Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Actors and Politicians Have a Lot in Common

Actors and actresses for the most part enjoy center stage in life as well as the stage where they pretend to be something they are not.

The acting profession is all about being special, noticed and more popular as they work through life clamoring to achieve fame and glory.

Grandiosity is a way of life for performers. We are entertained by the characters they play even crying or laughing as though these people on the screen are actually going through the scene in real life.

I have heard it said that our subconscious doesn't know the difference between reality and fiction. I think this may be true, otherwise why would we cry at a sad movie when the events on the screen are not really happening nor are the actors the people they are portraying.

Actors and actresses lie for a living as they pretend to be people in plays that are not really them, through events that are not really happening. Telling stories for a living seems akin to telling stories in life. Perhaps after awhile they can't tell the difference between acting a part and experiencing real life.

I am beginning to think this about candidates running for office. There has to be a sense of grandiosity in those who think they can make such a great difference that they clamor to become powerful. Once in power their achievements go to their head swelling it beyond all semblance of reality.

The candidates and the actors in life for the most part are all about fame and fortune. This is why almost all actors are narcissists having tantrums when they don't get their way, while candidates will say just about anything to get the voters to give them their vote.

I guess I see actors and candidates nearly equal to one another in the pursuit of power, fame and notoriety.

Yes, there are some actors, actresses and politicians that are not as I have described, but I confess I believe they are few and far between.

Next time we are tempted to say that we just love that actor, actress or political contestant, we might want to hold our tongue until we have researched their intimate lifestyles. We might find to aggrandize these people without vetting them would only serve to leave us with egg on our faces.

Perhaps it is best to stay in the Word of God while focusing on His principles, then we can accurately assess the actions and attitudes of people we encounter, even if only on the screen or in the news.

Politicians and actors alike seek to manipulate our perceptions of them, they have no vested interest in our needs or desires. When they leave the screen or the office, they have one thing in mind, that is spending the money they acquired through their fame and glory and living the high life they aspired to live all along!

When we focus on Christ we are not the least bit interested in winning the world into our fan club of idol worshipers. Our desire is to please Christ, lives with which He would be pleased. That is where the only real fulfillment in life abides, in the will of Christ.

Colossians 3:15 "15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

1 Peter 5:7 "7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

James 3:18 "18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."

Philippians 4:7 "7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Proverbs 12:20 "20 Deceit is in the hearts of those who plot evil, but those who promote peace have joy."

Psalm 29:11 "11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace."

Romans 14:19 "19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification."

1 Peter 3:9-11 "9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. 11 They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it."

Politicians and actors for the most part stir up strife more than anything else, each one seeking their own vain glory rather than the well being of anyone else.

Philippians 2:3-4 " 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.…"

May we seek to discern right from wrong in our assessment of matters, not walking after the elevated feelings of fools, such as the Pollyanna's of the world, who desire only to "feel good" about herself, but able to discern a good character from a bad one in those who rule us and those who tell stories for a living.