Posted on 03/03/2014 9:43:45 AM PST by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
Over much of its history, the Academy Awards have been the backdrop for some rather off-putting acceptance speeches.
In 2011, for instance, Melissa Leo dropped a so-called “F-bomb” when she accepted the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role in “The Fighter.”
In 2003, “Bowling for Columbine” was awarded Best Documentary, which provided Michael Moore a platform to rant against duly-elected President George W. Bush. “We live in the time,” he said, “where we have fictitious election results that elects a fictitious president.
And, in 1972, Jane Fonda took the stage after winning “Best Actress” for her performance in “Klute,” telling the audience, “There’s a great deal to say and I’m not going to say it tonight.” Then she proceeded to go backstage, where she declared, “There are murders being committed in our name in Indochina.”
Last night’s 86th Annual Academy Awards ceremony was decidedly different. That’s because the Holy Spirit showed up most unexpectedly.
It began when Darlene Love, a 1960s backup singer, strode to the stage to accept the Oscar for Best Documentary for “20 Feet From Stardom,” the film in which she starred.
Midway through her remarks, she was filled with the Holy Spirit and suddenly gave a powerful, impromptu performance of the gospel hymn, “His Eye on the Sparrow.” When she finished, Bill Murray leapt to his feet – yes, funnyman Bill Murray – and much of the audience followed suit.
It truly was a God moment.
Then there were the remarks by Matthew McConaughey, who’s leading role in “Dallas Buyer’s Club” won him an Oscar statuette for Best Actor. McConaughey didn’t deliver a mere acceptance speech, but powerful, Spirit-filled testimony.
“First off,” he told an audience of an estimated 40 million television viewers, “I want to thank God, because that’s Who I look up to. He has graced my life with opportunities that I know are not of my hand, nor any other human hand.”
He concluded, “Amen and all right, all right, all right.”
The secularist media didn’t get it. Like Time’s Isaac Guzmán, who posted an article today riffing on “McConaughey’s Confounding Acceptance Speech,” which the writer disparaged as “semi-bizarre.”
Well, of course it was confounding to Guzmán; to others who “didn’t get” McConaughey’s remarks.The Book of Corinthians advises, “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.”
Meanwhile, to those of us who are Christ followers, it was stirring to witness McConaughey’s testimony last night; to hear him give God the glory for the opportunities, the blessings he has received over his film career.
It proved the Oscar-winning actor is not ashamed of the Gospel.
Of course I didn’t watch the filthy movie. And I do read my Bible, which is why I know cursing is mentioned in it. As for judgmental Christians, we could use some Christians who can make sound judgements.
I watch essentially no movies, and I have read my Bible thoroughly.
Now, did you want to answer my question, or no? Because throwing out a random verse of Scripture and some innuendo and failing to explain yourself didn’t really get traction.
It makes me think that maybe you don’t really understand how that scripture you quoted fits the situation, after all.
“It proved the Oscar-winning actor is not ashamed of the Gospel.”
I hate to take issue with you, but he didn’t come close to the gospel. What he said was fine as far as it went, but all he proved is that he is a theist. A Jew could have said what he said, and so could a Mormon, a Catholic, or even a Muslim. He came no where near the Christian gospel.
The gospel is a very specific thing—the good news of Jesus Christ. It is “the power of God unto Salvation.” (Romans 9:16) Judaism, Mormonism, Islam, and Catholicism don’t have the gospel of Jesus Christ. Each of those systems offers a damning system of works. Biblical Christianity differs from all others in that it operates purely on the free grace of God.
Perhaps you know all of this and were simply careless with your words, but I must make this point because many who read Free Republic do not know what the gospel is and isn’t.
Here are a couple of passages that nicely summarize the gospel for us:
“Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:3-5)
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
The Gospel Defined & Discerned
http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=81901181950
So you think God Almighty was represented at that cesspool? If Christi showed up there, He would be crucified. So what does the verse mean? Nothing? Read Isaiah 1. God is not interested in the vain oblations of a whoremonger.
The whole general revelation of creation and specific revelation of scripture screams of His separation from darkness. To think God was at the Oscars, or His Spirit was blessed by anything that went on there, is to know nothing about Him. I could copy and paste a million verses if I thought it would do any good. Just read it yourself and stop letting Joel Osteen, Matt McWhatever, or some priest tell you what it says.
To bad Allah didn’t show up at the Oscars and blow the place to bit’s and pieces.
Judgement is a bad thing? Or only a bad thing when others disagree with your judgement?
>> So you think God Almighty was represented at that cesspool?
Yes, I do.
Are YOU claiming you know what is on the minds and is in the hearts of every single soul in that audience? All of them?
Might there be just one in that audience that has been convicted by the Spirit, and has now been given courage by what whatshisface said?
Is it not possible that, with that flame burning a little brighter, that soul might turn to Jesus Christ?
How can you be so sure?
>> To think God was at the Oscars... is to know nothing about Him. I could copy and paste a million verses...
Seriously? How about I copy ‘n paste just a few verses.
1) The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
2) If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
3) Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
4) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So you think those verses prove that God was represented in the pervert’s assent to some vague higher power? Though it’s true that whatever talent he has is from God, given the movie that put him on the podium, God was mocked buy the pervert’s words. Probably intentionally. God did see what happened, you’re right about that, but He was not a participant.
Do you think McConaughey’s movie was a manifestation of God’s blessings in his life? Well, no it isn’t. It’s no more appropriate than Ted Kennedy thanking God for allowing him to get away with Chappaquiddick. Since it’s not, to say that God shows up at the Oscars because McConaughey thanked him for his win, in a lascivious movie, is false.
GOD was represented by Himself there. That was your question, and I answered it. More correctly, I didn’t answer it, I showed you the Holy Spirit’s inspired answer through the writings of others in Scripture.
In total darkness, a tiny match — a tiny glimmer of righteousness — is highly visible. See for yourself how much “press” Matthew Mc... got with his small paean to God Almighty.
No, whatshisface didn’t go full on Billy Graham to the crowd... but he DID open the door to a tiny glimmer of light.
You will not find me quenching the Spirit on that one. You will find me praying that that tiny flame burns brighter in Matthew Mc...’s *own* heart, and that it ignite a flame in at least ONE other in that audience, and hopefully more.
With GOD, all — ALL — things are possible. Even revival in Hollywood.
Or in your self-righteousness would you rather that they continue in darkness, and all burn in Hell for eternity?
By the way, it’s fine for you to “debate” this way with me (if I may call your browbeating “debate”). I have a thick skin and I am confident that “it is well with my soul”. But I surely hope you don’t browbeat new believers and not believers the way you have behaved with me. It’s not an effective way to win souls.
I’m not really trying to debate you. Just letting you know that not everyone is buying this limp wristed Christianity that the neoevangelicalism, Hollywood, and Billy Graham have ruined America with.
So what exactly IS the gospel according to demsHateGod?
“And I do read my Bible, which is why I know cursing is mentioned in it.”
The “cursing” that is mentioned in the Bible has nothing to do with the modern notion of “curse words”.
I’m getting dangerously close to violating Proverbs 26:4. The Gospel is God becoming a man, living a sinless life, dying on the cross for our sins, resurrecting the third day. All according to the scripture, not according to me, or you, or Hollywood. It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
Says you. But swear it up. Teach your kids to do it. We’ll find out who’s right in the end.
Concern yourself also with Matthew 5:22. ;-)
>> The Gospel is God becoming a man, living a sinless life, dying on the cross for our sins, resurrecting the third day... It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.
I like that, and I agree.
Please tell me what portion of that gospel Billy Graham is in violation of.
When he yolked with Catholics who lead people to Hell with works salvation, and when he said people who have never heard the Gospel will be saved. Those equivocations make his gospel ambiguous at best. His apostasy goes back a long way and is well documented.
“Says you.”
No, it isn’t my personal opinion, it’s a fact. “Cursing” and “cussing” are two quite different things.
“But swear it up. Teach your kids to do it. We’ll find out who’s right in the end.”
I never said anything about teaching kids profanity, so I’m not sure why you’re trying to change the subject.
Clearly we differ on one important thing.
I see Christians who are in alignment on the Gospel but differ in minor doctrinal issues as part of the SOLUTION to “Thy kingdom come”.
And I see ISLAM as the evil we Christians must work together to overcome.
Whereas you see those minor differences among Christians as the problem.
While you’re busy flipping the bird to those Christians in the cars next to you who are driving either too fast or too slow for you... do you even notice that giant bus with ISLAM written on the front coming up fast in your rear view mirror?
I’m done. You can have the last word.
GOD’s rich blessings on you in JESUS’ precious name!
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