Hollywood Jesus
E.A. Johnston warns against the distorted 'Hollywood Jesus' and calls believers to embrace the true biblical Christ who demands repentance and submission.
In this topical sermon, E.A. Johnston exposes the cultural phenomenon of 'Hollywood Jesus'—a distorted, self-serving version of Christ popular among celebrities. He contrasts this false Jesus with the true biblical Jesus who calls for repentance, self-denial, and submission to God's authority. Johnston warns believers to reject the counterfeit and embrace the gospel's call to discipleship and holiness.
Full Transcript
There is a popular craze in Hollywood right now among celebrities and that is to climb aboard the Jesus bandwagon. It's popular now for famous celebrities to talk about their Jesus. Hollywood Jesus is a mixture of Buddhism, Mormonism, New Ageism, and Christianity all rolled into one.
Hollywood Jesus doesn't believe in an eternal hell of punishment. Hollywood Jesus is tolerant towards sin. Hollywood Jesus just wants to make you happy and take you to your version of heaven, whatever that is.
Hollywood Jesus is like the Little Academy Award Oscar statuette. He's shiny and golden and prestigious to have. You can carry him in your designer handbag and pull him out as needed.
Hollywood Jesus is here to empower you to be the best you can be for yourself. But best of all, Hollywood Jesus won't get in the way of your daily living. The only problem with Hollywood Jesus is that he's not the Christ of the Bible but a god of the imagination designed to fuel the egos of Hollywood celebrities.
Hollywood Jesus will let you stay unchanged in your sins and give you as much of the world as you desire. Hollywood Jesus will let you sit on the throne of your life, and he exists just to serve you. But the Jesus of the Bible is a risen living Lord who sits at the right hand of the Father on a heavenly throne of authority, and he earned that right by way of a bloody cross.
The Jesus of the Bible, who is the Son of God, has rights and claims on all followers of his, he declares in Matthew 16, 24, and 25. If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
Hollywood Jesus is the devil disguised as an angel of light who is full of pride and wants to be worshiped. The great God of the Bible will deal with Hollywood Jesus on a future day fast approaching when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power.
Sermon Outline
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I. The Popularity of Hollywood Jesus
- Celebrities embrace a distorted Jesus
- Hollywood Jesus blends various religions
- Hollywood Jesus caters to personal happiness
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II. Characteristics of Hollywood Jesus
- Rejects eternal punishment
- Tolerates sin and self-centeredness
- Empowers self rather than submission
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III. The True Jesus of the Bible
- Jesus as risen Lord with authority
- Calls for self-denial and cross-bearing
- Judgment awaits false representations
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IV. The Coming Judgment
- Hollywood Jesus is a deception of the devil
- God’s righteous judgment is certain
- Call to follow the true gospel
Key Quotes
“Hollywood Jesus is like the Little Academy Award Oscar statuette. He's shiny and golden and prestigious to have.” — E.A. Johnston
“The Jesus of the Bible, who is the Son of God, has rights and claims on all followers of his.” — E.A. Johnston
“Hollywood Jesus is the devil disguised as an angel of light who is full of pride and wants to be worshiped.” — E.A. Johnston
Application Points
- Examine your own understanding of Jesus to ensure it aligns with biblical truth, not cultural trends.
- Commit to daily self-denial and taking up your cross as a follower of Christ.
- Reject tolerance of sin and seek to live under the authority of the true risen Lord.