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Day 13
Manson vs. Fargo
By Al Menconi
I went
to a Marilyn Manson concert
a few years ago. This drug-using, bi-sexual
rocker is/was one of the most demented
artists to hit the scene in the history
of rock music. His songs dwell on themes
of murder, hatred, and suicide. He has
gone on record saying that he wants to
destroy Christianity through his music.
There were rumors of self-mutilation
and animal sacrifices at his concerts,
so I decided I needed to see this guy
in action.
The concert was loud and profane, with
many in attendance cross-dressing just
like their hero. While he did strip down
to a leather jockstrap and cut himself
with a broken beer bottle, I didn’t
see any animal sacrifices. The most disturbing
moment was when he tore up a Bible and
lead his audience in a chant of “We
hatelove/We love hate!” that
lasted for many minutes. This guy is
definitely has a warped sense of Christianity
and love.
Not long after, the Academy of Motion
Pictures published their list of Oscar
contenders and Fargo received
seven nominations, including movie of
the year. It was also getting a lot of
favorable comments from my Christian
friends and neighbors. They suggested
that I “needed” to see it
before I spoke at an upcoming convention
Minneapolis , because it’s star
has a Minnesota accent and it was cute
how they portrayed Minnesota culture
in the movie.
Despite my reservations about watching
R-rated videos, I decided to take a look.
I found it to be sick and perverted.
I don’t think of myself as naïve,
but the graphic violence, profanity,
and sexual scenes shocked me to a point
of revulsion. For me, watching this movie
was much worse than attending the concert.
Many of my Christian friends were shocked
when they heard that I went to see Marilyn
Manson. Some of them even asked
if I wasn’t afraid of demon possession!
Yet some of these same people enjoyed Fargo without
any reservations! How can this be? How
can Christians be so concerned about “satanic” bands,
and so indifferent to violence, profanity,
and sexual situations in the movies?
I believe movies like Fargo do
more to destroy Christian values than
the perversion of Manson. Why? Manson
warns us that he’s out to destroy
us. We see him coming and we put up our
spiritual defenses. Films like Fargo only
want to “entertain us,” so
we let down our spiritual guard.
There’s more to sin than Satanism.
Just because some sins are more entertaining
than others doesn’t mean they’re
less deadly to our souls.
Reflection: Why do
we find it so easy to find the flaws
in what others do and chose, and yet
have such a hard time seeing our own
flaws? Do you have someone with whom
you are regularly accountable to that
can honestly help you see spiritual flaws
you may be missing in your own life?
(see Matthew 7:1-6 and Luke 6: 41-42).
Response: Do you
have guidelines for what concerts, and
other forms of entertainment you and
your family participate in? Why not discuss
these guidelines with friends and members
of your family and ask them to keep you
accountable?
Verse of the Day: Ecclesiastes 7:5
"It is better to heed a wise
man’s rebuke, than to listen
to the song of fools." (NIV)
This verse says it is better to be
disciplined (taught) by a man who fears
God than to listen to the songs of those
who deny God. According to Psalm 14:1,
a fool is anyone who says there is no
God. According to Proverbs 1:7, a wise
man is one who fears God. The Bible tells
us that we will become like our teachers
(see Luke 6:40 ).
Now consider your entertainment. Is
it being presented by a fool or a wise
man? Research has shown many times that
our entertainment can be an influence
on our thoughts and behavior. Does your
entertainment help you focus on God as
the answer to life’s problems?
Or does it deal with life as if God didn’t
even exist? Remember, an entertainer
doesn’t have to publicly deny God
to teach us the “song of fools.” All
he has to do is to present a way of life
that says God doesn’t really matter.
Does your favorite entertainment come
from a wise man’s perspective or
is it the “song of fools?”
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