Reaching For the Pure

There's a passage in 1st Timothy chapter 5 that talks about sharing in the sins of another. I think this can relate to how we present ourselves and our associations. In verse 22, Paul writes:
22 Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other people's sins; keep yourself pure.

Later, he states:
24 Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.
25 Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.

You want your works to be "clearly evident," not sending a mixed message to those who see how you behave. 

It is refreshing to see Hollywood actors, sports celebrities, and others be outspoken in their love for Christ.  But, while you certainly want to extend grace when they miss the mark, we have to be discerning when people who claim the name of Christ fall short in being good representatives of Him.

One particular actor, who was featured in a recent faith-based film called, Ordinary Angels, has received some attention in the Christian space recently, and not all of it good. The Christian Post ran a story a few months ago stating: 

"Reacher" star Alan Ritchson is calling out Christians after he received backlash for playing a role that could be seen as "morally ambiguous."

In a video posted to YouTube last Saturday, the Christian actor addressed reported criticism he received from some Christians for playing Jack Reacher in the Amazon Prime Video series.

The article relates that Ritchson:

...said the Bible contains "stories of paganism, of war and bloodshed and ghost stories, mysticism," and shows God revealing "who He is through an imperfect people."

"We see miracles and magic," he added. "We see life and resurrection and death, and we see this incredible canvas where God is completely unafraid to tell the story of who He is through less than morally ambiguous characters, through pure evil sometimes."

Ritchson finds it "laughable" when he receives criticism for taking the role, saying stories like "Reacher" can be used to initiate the start of conversations between people "in a way that I think God enjoys."

Paul Batura, writing for The Daily Citizen, offers this response to some of Ritchson's comments:

In a recent interview with the Hollywood Reporter, Reacher star Alan Ritchson is referred to as “an unfiltered, faith-driven family man who is unafraid to show his scars as a way to fulfill God’s wishes and live in service to others.”

Yet, Ritchson also doesn’t seem to have much patience for Christians who don’t measure up to his expectations – or those who question or push back on his judgment.

“Christians today have become the most vitriolic tribe,” he told the reporter. “It is so antithetical to what Jesus was calling us to be and to do.”

The Daily Citizen goes on to note: 

Alan Ritchson has taken offense to criticism he’s received for assuming edgy or risqué roles. He correctly points out that the Bible is no G-rated book. Yet, that doesn’t necessarily mean Christians should be comfortable taking R-rated roles.

In his role on Reacher, Ritchson has been filmed in a shower with a topless woman – and called criticism he’s received “laughable” and said that “God doesn’t care” about such things.

In his spirited response to the criticism, Ritchson suggests those who push back think Christians should only be taking parts where they’re “silently folding their hands in the pew of a church.”

We can’t speak for the expectations of all those challenging his judgment, but that’s clearly not what the vast majority of those speaking out expect.

It seems to me to be hypocritical for an actor who has made strong statements against pornography to participate in a nude scene.  A Movieguide article characterizes statements that Ritchson has made regarding pornography, that it, "dehumanizes people." The article says:

“We remove the humanity, the dignity. We no longer care for the concerns of that human being or their needs,” he explained. “We simply turn them into an object of our sexual desire or lust.”

He continued, saying that porn creates dopamine pathways that, as they become more ingrained, grow harder to overcome.

And, Ritchson has taken aim at other targets, including Christians who don't share his views - immigration seems to be one area in which he has been especially harsh.  Law enforcement is another.  FoxNews.com related:

"Cops get away with murder all the time, and the fact that we can’t really hold them accountable for their improprieties is disturbing to me."

The latter quote prompted the National Fraternal Order of Police to confront Ritchson at the time, calling him "another useless Hollywood actor, virtue signaling for attention at the expense of brave police officers around this country" on its Facebook page.

Ritchson fired back over Instagram, stating, "This kind of emotionally immature response is the epitome of what concerns me about law enforcement today. If this is how leadership handles a peaceful disagreement, what does life look like for those unseen interactions in the street?"

I am not in a position to judge what is in a man's heart.  To put it probably too simply, Alan loves Jesus, but may not love the Church so much. We have to make sure we regard our fellow believers as people for whom Jesus died.  Certainly it is difficult to play a "morally ambiguous" character such as the nomadic, former military guy Jack Reacher. But, it does seem to send the wrong message for an actor to play a role that seems to belie his own faith statements.  He's right, I believe that Christians should engage with the grittier elements of life in their on-screen portrayals - the Bible certainly deals with precarious subject matter - but I think that can be done without offending people's sensibilities and continuing to reflect Biblical morality.

What is concerning is that rather than show respect or compassion for those who would disagree with him, Alan Ritchson is using his spirituality as a sword, a rhetorical weapon, to demean his fellow believers and citizens. I think that can be a good lesson for each of us as followers of Christ: while we will have disagreement with others, we can make it our aim to speak the truth in love.  We must be willing to extend grace, but we should always make sure that we are acting and speaking in accordance with Biblical principles.