ACT LIKE A What, THINK LIKE A Who?

Steve Harvey's "Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man" was generally applauded when the book came out.  The worst of the criticism was leveled at the movie.  The book is advice, direct, I'm telling you to do this stuff for real advice; and though some folks disagreed, most of those who spoke/ posted about it referred to Mr. Harvey's wisdom. 

The movie on the other hand is point-blank fiction.  It's a made up story presented purely as entertainment.  It wasn’t distributed as a documentary.  "Think Like a Man," the movie no more claims to be true than "Avengers."  

So, why are folks angrier about the fictional movie than the non-fiction book?   Why are we more emotionally invested in entertainment than in truth? 

Now, I’m not saying that Brother Steve’s book is truth.  I bought and read it--- way before the movie.  I thought there was some wisdom in it, some great jumping off points for a discussion between a man and woman about what they expect and need from one another.  But, a lot of what he said was wrong.  Some was wrong as in inaccurately taking his personal stuff and assuming it to be general principles for all men.  Some was wrong as in directly the opposite of what God has said.

My question is:  Why are we more personally and emotionally attentive and invested in fictional entertainment than in actual questions of truth?

An hour-and-a-half movie is really a 2 ½ hour investment of time.  That’s fine, but let church go from 11-1:30 and see how folks act? 

Mid-week concerts sell out all the time, but mid-week Bible study?  Folks gotta get up and go to work the next day.

To find a sale on shoes or suits we’ll search the internet for hours, print coupons, call stores, text and download promotion codes, input coordinates into GPS, create itineraries based on store openings, and scout locations in advance.  But, if we have a question about life and how to save our family and someone responds, “Let’s pray and search the scriptures for an answer,”  we’re likely to say (or think), “That takes too much time.  I need an answer right now.”      Really?

Really?

It’s a twist of the culture.  It’s a sign of the times.  It’s a flaw in human nature.  But most of all, it’s a dangerous way to arrange our lives.     Truth should not take a back seat to entertainment.

Jesus said that He is the Truth.   He also said that He is the Way and the Life.  

Jesus never said that He was the leisure, the distraction, or the entertainer. 

No doubt, worship can and should be engaging, exciting, and passionate.  We can lose ourselves in the experience.  But that’s not all (or mainly) what Jesus calls us to.

He calls us to love like Him (John 15: 9-17).  He calls us to serve like Him (Matthew 20: 26-28).  .  He calls us to learn of Him (Matthew 11:29).  

If you and I are really going to keep calling ourselves Christians and claiming the promises of Christ’s Kingdom, we really need to invest in the Truth of Christ at least as much as we invest in Christian entertainment. 

We need to learn how to Act like a Christian, Think Like Jesus.

And, you’re not going to learn that from the movie.

You’re gonna have to read The Book.

----- Anderson T. Graves II

Rev. Anderson T. Graves II is the pastor of Hall Memorial CME Church

Call/ fax: 334-288-0577
Email us at hallmemorialcme1@aol.com
Friend Pastor Graves at www.facebook.com/rev.a.t.graves

If you want to be a blessing to this ministry, contributions may be made by check or money order made out to: Hall Memorial CME Church

Mail all contributions to :
Hall Memorial CME Church
541 Seibles Rd.,
Montgomery, AL 36116