mission

Yes , I watched the Charlie Sheen interview, and yes, it was fascinating. 

A live “celebrity trainwreck” on national television makes for great entertainment on a Tuesday night. 

Seeing the endless twitter stream of Sheen-Mockery I wanted to jump right in, who wouldn’t? I mean who is this guy?

Unemployed and winning?                                                             

Not bi-polar, but  bi-winning?

We win so radically in our underwear?

Seriously?

As a TV and Twitter loving American…I love it. Let the mockery begin. 

As a Christian, I am troubled. 

Troubled by the difference between how Jesus responds to sin and brokenness, and how I do.

You see, the brokenness of peoples lives has become our entertainment. Whether it is the celebrity train wrecks of Charlie Sheen, Lindsey Lohan, Britney, or the people we see on shows like Hoarders, Intervention, or even Dr. Phil. 

We sit on our couches, remote control in hand, and watch peoples lives as they fall apart.

And then tweet about it?

How did Jesus, whose nickname was “friend of sinners”, respond to the Charlie Sheens of his time?

1 Remember when Jesus had a feast with a loser named Levi and all his loser buddies. When the religious folks complained about it Jesus said “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5)

2 How about when he met the lady who was sleeping around all over town? Did he mock her? Did he judge her? NO! He forgave her (and then gave her some dang good advice)! (John 4)

3 And then theres that story Jesus told about the Prodigal Son, the loser kid who blew all his money on partying and prostitutes, ended up living with pigs and then making the walk of shame back home. Certainly his father mocked him? Kicked him when he was down? NO! He runs to him and throws him a party! (Luke 15)

Now I like a good laugh as much as anybody, and “bi-winning” is my new favorite word, but taking a few cues from Jesus I am thinking of a couple ways NOT to respond to Charlie Sheen, and a couple of ways TO RESPOND.

TWO WAYS NOT TO RESPOND

1 Don’t Judge

Resist the urge to think or say “I would never do that”. Really? Do you know what it is like to have been a celebrity from the age of 18? Do you know what it’s like to have multi-millions in the bank and have thousands of women make themselves available to you? Resist the idea that you are somehow better. If any of our lives were on display in front of the entire country, minus the Grace of God, we would all be in trouble. We are all more broken (than we dare admit).

2 Don’t Mock

I love to laugh too, but finding humor in the deep brokenness of others lives should bother us. The fact that we are entertained while we watch somebodys life implode should cause us to realize just how broken we are.

FOUR WAYS TO RESPOND

1 Empathy

We should empathize with others brokenness and sin, because we too are broken, we too have sin.

2 Concern

We should also be deeply concerned, for Charlie Sheen, his kids, and the millions of others in the world facing similar struggles with addiction, broken relationships, and denial.

3 Pray

Turn from mockery to prayer. Pray that Charlie Sheen, and others, would find forgiveness, hope, and healing in the good news of Jesus.

4 Love

It is not just Charlie Sheen, Lindsey Lohan, or the next family on Dr. Phil...within blocks of where you live, or a few doors down at the office, somebody you know, somebody you pass by, is struggling with addiction, broken relationships, and denial.

You are surrounded by people who think they are winning (or even bi-winning),

who need the hope of the Gospel...

Go love somebody.