Conservatives accuse Hollywood of being an atheist, bleeding heart, liberal hellhole with anti-Christian impulses. Yet Hollywood has also distributed pro-Christian blockbusters (The Passion of the Christ). It has produced some Christian epics (The Ten Commandments). It still makes pro-Christian movies. And Christian actors can make a living.
Despite this, fake Christianity’s political wing, conservative evangelical preachers, find Hollywood-bashing is a profitable wallet opener. They warn of Sodom and Gomorrah in Southern California. Meanwhile, in a show of shameless hypocrisy, these sanctimonious Bible-thumpers have waved away the sins of church management. And sinning preachers continue to stain the pulpit.
These second-raters have even embraced a sinner, whose behavior makes Hollywood an also-ran in the race to the moral bottom. When Alan Ritchson, an actor of profound and modest Christianity, slammed Donald Trump, the religious apologists oozed out of the woodwork to criticize him — while still bending the knee to the flagitious fraud whose ass they kiss.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ritchson — best known for his role as Jack Reacher on TV’s Reacher — expressed confusion at Trump’s appeal to a wide swath of religious hypocrites. Unlike many who fear alienating fans by taking a stand, Ritchson is willing to tell it like it is.
“Trump is a rapist and a con man, and yet the entire Christian church seems to treat him like he’s their poster child and it’s unreal. I don’t understand it.”
Ritchson is not a casual Christian. He preaches what he practices. On his YouTube channel, InstaChurch, he talks about issues important to him through a Christian/biblical lens.
In one video titled, “What’s the antidote to violence and who should should receive it?” Ritchson argues:
“I believe Christians have it backwards today. I believe Christians today believe institutions deserve generosity. And individuals deserve violence. I think the opposite is true.”
He adds, “I believe institutions are fertile ground for oppression, for marginalization, and for victimizing those who are weak or voiceless. And I believe we are called to stand up for those people.”
Ritchson says that society needs to recalibrate, remove power from institutions, and return it to the individual. It is a message you would have thought would be catnip to the individual liberty crowd. You would be wrong.
Ritchson accused institutions of perpetuating violence against the individual. But he alienated the MAGAs by siding with protesting students against the cops using violence to stifle their First Amendment right to speak up.
He goes on to propose that the solution to violence is not “peace” — that is not “active” enough to overcome “the contagious nature of violence.” Instead Ritchson proposes ”acts of generosity.” That seems pretty Christian to me. He adds that the Bible demands that people express generosity through “justice and righteousness.”
Ritchson then goes into a scriptural exegesis through an analysis of biblical Hebrew. I will take his word for the accuracy of his translation. If nothing else, it shows Alan has thought long and hard about his faith. He is not relying — as do so many church-goers — on the interpretation of scripture offered by people with an ax to grind.
He adds biblical verses to support his point that generosity is the key to thwarting institutionalized violence. To wit:
Psalm 112:5 “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
Jeremiah 22:3 “This is what the LORD says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.”
Ritchson then tied the last verse to Christian hypocrisy, saying
“When I think about that, I think about politics. I think about an entire platform by those who mostly claim to be Christians who are doing the exact opposite of this with their voting power. Who are trying to do violence to the foreigner. Who are not helping the fatherless. Who are making victims of widows.”
Ritchson did not single out MAGAs. He did not mention Trump. But those bigots knew who he was referring to when he ripped those who “claim to be Christians.” He left no doubt when he explained that God was not an America Firster.
“This is the kind of generosity we are called to. And it’s for everybody. It’s not just for believers. It is not just for those who have been indoctrinated into the church. It is not just for those who are American, or fit your nation-state, or fly your flag. It is for everybody.
If you want to see violence flee the world be more generous to everybody. That is the Christian ethic.”
In the comment section, there were plenty of ‘right-ons.’ And then there were the thin-skinned souls who did not like their bastardized Christianity called out.
@rickparker1144: “Sadly, I just read Alans comments on his dislike for 'Trump supporting Christians'. Thats me. Im no longer a supporter of you work, and am unsubscribing. Shame.”
@davidford2030: “so you preach about being a christian but then insult cops and conservatives who happen to like trump?-if i want the opinion of just another dopey hollywood actor,i'll give ya a call allen”
@Brother_Jack: “You're an actor. Stay in your lane.”
@shforrister: “Still praying for God to open your mind and your heart. The way things are going, we won’t have a nation where you can speak your mind much longer- in large part thanks to the invasion we are currently experiencing.”
So be it. There is a third season of ‘Reacher’ in production. And Ritchson’s God has his back. He will be fine. Sadly, the MAGAs will still think they are doing God's work — because they have never read the Bible — especially the Beatitudes or Matthew 25:40-45.