“He’s dead Jim!” I, like many others of my generation can hear and even picture these words spoken by Dr. McCoy. This along with, “D*mn it Jim, I’m a doctor not a…” (insert profession other than doctor here) are iconic phrases from the short lived (3yrs) TV series Star Trek that has become a franchise that is still adding movies and shows to its Sci-fi lineup. You may be wondering why a Christian blogger is talking about Star Trek. While I am borrowing a line and a character to make a point, I promise you I will not spend much of this post on my guilty pleasure, space Sci-fi shows.

Christians need a Dr. McCoy in their lives.

Maybe Christians need to become Dr. McCoy. We need to be able to spot death and call it what it is. While I must agree the declaration of another as dead in their faith, can cross the line making us judgemental, I struggle with the lack of judgement that has become the norm. If our famed Doctor was a commentator on Christians today, I believe he would declare many as dead. When asked why others are not willing to make such a demonstrative statement my guess is he would respond, “d*mn it Jim, I’m a doctor not a theologian or a philosopher!”

We need a Dr. McCoy in Hollywood.

Lately it has become somewhat in style to come out as Christian in Hollywood. Some are more outspoken than others. Some have changed the direction of their careers and limited the roles they play and the scenes they film to avoid the appearance of evil. I must say these people impress me, not because I believe all actors who identify as Christian must not take on certain roles or act out certain scenes but rather their willingness to limit income opportunities to live out their faith is a sign of a faith that is alive. No need for Dr. McCoy to tell us the status of their faith, at least based on their outward appearance and stated moral codes of conduct.

Dr. McCoy, is he dead or alive?

We may not want to admit it because having a famous person declare they are a Christian makes us feel less alone in our faith journey but there are many in Hollywood who are dead or dying or maybe were never alive in their faith. In the past, the judgemental holier than thou Christian culture would look at a movie and say some or all of the actors are not Christians because of the content or characters. Most Christians would agree that movies celebrating and promoting lifestyles that are not in line with biblical values are not movies that can be put under the banner of appropriate content for the believer to watch or produce. That may be where we stop agreeing! Our assessment of what is Christian isn’t nearly as unified when movies include characters that are immoral or morally ambiguous. I want to be upfront; I have no problem with movies depicting the reality of life in all of its darkness. I am not even overly upset when a character sleeps around or does other questionable things. I do see how Christians struggle with this as it could be taken as tacit approval but for myself it is easy to separate approval and representation.

Dr. McCoy, what is your diagnosis.

For myself, I try to avoid frontal nudity and overly graphic scenes portraying sexual acts or at least fast forward through them. I find the overuse of profanity ignorant and offensive, not because of the words, but because it plays to the lowest common denominator and does nothing to advance the plot (each of us have our level of tolerance). Still, if I hear it in the streets why would I expect not to hear it when someone is trying to reproduce life in a script.

Now that I got that out of the way, those who haven’t unfollowed me because, as they often say in in the biz, we have creative differences, I still think there is a call for us to bring a little Dr. McCoy into our lives. I have no problem with actors that state I am a Christian but the character I play does not share those same values. No need for Dr. McCoy here. Where I start to become concerned is when in the name of authenticity, we create p*rnography. In the pursuit of realism we promote rather than represent lifestyles that are not consistent with biblical standards. Still, I am aware each person must struggle with where to draw these lines.

Paging Dr. McCoy – CODE BLUE.

While the art of entertainment is always going to cross someone’s faith boundaries, those who are made famous by it and claim to be people of faith should not. When an actor comes out as Christian, it isn’t about the characters they play, it’s about the life they live. When the day-to-day actions of an individual are not impacted by their faith, when they placate to anyone and any idea to keep their position in pop culture, we need someone to say, “he’s dead Jim.” Not as a judgement but rather a warning to both the individual and us, the real McCoy is saved by grace and transformed to do what is right in the eyes of God.

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)

God is willing to meet you wherever you are but loves you too much to leave you there.