Last week I was on a nationally televised Christian television program discussing some of my views on the power of love and unconditional acceptance. During the program the host asked me about the “Ring the Alarm on Hunger” national food drives that I developed in conjunction with my church member and friend Beyonce’ Knowles. . . . After the show I received a few very interesting emails applauding my hunger work and condemning me for suggesting that Beyonce is a person of the faith. Here’s my take. The Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger is an actor/entertainer who has portrayed some pretty tough characters in movies. When the director says “cut,” Arnold returns to his dressing room takes off the RoBo missile launchers, puts on his Governor Suit and returns to the Capital because he is an entertainer. In the same fashion Beyonce leaves home goes to wardrobe, puts on a costume, hits the stage and entertains. After the finale, she returns to wardrobe, changes clothes and returns to her life. . . The same Jesus who hung out with lepers, dined with tax collectors, dialoged [sic] with prostitutes, and prioritized a woman with soiled clothes from twelve years of bleeding unconditionally loves you, me, Arnold and Beyonce. --Pastor Rudy

My first reaction upon reading this was that, yes, Jesus dined with prostitutes and sinners--but afterwards they stopped being prostitutes. I agree with Pastor Rudy's general principle of loving and accepting people on an individual level, but it seems that the "life of an entertainer," as the world has defined it for us, is not compatible with the Christian vocation. I am not even sure that it is compatible with being a good Governor of California, but that is a discussion for another time. However, we are called to transform the world, not conform to the world. It's a harder fight than we often anticipate. The sphere of entertainment has become especially polluted, which is not not surprising when you consider that what is meant to be a side diversion or an occasional break has become omnipresent and treated as causa sui, for its own sake. That is looking at the entertainment industry (part of what one of my professors called the "Media Entertainment Complex") from the outside, as a consumer and--face the facts--a supporter of it. What are you supporting? On the other hand, trying to picture myself on the inside, it must be hideously hard to maintain your faith in the shadowy space of Hollywood--all glamour, no substance. It just seems an artificial space, which is perhaps why we treat and speak of celebrities such as Beyonce as though they too were artificial. No, they are real people, with real souls in jeopardy. She may not know it, but she is harming herself as well as the culture by selling her sexual attractiveness to the public. I guess we all really need to pray for everyone who works at entertaining others, that they might do it for the benefit and edification of all, and the betterment of our sad and twisted culture.