Joaquin Walking the Line

     Yes, the man pictured above is the star of Signs and Walk the Line, but now he wants to be known for his “true passion”: rap music.  Or so he says.  Joaquin Phoenix is gripping tabloid headlines with his 180 degree turnaround, trading in his script for a sheet with 16 bars.  Instead of performing in front of a camera, he is now performing behind a microphone.  And not that well, to say the least.  He recently appeared on David Letterman and stuck his gum under Letterman’s desk.  Ben Stiller mocked him at the Grammy’s, donning a shaggy beard and speaking in a slow, staggering tone. 

     Some feel Mr. Phoenix has gone a bit loony.  Others feel he is just chasing his childhood dream of being an award winning rapper.  And who could blame him.  He has already blessed our eyes on the big screen and now he wishes to do the same for our ears via our stereo systems.  However, there is more to this venture than meets the eye.  Joaquin’s brother-in-law, Casey Affleck (the more talented of the Affleck boys) is currently rumored to be filming a documentary about celebrity image.  Joaquin is supposedly the star of this documentary, depicting his rise and fall from the American spotlight and the subsequent reactions of the star-struck American people. 

     From American Idol to America’s Next Top Model to the American silver screen, the majority of American’s are lost in the lives of their favorite celebrities and, in turn, lose out on experiencing their own lives.  Tabloid shows such as TMZ, Access Hollywood, etc. depict celebrities as far superior than the average Americans.  I mean, who cares about what restaurant J. Lo ate at or what diet secrets have helped Gary Busey lose 10 lbs. (the majority of which is probably brain power)?  Casey Affleck and Joaquin Phoenix obviously (and thankfully!) don’t take themselves too seriously if they are willing to dupe the American people into thinking a great actor has lost his mind, only to turn around and prove to Americans that they are the ones who have truly lost theirs. 

     In our day and age, thanks to a mixture of media influence and sin nature, God receives far less worship than men.  A very sad commentary on our part and quite possibly an explanation as to why we as a country are falling on hard times.  I am thankful for Joaquin Phoenix who, in order to get his message across, may be willing to even sacrifice his tremendous career.  While I don’t believe Mr. Phoenix or Mr. Affleck to be Christians, God works in mysterious ways to get his message across.  Let us turn from our admiration of men and their finite capabilities and return to our love for the Almighty God who is infinitely powerful.  He deserves all glory, honor and praise!!

     It seems lately I’ve been taking issue with labels.  No, not the product of magical label makers as seen on TV.  I mean labels such as these: Republican/Democrat; Protestant/Evangelical/Anglican/Catholic/Orthodox; Conservative/Liberal; Pastor/Layperson; etc.  I think you get the idea.  It seems that many people like to “hide” behind these labels because of their desire for things to remain comfortable or familiar.  It begins in the workplace.  How many times have we heard someone say: “I’m not going to do that…It’s not my job…I’m not a (insert job title here)?”  In the political world, both Republicans and Democrats are failing our country right now because they play party politics, meet agendas and care more about the outer appearance than the substance of a person or a bill.  And this problem even seems to rear its ugly head in the Church.  Laypeople don’t always accept the responsibilities that Jesus Christ gave to ALL believers (live a righteous life, preach the Gospel) because they aren’t leaders in a pastoral ministry.  Pastors even may seem distant from laypeople/nonbelievers because they choose to favor ministry within the church rather than outside of it. 

     Now, there will always be exceptions to the issue above and there isn’t anything inherently wrong with labels.  Proper labels identify ourselves in the midst of many flawed social and religious systems.  I also understand the importance of structure and leadership roles.  However, I truly believe that our world would be a better place if people lived as equals and sought to fulfill our duties despite a given label(s).  Our world would be better when politicians seek to serve the people that voted them into office regardless of their political party.  Our world would be a better place when coworkers would work for the betterment of their employer’s vision.  And our world would certainly be a better place when Christians begin to accept their responsibility to the Lord Jesus Christ and the unsaved world to preach the Good News.  Not just hand out tracts or wear tshirts or slap a bumpersticker on their car but really share the Gospel and minister to those around them. 

     Labels seem to encase an individual within a realm of familiarity and familiarity often times creates a spirit of apathy towards anything that would stretch the individual beyond the confinements of their label.  Politicians, employees and especially Christians who choose to use their label as a crutch for their failures in their jobs and, more importantly, their religion must understand how much better the world would be if they lived as if there is no one better qualified to complete a given task then themselves. 

     Personally, I am an evangelical (meaning I preach the Gospel) Protestant Christian Republican teacher/coach.  I subscribe to these labels in order to identify myself among the billions of others in this world but also to seperate me from individuals with flawed theological/political/social ideals.  However, while I do choose to label myself as such, I hope and will pray that I would go beyond the boundaries of these titles should the Lord, my employer, my family or my country require me to do so.