Josh Benner

Category: Commentary

  • Will Smith steals the show with Oscar’s slap

    Will Smith steals the show with Oscar’s slap

    I was shocked while watching the Oscar’s last night and seeing Will Smith slap Chris Rock. I immediately rewound it three or four times. “What happened?” “Is that real?” “Was it staged?” 

    I rewatched and Smith looked to initially laugh at a joke that Rock had made at the expense of Smith’s wife. Jada Pinkett Smith has alopecia which causes hair loss and has chosen to wear her hair short. Rock used that as an opportunity to make a joke about Smith starring in the upcoming G.I. Jane 2.

    Then he walked up and slapped Rock. After Smith returns to his seat, there’s a brief exchange between the two men. You can see a lot of anger in Smiths’ face.

    Will Smith is one of those rare public figures who is almost universally liked. And there has been no shortage of opinions on the slap. 

    A few minutes later, he won his first ever Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in King Richard where he gave a rambling acceptance speech.

    Will Smith: Richard Williams was a fierce defender of his family. In this time in my life, in this moment, I am overwhelmed by what God is calling on me to do and be in this world. Making this film, I got to protect Aunjanue Ellis, who is one of the most strongest, most delicate people I’ve ever met. I got to protect Saniyya [Sidney] and Demi [Singleton], the two actresses that play Venus and Serena. I’m being called on in my life to love people. And to protect people and to be a river to my people.

    Protecting them? I find that to be completely patronizing and self-indulgent. He’s setting himself up as the hero and protector of the women in his life. 

    “I know, to do what we do, you gotta be able to take abuse. You gotta be able to have people talk crazy about you. In this business, you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and pretend like that’s OK.“

    I want to focus on the line “you gotta be able to have people disrespecting you and you gotta smile and pretend like that’s OK.” In some ways, don’t we all have to do that? We don’t all have smooth sailing and easy relationships in our family, with our bosses, with our neighbors. Yeah, it’s more public for celebrities. But sometimes we do have to be the bigger person. Sometimes we do have to take some slings and arrows and move on. It’s unfortunate. It’s unfortunate that not everyone is nice all the time. But that’s life. 

    “Denzel [Washington] said to me a few minutes ago, “At your highest moment, be careful, that’s when the devil comes for you.” I want to be a vessel for love. I want to say thank you to Venus and Serena … and the entire Williams family for entrusting me with your story. 

    That’s what I want to do. I want to be an ambassador of that kind of love and care and concern. I want to apologize to the Academy, I want to apologize to all my fellow nominees. This is a beautiful moment and I’m not crying for winning an award. It’s not about winning an award for me; it’s about being able to shine a light on all the people … and the entire cast and crew of King Richard and Venus and Serena and the entire Williams family. Art imitates life. I look like the crazy father, just like they said about Richard Williams! But, love will make you do crazy things.“

    Smith does apologize to the academy but it’s pretty vague and he doesn’t specify what he’s apologizing for. Was it wrong? He had just self-aggrandized himself as this great protector of all of the women in his life. And he then gives a dismissive comment of “love will make you do crazy things.” I will cut Smith some slack that this whole confrontation had just happened a few moments before and he didn’t really have time to compose himself. But he talks vaguely about love, being a vessel of love, shining light on all people right after he struck another man. 

    And that’s where the problem is. 

    There are various responses I’ve heard. I disagree with any response that justifies Smith for striking Chris Rock. The was not called for. There are constructive ways to handle that comment which do not involve physical altercation. I’ve heard it argued that Smith was just standing up for his wife. I believe a strong woman doesn’t need a man to resort to violence for her. I’ve heard people argue that they would have done the same thing if someone insulted their wife. You can do that, but you might also get an assault charge to be the tough guy. 

    Will Smith is not a hero. 

    I’ve always liked Will Smith. And I will watch his movies again. But his response was not the right response. 

    Photo credit information: Photo from Wikimeida Commons.

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  • Sermon – Are you king of the Jews? John 18:28-36

    Sermon – Are you king of the Jews? John 18:28-36

    In this passage, Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor as the Jewish council (the Sanhedrin) seeks his crucifixion. In this passage, Jesus will say that he has a kingdom which is not of this world while he’s being confronted by Pilate, a governor who is representing the Roman Empire.

    Sermon transcript

  • The positive, encouraging message isn’t always the message we need

    The positive, encouraging message isn’t always the message we need

    It’s interesting to me to consider the popular Christian music. It’s almost always easy listening.

    I was looking at some of the slogans for popular Christian radio stations.

    Perhaps the biggest in America, K-Love, which plays on 440 stations “positive – encouraging.”

    The River, which was the Christian radio station in Columbus, “uplifting and encouraging.”

    Smile FM, which is a popular station in Michigan says “positive hits.”

    Air1 which plays on 123 stations in 43 states: “positive hits.”

    Joy FM which is in Florida “helping you find joy.”

    Way FM “uplifting, upbeat, real.”
    There’s no Christian radio stations that advertise as being “convicting and sanctifying.” None advertise as being “sackcloth and ashes.”

    Now there’s nothing wrong with being positive, there’s nothing wrong with being encouraged.

    But is that the way Christians are always supposed to feel? Our society likes the easy listening message. The American church likes the positive and encouraging message.
    But we come to the second of the Beatitudes, in the Sermon on the Mount, and it’s: “blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

    Life verses

    I think of popular life verses people pick. Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”

    Or Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.”

    Proverbs 3:5-6 says:
    Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
        and do not lean on your own understanding.
    6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
        and he will make straight your paths.

    Positive, encouraging verses.

    There are churches where there’s almost this pressure on people to always be smiling, happy, positive.

    Because we like a positive, encouraging culture. But what about when you’re not doing well?

    Is a church to be another place where a person has to put up a front? Or is it a place where people can be honest?

    Now I’m not saying we should be unkind or rude to one another. But sometimes people are hurting. And there’s no virtue in white-knuckling it when you’re struggling.

    Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
    Church is not a place that’s primary mission is positivity and encouragement.
    It’s preaching Christ crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).

    And in studying God’s word, the primary goal should not always be the easy listening, K-love, positive and encouraging message.

    Because blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

    The first of the Beatitudes is “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

    And that is for the person who realizes that they are nothing and have nothing to offer God, to warrant favor, to merit grace, to earn heaven. And the blessedness is realizing that the grace of God is your only hope.

    The second of the beatitudes flows from the idea of the first. For a person who realizes how small they are before God and their utter need and dependence on God, that in seeing sin, there is blessedness in that.

    In the first case, you realize that God is your only hope.

    In the second, it’s having a greater sense of the state from which God redeemed you.

    Blessed are those who mourn.

    That word. “Blessed.” It’s one of those theologized and churchy words. Another way to translate it would be fortunate are those who mourn” or “happy are those who mourn.”

    And abundant, supernatural heavenly blessing for those who mourn.

    Part of what the beatitudes are doing is showing us that the values of heaven are not the same as the values of this world. In fact, it’s a set of values that are utterly incoherent to our world.

    Perhaps none of them more starkly displays the difference in the values of heaven and earth than the second of the beatitudes. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

    That’s not the K-love message. That’s not the positive and encouraging message.

    And that’s ok.

    In fact, I hope you don’t always leave encouraged.

    That’s not saying I want you to be discouraged. That’s not to say I want you feeling hopeless. That even when a text hits us hard, that we might rejoice all the more because of the hope that we do have in Christ.

    But in studying the Bible, I hope there are times when the weight of God’s word eviscerates you.

    There should be times where you’re convicted because of it. Times where you reexamine your life, your heart, your decisions, your motivations because of it.

    There should be messages that ring in your heart long after the benediction.

    But again, not to be left in total despair, but to be worshipful and rejoicing in the tremendous grace that Jesus gives.

    And that might not always be cheery and positive. Because we’re sinful people. And for a thoughtful Christian, sometimes we get hit by stark realities about ourselves and our hearts as we study his word.

    Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear what you think, and don’t forget to subscribe! 

    Originally published March 6, 2019

  • Sermon: Christ and the Kingdom of God, Part 1

    Sermon: Christ and the Kingdom of God, Part 1

    Throughout the Bible, there is a developing theme of kingship. We see God as the sovereign over all creation in Genesis 1. We see Adam and Eve as his vice-regents who lose the kingdom with which God has entrusted them in Genesis 3. And throughout the Bible, there is a return to the kingdom and the promise for a coming king who will one day establish a throne with justice and righteousness.

    Sermon transcript

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  • Sermon: Jesus, Peter, and the Priest – John 18:12-27

    Sermon: Jesus, Peter, and the Priest – John 18:12-27

    This passage goes back and forth between two simultaneously occurring stories. You have Jesus arrested and taken before the high priest meanwhile Peter tries to follow Jesus, gets cold feet, and denies Jesus three times. It’s a contrast between Jesus standing up to the authorities to the truth of who he is and Peter folding and denying even knowing Jesus. It’s a passage about faith, our fallenness, and the savior who forgives.

    Sermon transcript