4 Aug, 2006
What Do Others Think About You
GIBSON ASKS JEWS FOR HELP IN HEALING
Mel Gibson's latest apology drew mixed reactions from Jewish leaders, with some saying they were willing to help the actor address the anti-Semitic slurs he made during a drunken driving arrest and others demanding proof of his repentance.
Gibson made his second public apology Tuesday, four days after he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving following a hostile, offensive confrontation with deputies.
A law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the sheriff's report says Gibson told the arresting deputy: "The Jews are responsible for all the wars in the world," and asked him, "Are you a Jew?"
The apology went far beyond the first — directed primarily to deputies — and addressed Jewish groups directly. "Please know from my heart that I am not an anti-Semite. I am not a bigot. Hatred of any kind goes against my faith," he said in a statement.
"There will be many in that (Jewish) community who will want nothing to do with me, and that would be understandable," he added. "But I pray that that door is not forever closed."
Gibson, 50, has had an edgy relationship with Jewish organizations since his 2004 blockbuster "The Passion of the Christ," which some criticized for portraying Jews as responsible for Jesus' death. Supporters said the movie merely followed the Gospel story.
His apology prompted one rabbi to invite Gibson to speak at his temple on Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement. Other Jewish leaders say the healing process will take some time.
"Anti-Semitism is not born in one day and cannot be cured in one day and certainly not through the issuing of a press release," Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, said in a statement. Gibson should read about Jewish persecution and the Holocaust, among other things, Hier added by telephone from Israel.
"When Mr. Gibson embarks on a serious long-term effort to address that bigotry and anti-Semitism, he will find the Jewish community more than willing to engage and help him," he said.
photo & story courtesy msn.com, 8/2/06
Proverbs 10:7
7 The memory of the righteous is a blessing,
but the name of the wicked will rot.
Proverbs 22:1
22:1 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
and favor is better than silver or gold. (ESV)
What does today's scripture teach us about how to have a good reputation? How's yours?
The answer is pretty simple, but impossible to obtain without God.
If we choose to let God's Spirit enable us to live a godly life, our names will have a good reputation attached to them. People who come in contact with us will have good memories of us. They will know they can trust us. They will feel like their lives were blessed because of a friendship with us.
The flip side is that if we choose to not live under the control of God's Spirit within us, our names will have a lousy reputation attached to them. In fact, today's scripture says that our names will be rotten. If we are self-centered, two-faced, or dishonest, the time will come when we realize that we don't have a good reputation. Others will not trust us and we'll find ourselves living a pretty lonely life without friends.
Mel Gibson's reputation is in serious trouble. I'm not attempting to judge him or claim that I know exactly what he believes about Jesus Christ. But one fact is clear - Mel Gibson was not living under the control of the Holy Spirit when he was drunk and slamming Jews. The media is after him, not only because he is a celebrity and made anti-Semitic slurs, but because he made the infamous movie depicting the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Mel is going to need to depend on Jesus to help him get out of the deep hole he has dug for himself. Even if Mel Gibson is forgiven by God and the Jewish community, the world will continue to attach this incident to his name.
What will be the reputation that others attach to your life story?
How can you connect today's God's Story to your life?
- Write down anything about your reputation that is not godly. Review it regularly to let God show you how He is helping change your reputation to bring honor to Him.
- Talk to God right now in prayer. Thank Him for making His Word so practical. Confess any way in which you have allowed ungodly choices to tarnish your name and reputation. Thank Jesus for forgiving you and for giving you the opportunity to make a fresh start. Admit your weakness to be able to live a godly life on your own and pray in the name of Jesus that you will live a life worthy of someone who bears the name of Christ.
How can you connect God's Story and your story to others?
- Remember that living a godly life is how God blesses your name and reputation, but Jesus said that the world will still hate you for being His disciple. Even though you will be hated by some for following Jesus, you will have a good reputation if you consistently walk the talk.
- Think about someone you know who does not have a godly reputation. Pray for this person regularly and rather than judging or ignoring him or her, reach out with Christ-like love as a friend.
- Pray for Mel Gibson to allow God's Spirit to intervene in his mess. Pray that Jesus will somehow use Gibson's story to attract people to God's Story.
- Because Gibson's story is all over the news, look for opportunities to use this in conversation to listen to the story of others and share your own story about Jesus in your life.
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