"Livin' It: Unusual Suspects"

 

I just finished watching "Livin' It: Unusual Suspects" on TBN this evening.  Normally this isn't something that I would end up watching seeing as how it is on TBN after all, a channel that I normally end up flipping by quite quickly.  However, on this evening I was flipping through the channels and saw a familiar face.  At first I wasn't sure if I was seeing things correctly or not.  Then the camera panned out and I saw another familiar face and I was hooked.

 

"Livin' It: Unusual Suspects" is a production of the Luis Palau Evangelistic Association.  The first familiar face I saw was that of Kevin Palau, the son of Luis.  The second was Luis himself.  I must admit that I was slightly prepped for this program since Luis is an elder at my church where Kevin and his family also have connections.  A preview of the program was shown in service on Sunday morning a few weeks ago.  It will also be broadcast on the WB network sometime this month

 

I was quite impressed with "Livin' It: Unusual Suspects."  It was well produced as are most things put out by the LPEA.  It featured Steven Baldwin, who has been intimately involved with the LPEA for several years; Christian Hosoi, a professional skater; and several other high profile people who have come to know the Lord.  Overall it was a great program that carries out the desire and vision of Luis himself, to proclaim the name of the Lord and spread the gospel to the entire world.  Using well known people that are involved with the LPEA and its festivals and outreach, the program brings the gospel into peoples living rooms and, hopefully, will result in many people coming to salvation in Jesus Christ.

 

One aspect of the program that caught my interest was a clip with Alec Baldwin speaking of his brother and Christians in general.  Used as a teaser in the preview, Baldwin at one point says something to the effect of, "what's wrong with Christians?"  His answer to that question is the close affiliation between evangelicals and the Republican party.  Now anyone knowing Alec Baldwin could have seen this coming a mile away.  As I watched the clip I couldn't help but think of a movie that came out not too long ago, "Team America: World Police."  This is not a movie I can recommend with a good conscience but it does have some quite funny moments.  The connection with Baldwin is that he was featured as one of the main characters, a character who is virulently anti-American and in my opinion, highlighting the naivete of most liberals in regards to America's role on the world stage.  I had a huge smile on my face as I imagined the puppet version of Baldwin from the movie doing the interview for the program.

 

Aside from the random connections made in the labyrinth of my mind, Baldwin's comment about evangelicals being tied to the Republican party made me pause.  I can't necessarily disagree with him about the ties.  I also think that to a great degree they do exist.  If you think otherwise you must have had your head buried in the sand for quite awhile.  It also makes me think of those believers who are on the left side of the political spectrum.  Jesus never said "thou shalt be a Republican" or "Democrat."  Christianity supersedes politics although a persons beliefs, morals, and values definitely inform their politics. 

 

That discussion is so open-ended that it could go on forever so I'll leave it at that and move on to my next point.  The second thing I noticed about Baldwin's comment was that it seemed to be quite condescending.  The implication was that those "poor evangelicals" are so simple minded that they cannot tell when the nefarious crime bosses in D.C. are taking advantage of them and hijacking their organizations and causes for their own E-vil purposes.  Just the thought of that level of condescension irritates the snot out of me.  I have nothing more to say about that.  I'd get all worked up otherwise.

 

The final comment I'd like to make is that Baldwin's comment shows his ignorance and limited vision of what the Church really is.  Speaking as someone who's been around the world and has friends on at least three different continents, the body of Christ is so broad and integrative that for someone to take such a limited view of the Church through the lens of "America" highlights the darkness and misunderstanding that people have when they aren't able to see the world through the lens of the Spirit of God.

 

Well, "Livin' It: Unusual Suspects" is definitely a must see.  And Alec Baldwin... we can only pray that his brother's example wakes him up.  If he becomes a believer... I suppose I can still love him as a brother even if his politics don't change.

 

Just a third-culture kid's perspective.

 

The MK