Without having subjected myself to an entire view of this weekend’s most scandalous VMA performance, between the photos, the replies, the tweets and the articles, it’s safe to say that I’ve got a fairly good idea of the shenanigans that took place.
And by shenanigans, I mean the raw, immodest and crude visual display put on by Miley Cyrus.
So what’s there to envy of the former Hannah Montana?
Well, to be blunt, the quick criticisms.
By and large, we Americans live in a culture that is petrified to admit when we hold ourselves to a standard or perhaps have limits to what we might deem entertainment.
What if my standard implies that I somehow think less of someone with a different standard?
What if my limit implies that I believe you’re crossing a moral line?
Quick! Run and hide! Someone might think I’m – *gasp* – judgmental!
So why do I envy Miley?
Look what she did! She “broke” America. For a brief minute, she emboldened all of us to come out of our politically correct boxes and admit that we have an opinion about entertainment standards.
Be it publicly or privately, every day I make stupid decisions. Oh, how I wish that I was held accountable so quickly and so loudly as Miley’s been! Oh, how my prideful, self-justifying heart could use the harshness of a thousand tweets to point out the log that is in my eye. Too often I prance around in the comfort of my own mind, resting happily in the false peace that I’m “just fine.”
And while, yes, perhaps I’m “relatively” good, I’m not “absolutely” good. I might not be shakin’ it on stage, but give me ten minutes and I’m wagging some kind of stupid in somebody’s face.
Mustering the gusto that we have when expressing our shock and horror towards a distant celebrity, please hold me accountable for my sin with that same boldness. Don’t coddle me. Cut out the gray and go ahead and see in black and white. I can take it. Use sarcasm. Roll your eyes.
At least Miley’s got a jumbo 360º mirror being held up to point out the obvious. Too often I turn away from the mirror, forgetting what I’ve just seen, instantly oblivious to the mess still smeared all over my face.
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
~First Chapter of James
but give me ten minutes and I’m wagging some kind of stupid in somebody’s face.
-just died laughing 🙂
Made me chuckle. 🙂
Well written and well said. More often than not I err on the side of not speaking truth in love. Which is really no love at all, now is it?
Here in America, we’ve been riding the slippery slope of tolerance for some time now … is it no wonder that we’re finally seeing the consequences left and right. SMH
I agree with you, Holly, not saying anything at all is not showing love.
But then, sometimes speaking the truth in love is going to come out “wrong” to the hearer, no matter how well we say it.
mm hmm. mm hmm. I hear ya. We are all the same. All in need of grace and mercy.
Lord, please help not to wag too much of any kind of stupid today. I’ve already been tempted on more than one occasion in the past few hours.
Absolutely adored this. Sharing!
Also a big fan of:
“give me ten minutes and I’m wagging some kind of stupid in somebody’s face”
Oh, I will find a way to use that line- soon!
I couldn’t have said it better myself ..thanks for the blog
Well put! I out of curiosity checked into “what happened.” I can’t help but feel sorry for her. She has been in entertainment since birth it seems. Her parents are getting divorced. I feel like she has no proper guidance. Even at best I do not believe she is getting Godly guidance. Imagine where we would all be if we did not have the Lords hands on us? I have to admit I did say to my hubby. What was she thinking? I can guess it was, ” everyone is already talking about me I will give them more to talk about. We should take the time to pray for those that we see stumbling. Something that is not always easy to do, Again well put.