DANCING DOGS ARE ENTERTAINERS, NOT EDUCATORS

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.”—Rom. 1:21

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not

God made foolish the wisdom of this world?”—1 Cor. 1:20

Dr. Samuel Johnson (1709-1784) was a poet, essayist, moralist, literary critic, biographer, editor and lexicographer and considered to be the most distinguished man of letters in English history. He had this to say of the popular entertainers of his day: “Players, Sir! I look on them as no better than creatures set upon tables and joint stools to make faces and produce laughter, like dancing dogs.” I pretty much share Dr. Johnson’s opinion in terms of so-called and self-proclaimed “artists” of the stage and screen.

The great majority of people who make their livings as entertainers represent the most under educated and ignorant, the most immorally deranged, hedonistic and hypocritical, segment of humanity in our society. These are people would top any list of the most scornfully godless and unpatriotic people in America. This isn’t true of all entertainers. There have been, and are exceptions, but these have been very few. And they are almost extinct today.

Really, why would any right thinking person in this country care what the “dancing dogs” of our day think? Give a look at what some of the “icons” in the industry have said about their “profession.” And bear in mind that these represent only a tiny sampling of the sentiment shared by countless stars and starlets as to what they really think of what they do, and of themselves for doing it.

Katherine Hepburn, one of the most famous and celebrated actresses of our modern era (who was, by the way, a proud atheist, blasphemer and adulteress) offered this general evaluation of of her profession: She said it required “The most minor gifts and [is] not a very high class way to earn a living. After all, Shirley Temple could do it at the age of four . . . Acting is the perfect idiot’s profession.”

Hollywood legend, Robert Mitchum said of his profession, “"This is not a tough job. You read a script. If you like the part, and the money is OK, you do it. Then you remember your lines. You show up on time. You do what the director tells you to do. When you finish, you rest and then go on to the next part. That's it."

Famous film director Alfred Hitchcock, was as, or more, familiar with actors and actors as anyone has ever been; he said that “all actors should be treated as cattle.” Here is some insider opinion worth consideration.

Comedian and actor Jerry Seinfield, who has a net worth approaching one billion dollars and is possessed of one of the most demonstrably vulgar minds and mouths in the world. In 2007 he said this to his an of entertainers as he received an HBO award: “I’m just you know, sick of all these actors and you know, I don’t know why we’re so fascinated with actors in this culture. They haven’t got a thought in their stupid bed-head hairdo mini brains. Why are – we must honor this man, why? He pretended to be Bob Johnson. He is a genius, I tell you, it’s genius what he is doing, playing dress up and pretend is not genius ladies and gentleman, it’s not genius … Roll the cameras, put on these clothes, stand there ready? Say what we told you to say! Fantastic, he did it! Give this man a huge golden trophy.” How uncharacteristically un-hypocritical it was of Seinfeld acknowledge this about his colleagues and their “craft.”

Is some twisted and botched sort of attempt at moral catharsis in play when these people, whom Samuel Johnson compared to “dancing dogs,” pontificate on and lecture Americans about what is right or wrong? Are they desperately trying to convince themselves and others that their lives have some real significance? Or, are they simply demonstrating the corrosive, devastating effects that sin has on those who give them selves over to it? (See James 1:15). Probably all three of these things are involved.

The entertainment industry, when looked at from a biblical perspective is rotten to the core. It is as morally toxic as can be. Let’s face it: The people who are at the top of their game in the world of entertainment are people who have outdone their peers in becoming the personification of irreverent, immoral, narcissistic, smart alecks; people who pretend and lie for a living better than most in their industry. They are everything that Christian and non-Christian parents alike have, traditionally, tried to not have their children become.

How tragic that our society has become so spiritually, mentally and intellectually challenged that it would applaud, mimic and make millionaires of such “dancing dogs” of the stage and screen. And how utterly ridiculous that any one would give any time or credence to what they have to say about anything. Their only value lies in the fact that they are, as is true of all mankind, souls for whom Christ died; souls desperately in need of salvation and the prayers and witness of God’s people.