So, I have a confession to make... I like Miley Cyrus. Yes, it's true. I mean, not in the crazy fan sense, but in the sense that I'll turn up the radio when her songs come on. Last week, when I was reading the Houston Chronicle, I was secretly delighted that she was on the cover of Parade, in an article titled, "Nobody's Teen Queen." In the article, Miley talks about her faith and says some things worth discussing, so here goes...
First, we read that Miley was baptized in a Southern Baptist Church 5 years ago before moving to L.A. The reason for this was "a kind of spiritual insurance policy against big-city life." I find this really interesting, because Southern Baptists don't generally baptize people for such a reason. There's nothing magical about getting baptized that is going to guard you from temptation. To think that is to hold to a superstitious definition of baptism that is absent from Scripture.
Ironically, one of the main things that will help keep you from falling into the temptations of the world is the thing that Miley doesn't do in L.A...go to church. Having fellowship with other like-minded Christians and sitting under the biblical teaching of a church leader are vital if you are going to keep your faith. The Christian faith wasn't meant to be lived by oneself, but in community with other believers (just read the book of Acts!). Miley doesn't go to church because she feels like "it's a show," because "there are cameras outside." She states, "I don't necessarily define my faith by going to church every Sunday," and claims that she is "very spiritual in my own way." I understand that the paparazzi may make your church experience different, and you shouldn't try to make a show about attending church. However, I think that if Miley was at church every Sunday, the paparazzi would eventually leave her alone. They aren't going to run articles about how she goes to church forever. They're looking for scandal! Hebrews 10:25 states, "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Deciding not to attend church so you can be "spiritual" on your own is a very dangerous move, and I don't know anyone who has done so successfully. We need the body of Christ in order to grow as believers, and we have no one to hold us accountable if we're not part of a church body.
Props to Miley, however, for not being ashamed to name the name of Jesus. Celebrities will often talk about God or being a Christian, but they seldom mention the person of Jesus. Miley says it loud and clear, "I am a Christian. Jesus is who saved me. He's what keeps me full and whole." Unfortunately, she qualifies this statement by saying, "but everyone is entitled to what they believe and what keeps them full." I agree that everyone is entitled to their own beliefs...we have freedom of religion in this country. However, I don't believe that there is anything else out there that can make you full.
When asked by the reporter if being a Christian is hard in Hollywood, she complains that people are always watching her to see if she'll mess up. The truth is, people are watching everyone who calls themselves a Christian. This isn't a bad thing, because we have the opportunity to point people to Christ by the way we live our lives. We are to be salt and light in a dark world (Matt 5:13). Bearing the name of Christ and living our lives to glorify Him should be a joy, not a burden! I realize that Miley has a lot more people watching her that any of us do, but what an opportunity she has to show the world what a genuine Christian looks like!
Miley then talks about the criticism she has gotten from people about the way she dresses. Her response to them is, "Yeah, I'm going to hell because I'm wearing a pair of really short white shorts. Suddenly I'm a slut. That's so old-school." I'm not sure what she means by calling this criticism "old-school," but what about her prior comment? In reality, she is exactly right. People go to hell for rejecting Jesus, not for wearing short shorts. However, our faith is more than just a "get-out-of-hell-free" card. It's about glorifying God and bringing others to Him. Does provocative dress glorify God and point people to Him? Just because we can do something doesn't mean that we should. Paul says it best in Romans 6:1-2 when he says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?"
I'm glad Miley isn't ashamed to call Jesus her savior, rather than taking the popular route in Hollywood that "all religions are equal." However, I think she is making a dangerous mistake in not joining a church. Being accountable to other believers would help her make certain decisions, such as how to dress, etc. Let's pray that Miley uses her influence to bring glory to God, rather than make people wonder why she calls herself a Christian...
Catch the full article by Kevin Sussums at:
http://www.parade.com/celebrity/2010/03/miley-cyrus.html
