Should filmmakers politicize the Academy Awards?

In his opening monologue to the ninety-eighth Academy Awards, host Conan O’Brien told viewers, “I warn you, tonight could get political.” His warning frequently came to pass.

One recipient said, “All adults are responsible for all children. Let’s not vote for politicians who don’t take this seriously into account.” Another apparently protested against ICE by stating, “We act complicit when a government murders people on the streets of our major cities.” One thanked the Academy “for supporting a film that is weird and queer and made by a majority of women.”

Toward the end of his opening monologue, O’Brien said, “Everyone watching right now, around the world, is all too aware that these are very chaotic, frightening times.” He added, “It’s at moments like these that I believe that the Oscars are particularly resonant: thirty-one countries across six continents are represented this evening, and every film we salute is the product of thousands of people speaking different languages, working hard to make something of beauty.”

Not everyone agrees, however, that movie makers should make political statements. Most do not, in fact.

Only 11 percent of Americans say a celebrity has ever caused them to reconsider their stance on a political issue; only 7 percent say they ever supported a political candidate because a celebrity endorsed them. In fact, 51 percent said a celebrity’s political position led them to think less of the celebrity; only 10 percent think such activism helps a celebrity’s career.

Gabriel Basso, star of Hillbilly Elegy and The Night Agent, agrees with those who disagree with actors who engage in political activism. “We’re saying words that we’re told to say,” he noted. “We’re told how to say them. We’re told where to stand. And then we’re telling people how to vote?

He added, “We’re court jesters. We’re entertaining. We’re public servants. We’re there to perform, to entertain, and then all of a sudden, the jester, because he’s in the courtroom starts to be like: ‘I might want to go sit on the throne!’”

Banging pots to protest the government

Many of us are likely to agree with actors who take political stances to the degree that we agree with their political stances. But there’s a larger issue at work here.

The First Amendment to our US Constitution states:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances (my emphasis).

James Madison, the primary author of the Bill of Rights, also famously observed in The Federalist Papers, No. 51:

If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, neither external nor internal controls on government would be necessary. In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

He knew that because governments are made of fallen people, those who lead them must never be invested with unaccountable power. The freedom of speech and of the press is therefore an essential corrective to popular democracy, enabling individuals to express their views on issues, no matter how unpopular those views may be.

Consider, by contrast, the way Cubans are speaking out against their oppressive Communist government these days. Today’s Wall Street Journal reports: “When the sun sets, a growing number of Cubans are banging pots in protest against an authoritarian regime they blame for dire living conditions.” If they do more, their own government is likely to imprison them and worse.

We should also note that Madison, in his wisdom, sought to guarantee the freedom of religion prior to addressing the freedom of speech. This is logical: the Christian religion with which he was familiar embraces the sanctity of all people as made in the image of their Maker. Communism in Cuba, by contrast, values the state over the individual, which is why Communist leaders can oppress their people while claiming that they are doing their jobs.

“Declare how much God has done for you”

I say all of that to say this: It is vital that American Christians utilize our freedoms of religion and speech in ways that promote the true freedom found only in Christ.

Paul wrote, “For freedom Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1). He added, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17). He was amplifying the promise of Jesus, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). 

Our Lord promised all who follow him in obedience to his word, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (v. 32).

Like filmmakers at the Academy Awards, you and I have been given places of influence in our culture. Whether yours is the marketplace, the classroom, the home, the hospital, the courtroom, or anywhere else, you will influence someone in some way today.

Utilizing this platform fully is vital in ways beyond our understanding, because we cannot measure the eternal significance of present faithfulness.

In Luke 8, we read of women who were among Jesus’ followers and “provided for them out of their means” (v. 3). Their financial support was vital to our Lord’s public ministry. Every life he touched and continues to touch is an extension of their generosity.

Now Jesus calls us to follow their example, lifting the light of the gospel “so that those who enter may see the light” (v. 16). When he cast demons out of an infamous demoniac (vv. 26–35), he commissioned the man: “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you” (v. 39a). The man clearly had influence where he lived with those who knew his story.

Accordingly, he became one of the first missionaries of the Christian era: “He went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him” (v. 39b).

A bus mechanic who changed my life

Now it’s our turn. God’s word instructs us, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). “All” in the Greek means “everything without any exception.” Everything we do and say can glorify God if we do and say it for that purpose.

I am writing these words today because a retired bus mechanic took this mandate seriously. When his church wanted to start a bus ministry to bring people in the community to worship services, they needed a bus for their ministry. So he purchased an old school bus with his own funds, repaired it, and drove it every Sunday morning for many years.

I was one of the people who rode his bus. I was brought to Christ because he brought me to church.

What “bus” will you drive today?