Kathy Griffin on "De" Ceived List; Our Response Should Be Love

Comedian Kathy Griffin certainly triggered a lot of controversy this week when she spoke to Jesus after accepting her Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Program. And if you missed it, she didn't thank Him like so many do at awards programs (see the May 15 posting on this blog for thoughts on another awards program). Instead, Ms. Griffin said that "a lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus." She then held up her Emmy, make an off-color remark about Christ and said, "This award is my god now!"

Christians and Christian groups were outraged. The remarks were censored during the broadcast of the awards show Sunday.

I guess what is most surprising to me is that Christians seem surprised that someone who doesn't know the Lord would think they are in a position to comment about Him and even mock Him and take full credit for their accomplishments. That's human nature, however, and people have been doing this for centuries. In a field where "fresh" is so important, Ms. Griffin might be surprised to find out her thoughts aren't very new.

King Nebuchadnezzar, for instance, uttered this claim:

"Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of majesty?" (Dan. 4:29 NIV)

Later, this:

The governor's soldiers in Jerusalem "Stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on His head. They put a staff in His right hand and knelt in front of Him and mocked Him. 'Hail the King of the Jews!' they said." (Matt. 27: 28 NIV)

Was Jesus offended by Ms. Griffin's remarks? Yes, I think He was. And as Christians, it's OK for us not to be OK with such comments. But I believe Jesus feels a greater sadness that Ms. Griffin doesn't know Him. She also was quoted as saying this about Jesus: "I don't know what I ever did to him, I just think he doesn't like me that much..."

Jesus' response:

"Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."

My prayer for Ms. Griffin is that she will discover that Jesus does like her, in fact that He loves her so much, He died to erase the debt of everything she's ever "done to Him," including insulting Him at the awards ceremony. I pray that Christians in the arts community who know her will love her and take the opportunity to share the real Christ with her. I pray that she'll enter into a saving personal relationship with her Savior. And I pray she'll win another Emmy, if not for "My Life on the D List," then for another show so she'll have an opportunity to share a changed heart with millions of viewers and bring Him the glory.