Last night, the 91st Academy Awards took place. Regarding the 2019 Oscars, people still question the apparent influence on culture and yet also note how out of touch they are with the rest of society. In some ways, they tell us what to think, and in some ways, they refuse to stay in touch with what the public thinks. In recent years, so many of the awards go to movies that the majority of culture has never even seen. They thought about including an award for the one with the most fan’s reception but ultimately that was forbidden. The critics decide what the people should like, and it must have a certain message embedded within it.
If I’m honest, I haven’t watched the awards show in probably 20 years. I don’t think I am missing anything.
I did notice a narrative in the news in the weeks leading up to the awards show that I thought was quite interesting. Kevin Hart, who was originally honored to have been asked to serve as host, stepped down from that role when social media began to circulate some homophobic messages he used in some of his routines years ago. The backlash was so severe he had to step down and apologize.
What was so interesting is that the Academy decided not to replace him. The show had no host. Why did they not just get a replacement for him?
I think the Academy is starting to realize something that theologians have been saying for centuries: there is none righteous, not even one (Rom. 3:10).
If you are looking for a host with no skeletons in the closet, you might as well give up. Directors, actors, politicians, and agents are losing jobs due to 10-year old tweets, high school episodes, dug-up dirt, drunken tirades, and many other issues. No one is immune. Well, some are immune. There seems to be in our culture a list of
It all goes back to what you discern as good and what is evil. That was the original temptation by the way. God told Adam and Eve not to eat from a tree because it was his right to discern what was sinful. They wanted the ability to make that distinction. And so do we.
Our culture seems bent on eating of the forbidden fruit ā to determine what is classified as
unforgiveable sin and what is tolerated as cultural progression.
If the Academy wants to find a host with no past transgression, they will never have a host again. We have all sinned (Rom. 3:23). We are all in need of repentance.
Jesus Christ was the only person in the world with no skeletons in his closet, and the world crucified him.
As our culture continues to be more morally conscious regarding some issues, it will be interesting to see if anyone is still standing when all the dust clears. From the culture’s eyes, maybe there are some still righteous. In God’s eyes, we are all in need of grace.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).
Travis Agnew serves asĀ the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC.Ā His most recent book is Just (About) Married.
