I found it interesting that apparently the Christian community is upset at comedian Kathy Griffin's remarks about what she said at the Emmy Awards. Below is an article about her comments and the reaction of a Christian theatre company below.By Ray McDonald Washington24 September 2007
Kathy Griffin A Christian theater group has scolded Kathy Griffin for her off-color remarks Emmy Award acceptance speech.
The Miracle Theater of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee spent $90,440 on a full-page advertisement in the September 17 national edition of USA Today.
Proclaiming "enough is enough," the ad took the comedienne to task for her speech, in which she said that "a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus." She went on to hold up her Emmy, made an off-color remark about Jesus, and proclaimed "this award is my God now!"
Kathy Griffin won her Emmy for her Bravo reality show My Life on the D-List.
The Miracle Theater's ad reads "We at the Miracle Theater consider it an honor to stand for Jesus today. We may never win a national award. We may never be household names. We may never be seen in Hollywood. Although others may choose to use their national platform to slander our God, we are honored as professional entertainers to stand for Christ."
General manager Russ Hollingsworth said group members were offended by jokes about Jesus. "When word reached our cast that a Hollywood celebrity had stood before TV cameras and said such vulgar things about Christ, they were incensed. It's just not OK anymore to mock Christians and Jesus with impunity."
In a statement released through her publicist, the 46-year-old comedienne said she meant the remark not as a slight on Jesus Christ, but as a spoof of celebrities who routinely thank Jesus during awards acceptance speeches. "Am I the only Catholic left with a sense of humor?," she said.
Griffin's speech also drew fire from the Catholic League, an anti-defamation group which called upon the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to "denounce Griffin's obscene and blasphemous comment" at the September 9 ceremony.
The E! Channel chose to edit Griffin's speech when it aired the taped event on September 15.
Who are we to demand of our very much non-Christian entertainers that they show us any honor?!?! Yes, I know what you are thinking! But they would never say that about the Jews or the Muslims. True. In fact, we as a country seemed to have a little bit of fun (I know I found it delicious) watching Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad being schooled by the administration and students of Columbia University. But I would dare them to try the same thing in Iran. Those students would discover the same fate of the apparently non-existent homosexuals in Iran. I concede that this is a true fact: Christianity is an easy target. But there are 2 very valid reasons we are such an easy target: one factual and one Biblical. First of all, I am willing to admit that our "community" has an over abundance of freaks that are like magnets for negative attention. It is like that nerd in Junior High that at times you feel sorry for but every now and then you come to realize that the kid needs to be pounded so he won't be so daw-gone annoying! Or better yet you tease him just a little bit because his over-reaction is pricelessly hysterical. Come on, you know the kid I am talking about. And there are many in the "Christian community" that resemble that twerp.
Now biblically, Am also reminded of a little beatitude that Jesus closed with that went: "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." Matthew 5:10-12
Hmmmmm. This is a very interesting approach to insults that we have seem to be forgetting about! Why do we act surprised when the world acts like the world! It is time we take Jesus' advice and rejoice when the world starts to insult us! So bring it on Kathy! Say what you want because it gives us the opportunity to share in the insults and persecution of Christ himself. Thank Jesus that he did not act indignant and flabbergasted when his executioners came calling. He did not take out an add in the Jerusalem Times demanding respect for what he was trying to do. And how do we think we advance the cause of Christ by acting this way? We are to be people who rejoice in insults and persecution. We are to turn the other cheek in the face of persecution. And we are to love our enemies. I really think the kingdom of Christ would expand so much quicker if we actually followed his teaching particularly in the Sermon on the Mount.
So let's PU-LEASE stop acting as if we have rights that the world must respect us! Let Kathy speak! Let Christopher Hitchens say whatever he wants about God not being great and Billy Graham being a fraud. Let those San Franciscans take mock photos of the Last Supper. Let Richard Dawkins rail against us as delusional. It is about time the American church deals with some persecution and allow their faith to be tested through it all! Don't get mad. Rejoice and be glad! You're actually in real good company. Let's just take it on the chin like those before us and hope that our reaction will not reinforce stereotypes but actually break through the hearts of those who are hardened against God. Remember, these people are NOT THE ENEMY! We are called to love them regardless of their attitude towards us. Let their words be more of a reflection of their character than in how silly we look when we react to their comments.
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