A friend dared me to title this post “But I DON’T WANNA Bigger Tiara when I get to heaven!” I was very tempted but … it wasn’t really an accurate description of what follows. 
Let’s talk about Carrie Prejean.
She’s charismatic. She knows what she believes and says so. She was put on the spot and while she fumbled a bit, she said it like she sees it. She isn’t intimidated by the Media Hit machine. She is gorgeous and intelligent … I like her.
What I don’t understand are Christians equating what she did as some sort of “stand for God.” If I hear that she is a “modern day Esther” one more time I might resort to drumming my fingers on my desk so as not to say something stupid. I also have read quite a few comments about how because the “reward” she lost (the Miss USA crown) as a result of sticking to her guns on marriage will lead to a “larger reward” in heaven.
Really? God is going to give her a larger reward because she stood up to Perez Hilton (video)? With all due respect to Carrie, she is being persecuted because of her stand on marriage … not for preaching Christ crucified.
It’s not the same thing.
When I think of Christians getting a “larger reward” in Heaven, I think of the martyr Stephen, the martyred apostles, disciples and saints through the years. I think of the murdered Christians of Darfur, the Indian Christians being killed right now, the Chinese Christians being run underground and imprisoned. I think of Mother Theresa and other amazing Christian leaders throughout history that helped millions, helped abolish slavery, helped the underground railroad or to help German Jews in WWII … among a MYRIAD of phenomenal testimonies. Again, not a criticism of Carrie but the truth is she is selling a book, doing national speaking gigs and gaining fame and notoriety … not taking a vow of poverty or smuggling Bibles into Iran.
I am not God so … who gets what reward isn’t up to me but when I think of a “larger reward” the above paragraph is the kind of sacrifice and acts of bravery that come to mind. He might very well bless her for the pain and pressure she has faced and the private worship/communion she has had with Him during this time. I would love that for her. The point I am trying to make is that what she did, while incredible, has been exalted and idealized unfairly. That can be as much and sometimes more damaging than the negative persecution coming her way.
Carrie is not a modern day Esther and she shouldn’t be held to that kind of standard or pressure by well meaning Christians.
Then, Ms. Prejean was found to have sent a video of herself having solo sex (aka. masturbation … why are people afraid to say that? … and yes, girls do that too) to a now opportunistic ex-boyfriend when she was a teenager.
She is only 22 and she was technically a teenager 3 years ago. She is young, done some stupid things and was making a career off of her beauty. She is so typically young and human. When I was 22, 19 years ago ::: ugh :::, the video cameras were the size of a small foreign car and cost as much as a small foreign car. And no real public access to the infant Internet at that time.
Thank God … literally.
But even in this situation, she owned it and said that it was the “biggest mistake” of her life (video of her interview with Hannity about this at the end of the post.)
Which leads me to my final thought … American Christians are all to willing to raise up Christian Superstars *way* to quickly. Mix that with the idolization of celebrity and you have the potential for tremendous hurt. Instead of idealizing her because of her beauty, and the culture war infotainment battle she was forced into, take a good look at a young woman who needs older women to come alongside her, love her, mentor her, teach her and protect her. She needs Christian brothers to respect her, honor her and defend her for the truth of who she really is and not the political, religious or sexual *object* that some are trying to reduce her into being.
I respect Carrie for saying what she means and standing up for herself. The tidal wave of hatred flung at her is astounding. I am glad she has a book. I do think she is a natural born leader but she has quite a ways to go to meet her full potential. My fear is that the idealized expectations and meteoric rise into the limelight will short circuit the training and life experience she will need to go forward in wisdom that the national stage requires. The other very good traits she seems to have is humility and a teachable spirit. That plus her genuine faith in Christ will keep her directed in the way she should go.
We don’t need to bash or idealize her. I look forward to seeing the young woman of God that she is become all of who she is created to be in Christ. The Miss USA tiara is a flashy trinket compared to the crown of life. I want to see her flourish as she continues to find and take her place in the Body of Christ.
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Typical Randyrian (or Thomistic, if you will) post: thoughtful, intelligent and even-handed. Very good.
That could be my Christian Superstar name! Randyrian Thomystic (notice the “mystic” part … it will make me into some sort of Christian Chris Angel or something.)
Just kidding. Thank you for the compliment.
Love the “mystic” part.
Some thoughts: Shouldn’t Evangelicals and mainline Protestants obsession with all things Bono and many Christian’s response to Mel Gibson when he was ramping up to the release of “The Passion” be addressed in similar fashion to how you’ve addressed the Prejean phenomenon? It seems to me the unhealthy desire to adopt celebrities into the Evangelical fold is rooted in a need to be accepted and affirmed by popular/mainstream culture. And I think it is also the product of the very human desire to worship beings you can see and hear. But aren’t both these desires at odds with the Christian “walk”?
See U2charist (yup, it’s got a Wikipedia entry): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U2charist
We could go down the list but it sounds like you are being inspired … get to writing my friend
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Randy, I never thought of that! You’re totally right. We Christians have been adulating her for her stand on marriage as if she took a stand for Christ. It makes me look at myself as I too often have mingled my faith with my politics. Thinking that a stand for marriage is a stand for Christ. She never mentioned Jesus! She is beautiful, and I’ll take her word for it that she’s a Christian… but definitely not a modern day Esther. Perhaps if she got married to Obama and saved us from socialized healthcare I’d be more inclined to put the “Esther” label on her… but even then with trepidation! Great Post!
Well Frank I am glad that challenged your thinking and thank you for the encouragement. I would say though that if Carrie had been *forced* into sexual slavery by being forced to marry Hitler and then went to him to convince him not to kill all those millions of Jews … then and only then might I call her a modern day Esther. Esther saved her people, the Jews, (of course with God’s empowerment implied from being in the Bible) from genocide.
Again, this isn’t a knock on Carrie but the testimonies (so far in Carrie’s life), while having a couple of similar themes, are completely different.
Well said. She did a good job on the Hannity show. I agree that she handles herself well in front of the media which says a lot about her. It’s interesting how she’s defending herself for this tape and the person who put it out there (namely the ex-boyfriend) isn’t defending his reason why he advertised this for the whole world to see to begin with. So let’s talk about morals, ethics, and Christianity … maybe he’s not a Christian which might be stating the obvious. But now Carrie is on the hot seat and the media has a twisted view of turning the tables (this isn’t new) when looking at selling this tape and humiliating her for the entire world to see. Like she said, she’s not perfect and she owns up to this. So really? Did everyone need to know this about her? And now she’s being interviewed for someone else’s financial gain? That should be embarrassing enough but that’s not being interviewed.
Completely agree. The young man who betrayed her acted like a selfish boy.
But any perceived moral failure of a Christian is legalistically held over our heads because the world has a false view that somehow we think we are more righteous than they are. And that has been helped by some Christians who do operate in self-righteousness or don’t know how to explain that the righteousness of Christ is the ONLY saving grace we Christians have. It doesn’t mean we are better, it means we are forgiven for our moral, and everything else, failures because of our faith in Christ.
But, you know all that
Yes, lets talk about morals, ethics and Christianity. As someone who has been raised in the Christian community of every denomination, I have to say that the religious right in this country is obdurately disconnected from how the world perceives them. Unfortunately, self-righteous “falwell” superiority is the standing image, while corporate incentives and political agendas continue to bolster what gets preached from the pulpit. On an individual basis its easy to defend your own level of tolerance and acceptance but the Christian institution as a whole is very far off base. The reason its difficult to see is because religion in America is very cliquish and self-enclosed. Yes we all know its suppose to be a “lifestyle,” but Christianity continues to project a dichotomy of piety and hypocrisy. No, Carrie Prejean isnt different than any other person and although this is a self-evident truth she seems incapable of admitting it. People are tired of “christianity” hiding what doesnt want to be seen for the sake of maintaining appearances. The only difference (outside of faith) between the “sinners” and “saints” is that the saints dont put their sin on display. People like Ted Haggard, the Palins, and Carrie Prejean prove that life affects everyone equally the same, but somehow they’re more fit to champion conservatism, the pulpit, and the whitehouse. God forbid if someone confront them. A simple question and suddenly they cravenly resort to victimization to save their public image. They only serve to perpetuate caricatures and stereotypes that have no place in Christianity to begin with. Everyone seems to forget that Jesus walked among and socialized with EVERYBODY and preached only to those that were ready to hear. Today, we have a politically driven machine that wears God on its sleeve like a cub scout pin and feels obligated to evangilize by running around stamping “Jesus” on everything. Its Carrie’s fault for ever having used the public spotlight for Christianity when she isnt prepared to face herself, her past actions, or the scutiny of others. Of course the Christian community will support her because they are all fully self-invested, but ultimately they are too self-absorbed to realize Carrie’s public spectacle only furthers resentment in the rest of the world. Im sure that you’re a very nice person, but regardless of how “false” you feel the world’s view is of you, thats still the view and its still the world we’re all suppose to be making an impact on. While Christians are busy clamoring after some nominal “role model,” the rest of the world is judging Carrie’s actions relative to what her religion advocates. Either Christians figure out how to be effective or remain self-enclosed champions of double standards.
The assumption that Carrie’s ex-boyfriend is less of a Chrisitian than Carrie, goes to prove the very self-righteousness you’re trying to discard. Was it the right thing to do? No, buts its no less right than living a false pretense. Its like saying the prostitute that put Ted Haggard on the spot is less of a person than Ted Haggard. Ted Haggard and the prostitue are one in the same. One does it publicly for a living and the other does it privately for pleasure. Carrie and her ex are one and the same. They both engaged in consentual activities. By all means lets crucify the person who “released” the tape while pardoning the woman that actually filmed the video of herself. The point is simply this. If Carrie is worthy of Miss Cali I know of many a beautiful girl without nude photos and filmed masturbation, that are more faithful to the standards they claim. All Christian pretense aside, shes nothing special. Shes attractive yes, but I often meet better paragons of beauty that are far more quotidian and with a less controversial past.
Thanks, truly, for your opinion. The “Falwell” version of America hasn’t existed like you describe in quite a while and increasingly less so. But somehow, I don’t think arguing that out would be productive.
However, since you imply that I am self-righteous with …
I actually said
I think his turning the video over to TMZ kind of proves he is opportunistic. I did not judge his spiritual state. Here’s your mirror back.
Sorry i meant to clarify that my “self righteousness” point was in response to Leya who said…
“… maybe he’s not a Christian which might be stating the obvious. But now Carrie is on the hot seat and the media has a twisted view…”
And the ‘falwell’ perception of Christianity may no longer exist to the Christian circle, but the judgement felt from his life is far from dead. The “conservatism” of the religious-right underpins an entire political party which continues to convolute this mixture of church and state and keeps inaccurate views of Christianity alive. Im not arguing for or against it. Im simply saying that the “holier than though” image of Christianity in this country still resonates loudest and its turning people off. The hypocrisy strikes first, and while Christians are busy pardoning themselves in God’s grace they are doing a terrible job managing their public impact. I completely agree the boyfriend is being opportunistic and I clearly stated that it wasnt right. However, when the first impulse is to judge and the next breath defends a person of equally questionable integrity, the message becomes very mixed to the rest of the world. It simply undermines the point of Christianity. Overall I agree with your post and again I apologize for not clearly directing my response. However, what concerns me is any effort to defend this woman while completely missing the greater damage she is doing to society’s perception of the Christian lifestyle. I respect your admiration of her and the ability to realize that she is no Esther but the truth is that she shouldn’t be exalted at all. Championing her as any kind of role model, especially considering her vocal ties to Christianity, is furthering resentment in those who continue to feel judged, are resentful, and see their own lives as better examples than miss Prejean.
I came across your website via your facebook and this happened to be the first post I read on your blog but I look forward to reading about the rest of your journey!
THANK YOU! I personally have not been impressed by Ms. Prejan just for the fact that people made her this Christian icon waaaay too quickly. I completely agree with you that just because she stands against gay marriage does not mean that first off, she’s a Christian, and secondly that she’s the next Queen Esther. I am all for people speaking their opinion and too many people who are against gay marriage have kept quiet. I commend her for speaking her mind unapologetically but she didn’t say, “If I perish, I perish” and risk her life to speak her mind. I am much more impressed by female missionaries who risk their lives every day in foreign and dangerous countries for the cause of the gospel than I am Ms. Prejan standing up for what she believes.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply … Esther (No, seriously!) ::: grin ::: I am so glad you found your way to my blog.
A couple of thoughts:
Excepting the Pope or Billy Graham, there are very few Christian figure-heads the media defers to on things like the Prejean “scandal(s)”. There isn’t anyone out there to head the scandal off at the pass, to chastise those that need it, or to explain the Christian position on that issue. So, whoever gets the most exposure generally stands out as “the voice” for Christians. And that voice might start to sound like, “Do as I say, not as I do.” It is very normal to listen to those that reinforce our prejudices. So, even when there is someone trying to deal publicly with the embarrassment a scandal in the church brings, we are slow to listen if it doesn’t align with our preconceived notions.
The Bible is very clear on the point that all have sinned. We are saved by God’s grace alone, and nothing we DO affords us any merit in that regard. Most who become Christians do so not because they are unaware of their moral failures but quite the opposite – they are acutely aware they have failed and sinned and are in need of saving. So, many people you’ll find in church are just the sorts that have an issue or two they’re still working to overcome. It is a rare and unfortunate occasion when you’ll meet someone in church who will argue they’re better than everyone else in that regard.
Christians are in the process of changing; of becoming people who were once unrepentant and unregenerate to those on a path toward becoming like Christ. I’ve never heard a single Christian argue they’ve arrived, but almost all would concede the walk is tough and is a life-long process.
On the point of mixing religion and politics: There is not a single religious person I know that does not both (A) take their faith seriously AND CONSEQUENTLY (B) agree their faith influences every facet of their life. Leaving faith at home is a concept the irreligious devised. We don’t live our lives in little mental compartments. In fact, someone who really does that might be considered pathological. Having said that, Christians have every right to get involved in politics. When they do, they will want their views heard. Those views might influence the course of our country. But that is the whole point. Every group in America, whether they are religious, corporate, or civil-rights oriented are involved in politics to influence public policy.
We can find inconsistencies in every human being; in their behavior, speech, and life. This should not preclude them from the debate. If the criterion for involvement in the public debate is pure, unadulterated consistency then no-one has any right to say anything.
As Christians the best we can do is call out a brother or sister who is making a mockery of the Gospel if and when they do, and hold them accountable. We need to ensure we’re not doing so self-righteously, but in love (after all, there may be a time when we’ll be in need of correction). And we need to ask forgiveness of those we may have offended. Having done those things, I do not think Christians need to perpetually prostrate themselves before their critics or recuse themselves from public policy involvement due to the moral failure of some in the church.
Leaving faith at home is a concept the irreligious devised. We don’t live our lives in little mental compartments. In fact, someone who really does that might be considered pathological. Having said that, Christians have every right to get involved in politics. When they do, they will want their views heard. Those views might influence the course of our country. But that is the whole point. Every group in America, whether they are religious, corporate, or civil-rights oriented are involved in politics to influence public policy.
… VERY good comment. Thank you for posting it.
How very Francis Schaefferian of you
Thanks for the compliment! Schaeffer is one of my heroes.
Yep, he’s a goodin’.
I need to clarify one thing I said earlier. I believe that the media tends to view the Pope or Billy Graham as the de facto (if not exclusive) figure-heads of the church and rarely recognizes any others. As a result there are rarely opportunities for actual Christian leadership to answer something like the Prejean scandal. But plenty of airtime is devoted to (A) those that do not speak for the Christian church (in an actually, recognized leadership sense) and defend and promote her without addressing her inconsistencies OR (b) those who deride her and use her to mock the church.
It seemed like Rick Warren was headed to be the next Billy Graham but the media seems to have turned away from him. He got a lot of press at the end of ‘08 beginning of ‘09
We can definitely pray that a godly leader will be raised up to that type of public profile to help bring the needed viewpoint to put things in right perspective … whether people actually listen or not.
“The hypocrisy strikes first, and while Christians are busy pardoning themselves in God’s grace they are doing a terrible job managing their public impact.” This comment of Desreeg’s really struck me like a laser beam. Only a relative few of us are ever going to have much of a public impact, but collectively, we also have one. We ought never to believe that every word we utter or every act we commit is not being counted in that.
Adam made some excellent points in multiple comments. I wonder if we will ever see a singular recognized Christian leader rise up again. There are quite a few worthy influencers out there, I think. Those are not necessarily the ones getting the press. I think of some great Christian professors, for example, who are influencing future generations, as well as unheralded mentors in many churches. Just a thought.
Adam,
I completely agree that leaving your faith at home lends itself to the very pretense im bothered by. By all means live your faith to the fullest in every regard. Christians within the Christian circle understand this.
I also agree that I havent met many people in the church that claim to be better or that they have “arrived”, at least not intentionally. Again, Christians within Christian circles understand the process, and where they are with God.
I am also completely for Christians being involved in politics, stemming from my first statement.
I agree most with the love comment of how we should handle situations, and once again myself and most Christians can follow what you’re saying. I dont suggest precluding anyone. Everyone has indeed fallen short and no one should give up on Prejean. However, its important to be circumspect of how any support of her behavior on a public stage will be perceived and ultimately influence the world that Christians are trying to reach.
Here is my issue. I have nothing against Christian individuals. My concern is that individual Christians are most often in self defense instead of understanding what their COLLECTIVE impact is on a national scale, both historically and presently. Salvation is a personal walk between God and yourself, but it effectively distracts people from asking, “Is collective “Christianity” actually portraying Christ as it should?” The biggest theatre the world and this nation pays attention to is how America behaves on the political and media stages. Affiliations on these stages will forever speak louder than our youth groups, our congregations, our personal testimonies, our pastors, and our Christian music. Why do I say that?
America is a country of partisan politics and politics, by derived definition, is a game of deceit. For those who arent Christians to begin with, their lens for Christianity is American poltics and its affiliation with right-wing agendas. Republican politics arent Christian, they are merely perceived to be “conservative,” but that hasnt stopped Reps from championing God as their exclusive mascot in everything right and holy. Liberal Christianity has been branded an oxymoron as if someone cant be a democrat/liberal and lead a Christian or otherwise decent lifestyle. This isnt neccessarily the fault of Christians directly, but rather their association with a political party that brandishes conservatism with dogmatic fervor. To the world its one and the same. Allow me to insert a blurb from a commenter on an NPR article that is typcial of the arguments that erupt over such occurences as Miss Prejean. Most debates end up predictably along these lines…
scott Robert (FiveAces) wrote:
What if there were two Americas, one Liberal, one Conservative.
The Liberal side could have Oprah, the Welfare state, Hollywood, Medicinal Marijuana, Unions, NAGs (National Association of Gals), ACLU, College professors (except the Economists), the Media, lawyers, debt, Bill Gates, Abortionists, Ted Turner, Taxes, Income redistribution and Obama.
Conservatives would have Rush, personal responsibility, the Military, Economists, Religion, the productive people, American traditions, luxury items, Police, Sarah Palin, Small Businesses, Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly, traditional families and guns.
How long do you think it would be before the Liberals were begging for help?? The Gate/Oprah money would only hold out for so long. After all, you cant have EVERYONE on Welfare.
Need I point out the blatant bias in aligning the values above? This is the current state of politics, which is one of the most vocal channels in our country and to the world. God and Christianity have been lumped in with agendas and lifestlye choices of “conservatives” that in many cases are found to be unconscionably hypocritical and just as profligate as their liberal counterparts are accused of being. Im not judging Christians. Im judging Christianity according to its associations because its causing a lot of confusion, and its nearly impossible for the world to decipher. A simple example is this. Christianity and Corporate America’s interests are globally seen as concentric in American Republican politics. Meanwhile our lifestyles are supported by a global community that is purposefully disenfranchised to keep our best interests afloat. The link below is to an excellent, non-biased documentary by a foreigner. Have an objective look if you havent already seen it. Its worth your time.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7932485454526581006#
Christianity in practice is divided by personal beliefs, denominations, culture, socio-economic status, and everything else. However to the “non-believer” the pedofile Catholic priest, Evangelical Ted Haggard, non-denominational Palin, fundamentalist Jerry Falwell, and Jew Bernard Madoff all belong to the same group. They all fly under the same flag of religion which flys under the flag of Republican conservatism, which flys under the Stars and Stripes of imperialism which has even more convoluted ties to global history and the “Christian Faith.” Yes as Christians we know to forgive, but our pardoning is seen as condonement as we continue our association with agendas that were in no way Christ-like to begin with. When Prejean publicly discredits herself and Christians race to her aid a lot of damage is being done. Some of those in her defense are being forgiving, some are defending a personal hero, some are supporting a personal poltical stance, some are supremecists, some just think shes hot, but in the middle of it all is “Christianity” because of Prejean’s declaration. The “non-believer” is left to sift through the mess if they actually care to delineate Christian from non-christian. Most dont because they’re already turned off by the blatant hypocrisy.
When I stand against a mixture of church and state, I dont stand against people living out their faith. Im standing against the inevitable association of God with ungodly agendas that is a byproduct of there being two manmade and money driven political parties. God, in the worlds view of America, has been reduced to a political puppet, and your “Christian vote” is politically affiliated with things that arent very Christian at all. My practice has been to attach the “christian” label only when I have full control over representation (such as my daily life), because when I dont Im ultimately attaching God to agendas in oppostion to what Christ lived and died for. Your political vote isnt a solitary testament to God’s love. Its a lot cast in a game of inherent dishonestly. The lesser of two evils is still wrong.
Hey! Thank you for engaging in dialog here
. It might help if in the future you hit reply at the bottom of the comment you are responding to. I have “threaded” comments so it will help with the comment flow.
I always like Prejean from the very first response to the question to now. With her roller coaster ride in the media she maybe getting some flack now but she will rise again. The same media machinery that is fighting her now will accept her if she enters that field-which she will.