Denzel Washington and Hollywood

Welcome to another Thursday UNFILTERED substack article, the only substack newsletter that believes pop, celebrity Christianity is like bad Wi-Fi. Not feeling any connection there.

In an industry marked by its gross excess and degeneracy, Denzel Washington stands out as a remarkable exception. Recently, I came across these powerful words by Denzel:

“If you're rejected, accept it. If you're unloved, let go. If they choose someone or something over you, move on. Not everyone you love will stay; not everyone you trust will be loyal. I don't care about losing people who don't want to be in my life anymore. I've lost people who meant the world to me, and I'm still doing just fine. Do not follow the majority; follow the right way … Give people time, give people space; don't beg anyone to stay. Let them roam; what's meant for you will always be yours."

Now here's the thing about Hollywood – it's like that sketchy friend who keeps making terrible life choices while trying to convince everyone they're living their "best life." (Sort of like Facebook and Instagram.)

But then there's Denzel, who's somehow managed to navigate four decades in that circus without turning into a human headline.

He's like that one guy on the cruise who's having a great time without needing to jump off the ship.

When actor Stephen Baldwin said that Hollywood is run by the devil, he wasn’t being metaphorical. As I demonstrated in my signature book Insurgence: Reclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, the entertainment system – as well as the political system – are under the control of the “god of this world.”

When it comes to Hollywood, we're talking about an industry that turns human insecurities into profit margins and sells manufactured reality as truth. It's like an Instagram filter for society – making everything look prettier while hiding all the unflattering angles.

And let's get real for a second –  today's mainstream Christianity often looks suspiciously similar.

It has more in common with a Hollywood production than many would care to admit. Both systems are selling versions of salvation, just with different marketing strategies.

(I dig deeper into this uncomfortable parallel and more in episode #221 of the Christ is All podcast – “The Industrial Religious Complex,” if you somehow missed it.)

Speaking of real talk, the other Denzel and I have cranked out a bunch of episodes for The Insurgence Podcast. Think of that podcast as your guide to navigating life's nonsense with a fresh lens for understanding the explosive gospel of the kingdom without buying into the usual Christian narratives.

We're planning to record more episodes soon, assuming the universe cooperates.

Just before that, one of my previous conversation partners will reappear on some episodes.

If you're new to my work, check out episode #1 where I introduce Denzel. We're 141 episodes deep now, and they all connect together like pieces of the kingdom puzzle that form a breathtaking picture.

You can find us on any podcast platform where people pretend to listen while doing their laundry. Just search “The Insurgence Podcast” and subscribe.

Oh, and do the same for “Christ is All,” which is another ongoing podcast of mine (over 200 episodes with 2 million downloads). Just be careful with the eight spoof episodes. They aren’t for the wet-blanket, dour lemon suckers.

Thanks for listening and spreading the word.

Until next Thursday,

fv