An old ad campaign began with the tag line, “I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV.” Today's headlines have yet another example of a wealthy Hollywood star allegedly blurring the lines between real life and role life. Who's to say if an actor or the role (s)he plays is a lovable rogue or addict careening toward the abyss?
Society rewards “bad boy” and “bad girl” actors as long as viewers and advertisers pay for their performances. God's opinion about drunkenness, lust, and out of control behavior in Galatians 5:19-21 warns that those who practice such sins will not inherit the kingdom of God. Instead of snickering at guilty pleasures or envying those who seem (for a time) to be going wild and getting away with it, we should “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [our] mind, that by testing [we] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable, and perfect” (Romans 12:2). Then, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we should strive to the best of our abilities to do God's will in our own lives and to help those who have fallen in their own walk.