of all Bible readers have never read the entire New Testament. Thank God for His Word. It has the power to change the hearts and lives of many. Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word. Since most of us say we don't have time to read the Bible, then there are other solutions, like downloading a free Audio Bible. I got mine at FaithComesByHearing.com or you can find it on iTunes.
eirene43
It's so easy to judge another person. It's also destructive when you don't know everything but God does. I'm really encouraged to hear that despite just talking about their faiths in an article here and there, some of them are doing something. I haven't heard all of The Bible Experience with Denzel Washington but from what I've heard of it, I really think it's an awesome project. That's another great audiobible besides the ones that come from Faith Comes By Hearing. The Bible Experience uses the TNIV.
amendoza
faithcomesbyhearing, "Some of these Hollywood stars are role models for others, and might spur others to begin to read or listen to His Word" I understand that but if they are looking at the Bible as a way to be cool like the Hollywood stars and not reading it because it is the 100% true and innerrant word of God the scripture can be taken and twisted and thats not good. Someone reading a Bibile isnt always a good thing, sometimes they use it to build an attack on Christianity or twist it into a totaly different and wrong idea (ie Brian McClaren and other emergents that have twisted scripture beyond all recognisability). Agian I am not saying that these people are wrong for reading the Bible I am however, angered at the US weekly article because it makes it look like if you read your Bible your ok. FALSE!!! if you don't repent and put your faith in Christ you can read the Bible all you want and your still going to hell (and contrary to Doug Pagitt hell is a verry real place)
God bless,
Anthony
Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments on this topic
God bless,
Anthony
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6 comments:
Hey guys,
quick update: the last comment of mine at the end of the post was flaged as innipropriate by somebody that must be offended by the truth
God bless,
Anthony
I've read through all the comments going back and forth and only one seemed to mention the fact that yes while Denzel and Blair (for example) chooses to star in secular movies, they also chooses to do Christian projects. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to listen to some sample clips of The Bible Experience, an audio Bible. The Complete Bible and Old Testament (featuring Denzel in the Song of Songs) was released about three weeks ago. The New Testament was released last year and was named the 2007 AudioBook of the Year and has become the bestselling new Bible.
I understand that some will see this as not inherently Christian, but I encourage you to give it a try. This is the only project of its magnitude to bring together "Hollywood", musicians and clergy members from around the world. The Bible Experience is just that, a new way to experience the Word of the Lord and perhaps bring His Word to those who may not have listened before.
Besides, to be blunt how many people can truly say they've read the entire Bible? With The Bible Experience, you will actaully be able to listen to the greatest book ever created.
Be blessed,
Rebecca
Well in response to you Rebecca. I do not believe that the main problem here is Denzel reading the Bible, but I believe it is the fact that we see his life baring no fruit of the Spirit. So why do we even care that he is reading it? We should only be caring about his eternal salvation. Just because you read the Bible doesn't mean that you are a Christian. Mormons can read the bible, so can the Islam.
There are plenty of other audio bibles anyway. Why do we need to make the Bible into a piece of Jesus junk?
True, Denzel did have a part in "The Bible Experience". I could find actors to have parts in a movie called "The Koran Experience" doesn't make them muslim. If they are truly are Christian, have them take their money and invest it in Christain filmaking and such. With as big as Denzel is, he could probably bring fans on board to watch those movies.
Hey guys thanks for all the great comments, here are some from the site:
jester_in_the_Kings_court:
I love Denzel. Especially after his movie "Training Day". Very Christian like with all the violence and cursing. You've got to love Christians like that! They say they are a Christian and then do movies about murder, rape, adultery, cursing, etc, etc. Christians already have a bad enough name in their own right without "Christian" Hollywood adding garbage to the pile. A Christian is a person who is one in deed...not in word alone. All his talk on faith and God is drowned out by his deeds (i.e. movies of ill-repute). So far, denzel hasn't shown me a Christian example. I suppose that "John Q" would be the closest I've seen to anything remotely good from him.
I'd like to see him do a movie from that Christian group that did "Facing The Giants". But , then again, there's no real money in it, so why bother? It's all about the money, not scruples.
I think that maybe there should be an amendment about the separation of church and hollywood.
jester_in_the_Kings_court:
Oh my word!
Joel Madden...""I'm a pretty conservative guy in the way I live," claimed Madden, who has a tattoo of Jesus on his arm and is expecting a baby with girlfriend Nicole Richie."
Expecting a baby with his (unwed) girlfriend? And he calls himself "pretty conservative"? I think he's getting "liberal" and "conservative" confused here. I've never known a true conservative Christian who condones sex outside the bond of marriage.
Hey every one here are some more comments:
zenodaddy:
'I've never known a true conservative Christian who condones sex outside the bond of marriage.'
Not one over the age of 50 anyway. Before you start flogging me let me be clear... 'Conservative' Christians are just as carefree about sex as pagans. Most people who claim they do not have sex outside marriage are married and are not single, and there are those who are single and do not engage in sex, however, more do then do not, it is mostly lip service.
Do I condone it? No I do not, but it does happen for more often then people like to admit.
jester_in_the_Kings_court:
then they are not truly "conservative Christians"...they are mislead Christians (aka...Liberal Christians)
Kinda like William Clinton..."I did not have sex with that woman..." but he still considers himself a Christian.....VERY liberal. People toss around that (Christian) label like a sick wino tossing his cookies, and people wonder why Christianity holds no more credibility than one too.
Everyone wants to be a Christian when it's poplular or it will suit their agenda, but when the persecution begins, they'll be the first to blubber and cry and say "Hey, fellas...i was just joshin'! I'm not really one of those wackos"
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