Last night was the Golden Globe Awards. I am of all men the least qualified to opine on the worthiness of the winners. I have no list of losers who were robbed. I don’t even know who the winners and losers were. I haven’t looked. Truth be told, as I scanned the nominees for the various categories, I recognized very few of the names and have not seen the vast majority of the movies. My wife loves moves. Me? Not so much. The movie better have a great story line with lots of drama and suspense if it is going to maintain my attention past an hour and a half. I find that most movies are far too long. They could have told the same story in a much more compelling way in half the time.
But this blog is not about my taste (or lack thereof) in movies. Despite my not having seen the movies and not recognizing the names of the actors and actresses, I turned on the Golden Globes last night. The day’s football games were over, and there wasn’t much else on. So I tuned in to the Golden Globes for a bit. Long enough to see the beginning of Seth Meyers’ opening.
I could only watch for a short time. Now I know that Meyers makes his money by making people laugh. He’s a late night comedian. He was chosen as the host for the awards show because the event planners wanted him to be funny. And his opening was full of jokes. The crowd laughed. Meyers smiled. But I’m not sure what was so funny.
I don’t mean to sound stodgy. I am always up for a good laugh. But making light of sexual assault, especially when standing before a gathering of an industry that has been rocked by scandal over the last few months, is not funny. If anything has become very clear over the last several months, it is that we have a sexual assault problem in this country.
This problem must be taken seriously. It must be taken seriously in Hollywood. It must be taken seriously in Washington, DC. And it must be taken seriously in the church house. Victims need to know that they will be heard and cared for when they come forward. Perpetrators need to know that their sin will find them out, and they will be brought to justice. I am glad women are feeling empowered to come forward and tell their stories. Let’s put an end to the societal pressures that encourage victims to remain silent.
I don’t mean to beat up on Hollywood with this article. Yes, they are out of touch. Yes, they have been promoting sexual deviancy for years and are reaping what they have sown. None of that should be news to anyone. But sometimes it is important for us to remind ourselves that this isn’t okay.
But Hollywood laughs because she doesn’t know how to respond. Moral bankruptcy leads to more moral bankruptcy. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ must chart a better way. May that begin in our churches as we point to God’s design for human sexuality. We must make clear that any sexual activity outside the marriage union of one man and one woman is sin. We must provide hope and healing for victims rather than sweeping things under the rug when they bring shame to our churches. We must call abusers to repentance and hold them accountable for their actions, even as we maintain that the gospel of Jesus is for even the worst of sinners.
While that failings of the culture on this issue may cause us to shake our heads, let’s commit to removing the speck from our own eyes so we can see clearly to remove the log out of the eyes of the culture.
I hope not to sound too conspiratorial, but Hollywood likes to see itself as the moral conscience of America – the cool kids looking down from on high at the immoral conservatives. The sexual abuse scandal cost them the perception of high ground. What I saw on the news today was an effort to reclaim that ground.
Hollywood and the American music industry bathe in hypocrisy when viewing itself as the “moral conscience of America.”
Dave Miller, as you would expect, I watched the National Championship game last night. Even though my team won, I had a sorrow in my heart for the wretched depth of immorality to which my nation has fallen that took away the fun I have in watching NCAA football.
The halftime show, featuring Kendrick Lamar, kinda ruined the night for me. His music was vulgar, and course, and sexually charged downward to a putrid standard of depravity.
His song, Humble, was vulgar suggestiveness and disrespectful to women and girls. Yet, people cheered. I am glad that my daughters fell asleep before the half and went to bed. It was shameful. Frankly, for me, it ruined the event.
No, my friends, Hollywood and American music celebrities as a whole are not beacons on a hill calling America to a better way of life and moral purity. In reality, America is going to hell in a wagon and the entertainment industry is one of the horses pulling it.
There is never a justification for sexual abuse or hyper-flirtation that includes demeaning and derogatory actions on the part of men towards women. Having said this, # slinky, revealing and suggestive clothing and body language also reveals a not-so-innocent “industry standard” when it comes to women in the world of performance and movie making. Last night in black was no acception.
When Beyonce became the acceptable role model for a sitting president , his wife and his teen aged children, we had clear vision into a future of deviant behavior (men and women) being forced into American “normalism”. Electing Mr. Trump as president put an exclamation point on it all.
I have yet to hear a woman speak up in confession and call the sisterhood to some level of accountability for the less-than-pure motives poisoning their world and giving at least some explanation (not excuse) for men playing the game with them–if not taking it further than is presently deemed “acceptable”. I have yet to hear a woman of the accusatory bunch acknowledge that they have (or may have had) a role, if not blame in provocations/manipulations gone too far. Surprisingly, there have been no personal confessions, job resignations or loss of employment. How refreshing and healing that would be.
Personally, I think that electing Oprah Winfrey president and lawfully instituting the burka for all women is the best solution for our future as men and women so prone to lust and abuse. Looks like we may be Sharia bound anyhow.
Thanks for the encouragement Adam. We do have a bit of room here for success by example. We are a long way from I Peter 3:3, even in so many of our churches.
Dave: Unfortunately or Fortunately Hollywood has done more to raise awareness to sexual assault and unwanted advances than the church has. I don’t think it’s Hollywood you should be chastising.
Glenn: I agree with the first sentence of your comment, and as a Christian woman and a woman, I disagree with the rest. You just don’t get it yet.
Debbie, I realize that evangelicals love to beat up on Hollywood, but that’s really not my intent here. However, I really don’t think it’s true that Hollywood has done more to raise awareness for sexual assault than the church. Yes, there are churches that have sinned badly in this area and have contributed to the further victimization of those harmed in their churches. Those facts are indisputable. But most pastors and churches are selling to faithfully protect the flock of God entrusted to them. Hollywood continues to produce movies where sexually deviant behavior is celebrated. I know it’s not popular to say that such things contribute to a culture where sexual assault runs rampant, but it’s ludicrous to suggest that it does not.
Hollywood is a lost culture, what else do you expect from them? They do not have what is needed to do the right thing.
The church, on the other hand, has all it needs to do the right thing – every time.
No comparison in who should be shining the light.
No excuse to attempt to think Hollywood has a moral compass of any sort.
If actors in Hollywood, in their lost state, wanted to make a difference, then they need to choose NO to sexually explicit and immoral movies over the job.
The church would be better off to stop watching them also.
Debbie Kaufman,
Were it not for the Church and the local manifestations thereof, there would be no “awareness to sexual assault and unwanted advances” in this country whatsoever.
Have there been failures, cover-ups, and sexual sin among the ranks of NT churches? Yes and far too much and too many. That is due to the curse of sin in humanity.
However, if it were not for the Church, there would be no voice crying in the wilderness against any form of sexual sin. The strong would prey on the weak. You, Debbie, are a member of a NT church. As such you are part of the only force in human existence of which propagates God’s truth about sexual morality.
Give that some thought if you will.
CB: That is not true. This is not about morality. It’s about power. In fact it was those in the church who committed the crimes. The church dropped the ball and I think you know this. Dropped it many times. The victim was blamed and some even called to apologize to the perp. Or excuses were made. Sorry CB but reality says that you are wrong. Very wrong. And until reality sets in, nothing will change.
The church told the woman that she must have done something to provoke it or she should dress down. Hide her beauty. And they might tell the man they are wrong. But this has nothing to do with morality.
That should read, in fact it is some in the church who committed the crime. For years.
My church is the first church I have ever gone to that treated women and children with respect and dignity. Who taught that we were worth a lot and the first place I saw women who wore full makeup, pretty clothes, beauty surrounded the church. Not bragging about my church, just being honest. It was a breath of fresh air. I feel as if I can say anything, well within reason, and be accepted as a woman. It’s heaven before heaven. I wish all churches were like ours. And they are getting there, no doubt.
Read Wade’s latest blog entry. That will sum up what I am talking about. This is the type of teaching I have had for many years and I wish it were more prevalent.
Debbie,
I would ask you to reread what I have written here. I stated that ” there been failures, cover-ups, and sexual sin among the ranks of NT churches? Yes and far too much and too many.”
There is no denying that reality. My point is that the Church has, since Jesus established its existence has been the one institution on earth that presented God’s truth about sexual morality. Were it not for the Church, there would be declaration of God’s standard for sexual conduct in the human experience.
Debbie,
I failed to edit my comment. Sorry.
That should be: there would be * no* declaration of God’s standard for sexual conduct in the human experience.
CB: My point is this: What you say is true, to a point. This sermon is usually proceeded by how women should dress, conduct themselves. The women should be submissive.
Women would come to leaders in the church with accusations of rape, molestation etc. They would then be asked what they did to cause it. If you remember there was a time when women were not listened to in these cases. Not even by the law. We are not talking about consensual sex here, we are speaking of rape, molesting, the Hollywood casting couch so to speak.
When has the church spoken on these subjects. Totally different subject than sexual immorality. This is a crime. The church is just now handling this subject properly, but culture spoke against it first. Not the church. Culture changed the laws, not the church. The same with racism and other injustices against human beings. Until you admit that, the rest really means nothing to me as a woman and I imagine other women who have been sexually assaulted, molested.
Debbie,
I think we are “talking past” each other.
I have “admitted” that there “have been failures, cover-ups, and sexual sin among the ranks of NT churches? Yes and far too much and too many.”
At this point, I have already “admitted” that three times. And truthfully, I have paid a fairly large price for exposing such things within the SBC.
Now, I will try to make my point with more clarity. Here it is.
My challenge to you is about one particular statement you wrote:
“Unfortunately or Fortunately Hollywood has done more to raise awareness to sexual assault and unwanted advances than the church has.”
I contend that Hollywood has not done more to raise awareness of sexual assault and unwanted advances than the Church. (capital “C” meaning the Church of which Christ Himself established)
The history of Hollywood and the entire American entertainment industry has always been, in general, with rare exception, in diametric to the biblical standards for sexual conduct that God has has established and expects.
On the other hand, the Church is the only institution on earth that has as part of its DNA the propagation of God’s standard for sexual conduct.
Yes, I agree there have been failures, far too many. But, generally, the Church has provided the biblical standard and since I know your pastor as a friend and know his position, I am saying you are part of a local manifestation of the Church that does what it should and teaches what it should concerning sexual conduct in society.
In general, the Church does hold the standard. However, and sadly some local churches and far too many individuals within those local churches do not.
Debbie,
I have failed again. That should be “diametric *opposition*”
Thanks, CB.
CB: I got what you were saying the first time. You articulated it well. But I disagree. Do affairs happen in churches, you are going to blame that on Hollywood? Playboy or other magazines? Even after the women’s movement began also railing against those things and telling men to stop it? No I disagree.
Yes, the church is rampant with morality sermons. But…they also hid perps, didn’t believe women and you know I could name specifics as we have been here before albeit complete with names and cases. This is where the church has failed. Blaming women, even children or accusing them of lying. And this is just among Southern Baptists. As I said it is getting better, but there are a few cases(which is why I am not totally opposed to discernment blogs) we still have not made things right. Thankfully in the past year or so it has gotten better, and I appreciate Dave Miller speaking out and his view.
Glenn: I am sorry but you still don’t get it. I want you to so I am not slamming men, nor do I hate men, I am married to one for 34 years and going. I would rather have men friends than women when I was single because they were true friends, did not see me in any other way, were not jealous and I could have theologically deeper conversations with them than women at the time. But you are victim blaming and the things you are saying are just not true.
You may be speaking of consensual sex, I am not. I am speaking of rape, the things Dustin Hoffman, Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein are accused of. You are turning this into something that Hollywood recently and women who are victims, such as myself and more than once, are not speaking of. Stop it. I say that with kindness in my voice. It is common and most women have been ravaged in some form. It’s not isolated, but I hope and pray that my grandchildren do not have to know what it’s like. It’s hard to get past and live a normal life when it happens to you.
Forgive my long comments, but it feels so good to discuss this with you guys in hopes that things will get even better than they already are, and so I am like a fountain right now.
And do not think I don’t love the church, I do. Both church and Church. I loved going until subjects like this and others were brought up. Not to insult but I could tell many pastors had been shut away from the real world for a very long time.
Debbie, According to my wife you are correct on two accounts:
1- I still don’t get it.
2-It really is about power. (and I add its cousin-money)
You must know that my commentary (on this blog subject) is about that very thing. Some, certainly not all, of these women were seeking such power/money by their “close” associations with some of these powerful men. Vicarious power is sometimes the best if it is all that can be had.
The dress code of these women is also besides the point to the extent that men may not successfully “blame” women as “victims”, even in cases of “false advertising.”
Fallen women crave power just as do the fallen men, and perhaps some of these women were on such a journey when their plot was spoiled. Statistically, the probability is real. Such a discovery is not to loosen the noose on guilty men, just to remain true to real life. (in church and out)
Men tend to use love to get sex, power and money
Women tend to use sex to get love, power and money
The central word here is not sex, money or power, it is USE. We can become proficient at using people to our selfish bent.
I am glad for your church being to you the wonderful balance of women living out the beauty of Christ within. I am in a different church (several denominations–ethnicities) almost weekly and I can tell you that not all is just so in all our churches. Not all of the older women (Marilyn Monroe era) are teaching good things to the younger. Beyonce’/ Cyrus (pop-star-types) is an evidentiary model for many of our children, youth and young adults in spite of the Gospel. (in church and out)
Each year the line of indecency moves forward, not backward. (in church and out)
The # for the church might still be I Corinthians 6:18-20
And CB: I did read and understand that you wrote concerning the church and it’s handling of this as wrong, but(and this is probably true for this paragraph I am writing as well), when you put a but in a sentence it usually says ignore all I have said before the word but.
Debbie,
I still think we are missing each other in this dialogue somehow.
Let me see if I can understand our differences here by using a question rather than declarations.
Do you believe Hollywood (the entertainment industry) has done more to make the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances than the Church has made the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances?
Debbie,
That’s not really what the word “but” means grammatically. It may mean that philosophically or cynically. I was using “but” as it is used grammatically, but I must assume I was not, but that is OK if you will now take my word for “but’s” use, but, of course you have the right not to, but I hope you do. 😉
“Do you believe Hollywood (the entertainment industry) has done more to make the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances than the Church has made the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances?”
Yes.
Debbie,
That is completely impossible if for no other reason that the Church came into existence over 2,0000 years ago.
It is obvious that I have failed to convey my point well. Otherwise, I believe your answer to the question would have been No rather than yes. Please forgive my poor communication skills on this matter.
CB: I am missing your point.
“….when you put a but in a sentence it usually says ignore all I have said before the word but.”
That’s just not grammatically reasonable or true at all…
I hope that’s not how you read the Bible.
For example:
John 3:16-21
Romans 5:6-8
Romans 6:20-23
& many, many more.
Debbie, have you been reading the reports? Hollywood has been a cesspool of sexual perversion, moledtation, abuse, and harassment.
Hollywood has promoted sexual degradation and for you to credit them with moral advance is mind-boggling.
They are hypocrites, but lttle more. There are abusers within the church but don’t drink the anti-christian koolaid
As someone who has a son who has worked in Hollywood for the last 15 years (as a film editor) and has many friends and acquaintances who work in the film industry I am offended by your gross generalization. There are many upstanding believers working in all parts of Hollywood and many, if not most, movies and TV shows do not promote sexual denigration.
Your statement that Hollywood “has been a cesspool of sexual perversion, molestation, abuse, and harassment” could be made about the church with approximately the same degree of accuracy.
Hollywood is an easy target for conservative church people, but it a very large community making thousands of movies and television shows each year and it wrong to stereotype the people of Hollywood just as it is wrong to stereotype Christians.
A Southern Baptist in San Diego
If the shoe doesn’t fit, don’t wear it. The reality is that a large percentage of major films include nudity and other sexually suggestive material. I’m glad your son doesn’t participate in those films.
SFG: Good response which I was thinking.
Dave: Yes, there is a lot of sexual perversion in Hollywood, and it seems in the church too behind closed doors, but not so much anymore. I truly and sincerely wish that it was the church who brought this to the forefront, and I think it’s good that we are discussing it now. I appreciate that Adam posted the article he did today, because this is happening and has happened in many, many dare I say many churches. Rape, incest, bestiality, molestation is addressed in scripture and there was no Hollywood then. It’s been around since before Hollywood. Murdering of women for sexual power has been around since before Hollywood.
Hollywood has made some horrible movies with graphic sex and exploitation of women, depicting rape and the above, you are correct, to the point of angering me greatly. Which makes it all the sadder that it is Hollywood that exposed this, men and women coming forward by the hundreds and possibly thousands which spurred others to come forward, to show just how many(1 in 3 women, 1 in 6 men before the age of 18 according to Boz Tchividjian ). It should have been the Church, the church, and to my great pain, it wasn’t. That can change, it is changing and I have seen it happen in the past few years. I appreciate you, Bart and others who are speaking out. It means a lot to those of us women who almost gave up on the church in this area a long time ago. I don’t mention my own pastor among these names, because he has been speaking out for as long as I have known him. He’s been listening for as long. He listened to me along with a Christian counselor 20 years ago which led me on the road to recovery. I want that to be the norm in Southern Baptist churches, not the exception.
I commend Adam for the article he posted today.
My abuses happened before I attended the church I am attending now. My abuses were not done by anyone in the church but outside the church . Just wanted to clarify.
Adam Blosser: to say “The reality is that a large percentage of major films include nudity and other sexually suggestive material” is an overstatement. Of the top 10 films this week, only one includes nudity. Two of the top 10 are animated children films. Also, “Hollywood” includes shows made for TV, on-air and cable, the vast majority have NO nudity.
Again, it is easy to generalize and make Hollywood the bogey man in our culture. Just as it is easy to generalize about the church (full of child abusers, full of hateful people, full of racists.) Neither generalization is helpful in the exegesis of our culture or being a light in our world.
San Diego Southern Baptist
In a recent study of nudity in hollywood, in the top 100 grossing feature films, 26.4% of all female characters were filmed with partial of full nudity. In my book that constitutes a large percentage.
(Smith, Choueiti, and Pieper, “Inequality in 700 Popular Films,” 2015)
Thanks, Todd. That is some interesting information.
I would add that even when and where nudity is not present, much of what passes for good entertainment is full of sexual innuendo, double entendre, and people sleeping with one or more persons to whom they are not married — all portrayed in a positive light.
Adam, Debbie can respond better but here’s a little feedback for you: The same culture that feeds sexual assault exists in both churches and the entertainment industry, just think of how many victims of clergy sex abuse are handled privately and perps are passed along to another church. In that sense, Hollywood is doing more than the church. We see the same excuses all the time, “I don’t want to end a man’s ministry…” or “People can be falsely accused…” etc. A lot of the deal with Weinstein is abuse of power and such being enabled by many. Same in the church.
Dave put it like this, “Victims need to know that they will be heard and cared for when they come forward. Perpetrators need to know that their sin will find them out, and they will be brought to justice. I am glad women are feeling empowered to come forward and tell their stories. Let’s put an end to the societal pressures that encourage victims to remain silent.”
No argument that we get a lot of junk out of hollywood. At what point do you excuse a perp because of that? It looks like you are in the neighborhood of blaming victims. I’d be with you on wishing for some cultural elevation in our society but we deal with what we have.
Amen.
Moral bankruptcy is not a new thing limited to the modern age.
Whether male-on-female, female on male, or same sex, church or secular ……. nothing, but nothing justifies sexually assaulting another person.
How many of us would walk up to a coworker, an employee, or an aquaintence and punch them in the face because they are dressed provocatively?
Sexual assault is an act of violence, and it is much, much more damaging than punching someone in the face because they are dressed immodestly!!!
William, perhaps you should read what I’ve written again if you read victim blaming into it.
I read pretty good, Adam, ‘rithmetic gives me a little trouble sometimes.
Here’s what you wrote that put you “in the neighborhood,” (which is what I wrote):
“I know it’s not popular to say that such things contribute to a culture where sexual assault runs rampant, but it’s ludicrous to suggest that it does not.” Do you see the connection?
I’d have to agree with Adam, that Hollywood’s production of movies celebrating sexually deviant behavior contributes to “a culture where sexual assault runs rampant.” That doesn’t excuse the perpetrator, just recognizes something that is part of the problem.
Robert is right William.
Adam has a valid point and his comments are not in any such neighborhood.
Dang. We discussed this, like, a hundred years ago….
Is that in dog years? 🙂
“Dang. We discussed this, like, a hundred years ago….”
That’s why you’re the only one here who remembers it. 😉
Lol. Nice deflection, William.
Guess It’s easier than admitting you were wrong.
To say that filling people’s minds with sexual garbage contributes to a mindset of sexual aggression is not the same as “victim-shaming.”
To teach women to behave wisely is not victim-shaming.
To teach women to behave morally, decently, and modestly is not victim-shaming.
There is a two-edged sword here. Teach women (and young men, for that matter) how to behave in accord with biblical standards to avoid being in positions where they are more likely to be the object of sexual abuse.
When someone is the victim of abuse, you don’t grill them to see what they did wrong, you minister to them to help them get through it.
Victim-shaming is basically doing preventative work after the fact.
But it is utter foolishness to act as if all efforts to teach wisdom, self-control, or modesty are somehow victim-shaming.
And I don’t really understand the discussion here, so I’m not siding with or against anyone.
I couldn’t miss the opportunity to crack that joke, but William’s point stands. I did not like what he said about my comment. He clarified. I still don’t completely agree with him about that, but I think we’re both over it.
I don’t think he had that in mind. Sometimes a weak point needs clarification not an apology for approaching the subject. Most of us know ill will and cheap shots when we see them. But this topic is ancient in light of newer ones.
Well said William and Nancy.
I don’t hear anything about men not wearing a shirt or wearing shorts or tight jeans. And what of children who are sexually assaulted or molested? What have they done? Had their diaper changed or their pants pulled up from toilet training? How is that supposed to change? Or little girls or boys? What have they done? Nothing but be overpowered. It’s about power not sexual appetite. The power feeds the appetite. It’s bullying at it’s worst.
It’s the perps fault. Period. Not any of the above. Provocative dressing is no excuse to be raped or sexually assaulted. Hiding our curves and breasts, legs and hiding our beauty is how the church would deal with such things. It’s the culture that has brought about the laws now in place, culture that has brought awareness. It should have been the church, but it wasn’t.
Have you read / heard anything on the news about Highpoint Church yet, Debbie? So much in the vein of what you’re saying! Mishandling of a sexual assault, victim blaming. Too many evangelicals don’t get the difference between consensual sexual activity, and sexual assault where it’s a power difference, not physical force, that the perpetrator uses to his advantage. #churchtoo
Beth Duncan: Yes. In fact I read about it just today for the first time and unfortunately add it to the list of what I am talking about.
Not questioning your reading ability, but you clearly misunderstood me. I do appreciate you putting my words in quotes since I had no idea what you were talking about. You would be right if by “such things” I was referring to the actions of victims. Since the context of the entire article demonstrates that not to be the case, you’re welcome to retract your assessment of my article as being in the neighborhood of victim blaming.
You have articles so seldom I plugged Dave in as the author. My mistake. The money quote was the one I attributed to Dave instead of you. It was well put.
You explained your state-of-mind. Fine. I accept the clarification. You were only in the neighborhood, not the same as making a flat accusation.
Sorry for tardy reply. Been in the woods with a chain saw massacring trees. Am hoping for a review by a PhD student and instant fame thereby.
I was on my phone when I first responded to you and didn’t even notice that the quote you attributed to Dave was not his. I thought the quote sounded like what I was trying to say in the article.
I’ve got another article scheduled for in the morning on this topic. It addresses a story of assault in the church that’s been making the rounds on social media over the last few days.
I look forward to reading it.
It is pretty hard to take seriously the argument that Hollywood is doing more to stand against sexual assault than the church with is continued affection for characters like Roman Polanski and Woody Allen along with its toleration of the “casting couch” (and all this under the protection Mainstream Media) while the ditches of American Evangelical History are littered with outcasts (both members and clergy) who have been exposed, removed and disgraced for sexual sin much less sex crimes. It is a shame that folks like the Wartburg Watch and other commenters take the exceptional snake in the grass who finds his way back into the ministry because someone didn’t do an adequate job on background checks and make them the rule creating the appearance to a lost world that doesn’t have a clue who we are that rank and file churches and leaders are all too happy to cover for and employ sexual predators.
There are fresh accusations about sexual predation in Hollywood almost daily. I agree that holding them up as the justice warriors here strains credulity.
The problem is human nature. The solution is Christ.
To say that Hollywood is the answer is almost idolatrous.
Dave: I didn’t say Hollywood is the answer. I said they were the ones that brought this issue to public attention. There is a difference. Yes, Christ is most definitely the answer. The church should be the answer in assault cases but it’s not. Hopefully that will change and with those such as yourself and the other names I have mentioned speaking out, it will. That is what I said.
William Thorton should also be one of the names I mentioned as speaking out and making a difference.
Debbie,
Your original statement was:
“Unfortunately or Fortunately Hollywood has done more to raise awareness to sexual assault and unwanted advances than the church has.”
After we discussed the issue, for clarity, I asked you the following question:
“Do you believe Hollywood (the entertainment industry) has done more to make the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances than the Church has made the public aware of the biblical position on sexual assault and unwanted advances?”
Your answer was: “Yes.”
I still don’t understand why you would state that, but that is what you stated.
CB: Simple. Because they did. The first person to come forward was an actor. The next people to come forward were actresses. The # metoo movement was begun by actresses. That blew into many women on twitter, facebook, social media who wrote #metoo.
Debbie,
I thank you for that comment. I didn’t think you actually believed that Hollywood has done more to make the public aware of sexual assault that has the Church.
The truth here is that you simply misunderstood the question, or as I stated earlier in this thread, “we are talking past each other.”
Debbie, my question was one couched in history, not about a few specific assaults that happened within the entertainment community of which recently became public.
I really did not believe you believed something that crazy. So, I am glad I kept aggravating you about it.
The movement and accusations was on every media outlet, every newscast, every talk show.
Debbie the Church was teaching the biblical truth about sexual conduct for centuries before “media outlets, newscasts, or talk shows” existed in the human experience.
Right, CB.
Besides the actor/actress that came Forward and began the “#MeToo movement” was hardly the beginning of an understanding that sexual abuse is wrong… In fact they were not even the only person to come forward on that day… They’re just the only people we know about. In other words it was probably an unknown young lady who walked into a local police or sheriffs office and filed a report the very day that the #MeToo Movement started but we know nothing about them…
To pretend that Hollywood started the “backlash” or as Oprah tells us “the new day” would be a ridiculous assertion.
Fact I contend it would be more accurate to say that until just recently Hollywood as a whole has turned a blind eye to this type of thing… And have just recently came on board.
This same Hollywood group… The Golden Globes… Are the same actors and actresses, producers and directors etc. that just a few years ago gave Roman Polansky a standing ovation… Despite the fact that he was actively on the run in another country having been charged with child molest this same Hollywood group… The Golden Globes… Are the same actors and actresses, producers and directors etc. that just a few years ago gave Roman Polansky an award and a standing ovation… Despite the fact that he was actively on the run in another country having been charged with child molestation.
Sorry sometimes my phone when it doesn’t have a good connection… Which is a lot of the time in Podunk North Carolina… It will for some stupid reason post what I have said twice into the same post….ugh.
I am interested in the church’s response here and now. Now, as is proven here on SBCVoices they are starting to respond and have been since Bart’s resolution, but before that nothing.
Dave’s response to the question of why helped me to see one reason why. I am grateful he responded as he did to Beth’s question. Things like that mean an awful lot to me so I imagine those who were abused in the church were comforted by this dialogue. I also know that you paid a heavy price in what you did. You gained my respect because of this. If I were to have pics on Paige Patterson’s window, the names I have mentioned would have their picture there. I however, don’t roll that way, but if I did, your pictures would be there.
Should have addressed my above comment to CB.
Every woman that has come forward or anyone who has written on this topic which also brought it to the forefront would be on that window. Christ would be in the center, hugging each and every survivor.
https://www.dailywire.com/news/25569/weinstein-victims-say-they-werent-invited-golden-emily-zanotti
I hope it’s ok to share this here in light of the convo. It’s a huge mistake to promote Hollywood/MSM handling of the #metoo movement. It goes back to Ronan Farrow, who broke the Weinstein story, being turned down by multiple media outlets over the course of almost 2 years. Another freelance journalist was also on to the story a year or so before it broke and was literally man handled trying to ask Weinstein questions during a red carpet event and then blacklisted.
It was an open secret and my guess is the Weinstein company had other motives for the story finally breaking. He was the biggest DNC bundler for Hillary. Note, it broke after the election.
The movement was hijacked by those who are not only the most well heeled but actually looked the other way for decades and are now using it to virtue signal for what looks like political reasons. Oprah was BFF with him and even called to offer support when the story broke. She signaled that Weinstein could be trusted for years and years. Hollywood and the media are now taking credit for what they purposely hid for years.
Now, real victims are being shunned by the more elite.
As one who has been hands on involved with rape and DV victims and facilitated Sexual Harrassment training in companies (before it became big business for lawyers because of contract clauses), I urge people to be very cautious with the #metoo movement. (Anyone notice there aren’t hostile workplace/quid pro quo clauses being used against Hollywood directors/ Actors/ producers? Hmm)
Everything from rape to awkward flirting is being lumped in to jump on the bandwagon. Outside the church model of higher standards for followers of Christ, I still believe in due process.
#metoo will eventually hurt real victims who are nobodies and further polarize the workplace without due process. We must be specific with allegations, name names when doing so and seek justice. Victims need strong advocates to guide them and take the arrows that always come. In the meantime, take self defense classes and go through training to obtain a concealed carry permit.
Lydia,
You are so right.
Michelle obama and her husband as well as both Clinton’s and Oprah are on record calling him “a very good man” – even while his behavior was known but still a secret….
Glory and Amen Lydia!
Thank you for this balancing information.
It’s the money side of morality.
And all due respect and prayer for the truly victimized and harmed women, men and children out there. May God restore dignity and trust to their lives.
______________
Another theory for mens behavior. Perhaps Darwin was right?
https://openhandspublications.com/2018/01/09/darwins-disappointment-men-arise/
Amen, Lydia. I think Hollywood has jumped on what they see as a necessary bandwagon to ride!
Lydia, you are not banned from this site.
You’ve only been asked at times to back up accusations with facts. Frankly, I’m not sure why you come here after some of the insults and truth-stretchers you have said about us elsewhere – based on stuff I’ve been linked to.
If you wish to interact here, with facts and reason, you are – as you have always been – welcome.
What has the church done in comparison? Aren’t we just as guilty by silence, dismissing, giving standing ovations to the perp and other things? That is the question that should be answered. We have Christ, they don’t, but lately it is Hollywood that has addressed sexual abuse. That is the point.
Debbie, I don’t know what churches you’ve been involved in, but it seems to me you make the mistake of assuming that the worst of the church is representative of all of the church.
We are not all abusers covering for abusers.
To a certain extent, this is a false comparison.
The church hasn’t done what it should.
Hollywood has been a haven for abusers.
But there is only one solution for this problem. A bunch of self-congratulatory stars wearing black isn’t going to make real change. If we believe the Bible, then Jesus changes lives.
I don’t think I have ever completely brought up the Globes, you guys seem to however. I was always talking of the actors and actresses who came forward concerning their stories of sexual abuse and rape. I didn’t watch the Globes, I did read about it and I do think they brought awareness but that was never my point. I never used it as an example. To me I didn’t dispute it when you guys brought it up, that black was worn etc. because to me it was a rabbit trail and it still is. The #metoo movement was more my focus. That exploded. In fact according to Wartburg it was the #metoo movement that gave Jules courage to come forward as it did thousands of women globally, not the church.
When every church or at the least, every SB church and Convention empowers women to come forward and be supported by the congregation, then I will give the church kudos and be grateful in this area. Until then I stand by what I have said. I would love for us to lead the way as we have for other resolutions. Surely we are more important than an alcohol resolution that made it to the floor first try. And received large votes. I haven’t heard but maybe I have missed something. Even Bart’s resolution was ignored. So Dave please fill me in.
This tonite on my feed from PBS Frontline. Rape on the Night Shift is another eye opener. If the church would stand strong, and voice against violence on women, it would send a strong statement, as we passed resolutions last year that made a strong statement. We are not talking about a few women here, 1 in 3 and 17,000 sexual assaults a year at work according to this documentary. It’s an epidemic worse than any disease.
This documentary will air January 16 but can be watched now. But it’s pretty brutal to watch so warning.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/rape-on-the-night-shift/?utm_source=Partner
And Lydia: Using Ben Shapiro as a source? Really? I also think his view of Trump’s latest comment beyond words to describe.
Hollywood has lined up behind Bill Clinton and Roman Polanski with great public fanfare, unquestioning in their support of both men and viciously attacking anyone who dared disagree.
For a couple of decades they were complicit with Harvey Weinstein, knowing what he was doing but looking the other way because he was powerful and “one of us”.
Now they have decided to be sanctimonious hypocrites and act offended. They will fire up the mob and press until the fury finally gives out and collapses. Soon enough there will be another cause. Please don’t give them a pass or imagine they are suddenly righteous.
“The Church” has been anything but monolithic in this whole affair. It’s grossly unfair and unreasonable to blame “The Church” for one church’s standing ovation. To do so smacks of self flagellation. Individual churches have handled instances of sexual abuse well and poorly. Let’s be fair.
Daily wire was one of the few places to write about the actresses tweets. It was a short cut to not have to go find their tweets and a lot of screen shots. The MSM is not covering their situation.
Shapiro is a #nevertrumper libertarian/conservative who despises Bannon and left to start his own site after Andrew died. He has settled on a “good Trump/bad Trump” approach after the election. Your mileage may vary as mine does.
Correct. Shapiro is a far cry from Bannon.
Good point, Lydia. The tweets are real, regardless of who reported on them (and who didn’t).
I’m a little nauseous.
I find myself agreeing with Lydia here.
I need to change my meds.
According to the byline, the piece is by Emily Zanotti. I have no idea who she is, other than she is not Ben Shapiro.
The Daily Wire is Ben Shapiro much like Briebart is or should I say was Steve Bannon.
As for innocent flirting. I don’t consider flirting innocent, nor do I think it criminal. If men and women would just respect and treat each other as fellow human beings, that would be acceptable to me.
Unless you have been afraid to have a part of your body touched(knee or other parts) began by “innocent flirting” it’s not ok, I wouldn’t put it on my relational men and women list as AOK.
Shapiro was on staff at Breibart. He is not that far a cry from Bannon. Then or now.
Incorrect.
That is guilt-by-association.
Breitbart was always hard-right, but I don’t remember it being so bad until Breitbart died and Bannon took over.
I have two words no maybe more than that. Ben Shapiro Prager U videos.
Should it matter whether McGowan was at the Globes or not? It doesn’t to me, she and Ashley Judd, and several others made us aware with the #metoo. Or if you are critical of #metoo, it brought a lot of women forward with their stories. It was a success. Whether you think they are jumping on the bandwagon or not is mere speculation on your part. There are always going to be critics of something. Again, is the church any different? That is the point and that is the question, will any one answer? The church should have been doing these type of things but did not.
Culture did it and we are talking about it. Results speak differently than you all are saying.
Hey Lydia, you gave a source and I should be ok with that. 🙂
This tonite on my feed from PBS Frontline. Rape on the Night Shift is another eye opener. If the church would stand strong, and voice against violence on women, it would send a strong statement, as we passed resolutions last year that made a strong statement. We are not talking about a few women here, 1 in 3 and 17,000 sexual assaults a year at work according to this documentary. It’s an epidemic worse than any disease.
This documentary will air January 16 but can be watched now. But it’s pretty brutal to watch so warning.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/rape-on-the-night-shift/?utm_source=Partner
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-perspec-evangelical-roy-moore-girls-1115-20171114-story.html
This article dated November 14, 2017 quotes Boz Tchividjian as saying that he believes the problem of sexual abuse in Protestant communities is on par with the Roman Catholic church. This along with the actual abuses told in this article boggle the mind. I don’t want it to be true, but it is.
http://time.com/5076537/evangelical-women-church-speak-out-metoo/
Time magazine dated December 21, 2017. Evangelical women Join #MeToo. Want churches to address sexual harassment and abuse. They label it” #SilenceisnotSpiritual Violence against her is violence against us.”
I think the Me Too movement is generally positive. I think it is good that the inclination is to believe the alleged victim rather than disbelieve. But I think cautious optimism is better than unbridled optimism. We don’t want accusations to automatically become guilty verdicts. And I agree that all alleged incidents are being unwisely lumped into one big pile. Just as racially insensitive jokes aren’t the same a lynching, so too all inappropriate sexual behavior is not sexual assault.
This could easily backlash into even fewer opportunities for women. I am hearing that some men are so fearful of a metoo type of incident that they are reluctant to work or travel with female coworkers. Perhaps they are being paranoid, but this wouldn’t be the first time the pendulum swung too far the other way.
And before you look at the timestamp and wonder if I’m blogging from the pew, it was minus 19 this morning and the heat was off in the church this morning, so we had to cancel services. 2nd time in 3 weeks.
Lol! Blogging from the pew LOL!
-19 Wow!
I agree with your post… I think it is very wise.
“I have two words no maybe more than that. Ben Shapiro Prager U videos.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hiVQ8vrGA_8
You may find this Prager vid particularly egregious. 🙂
You are aware Eric Erickson is often featured on Daily Wire?
Oh well. My focus was on the Hollywood movement shunning some victims who are not “moving on” properly. I don’t think they are handling it well at all. Ironically, I am in good company with old liberal feminists like Margaret Atwood and Germaine Greer who expressed concerns with the tactics.
I don’t view women in general as a victim group. I think that is what is getting me into trouble. I also believe we must deal with individual cases. To not do that does not bode well for future victims—especially the nobodies.
I separate Body of Christ standards from the standards of the world. The Body of Christ standards should be higher than statutes of limitations, due process, etc.
We disagree. It’s good to consider all viewpoints.