Watch
Listen
Click here to listen to the episode on our website
Read
Gramster Rant: The Oscars Are Dead
What happened to Hollywood? The Oscars are right around the corner, and up for best actress is a man. It smacks of that 2015 moment when Bruce Jenner won ESPN's Woman of the Year Courage Award. Now Carla Sopia Gascon becomes the first openly transgender actress nominated for an Oscar.
The nominated film's premise is almost laughable - a brutal Mexican cartel boss hiring a lawyer to help with gender transition. Dozens have screened it. Yes, dozens. Even the LGBTQ+ community is upset, claiming the movie portrays trans individuals in a negative light. But honestly, it's not an accurate representation of any community. Who wants to watch a cartel boss transition storyline?
Here's the reality: Hollywood isn't learning. There's been such a cultural shift lately - people are fed up and done with this agenda. Yet Hollywood can't let it go. No wonder nobody watches the Oscars anymore. When I was young, watching the Oscars was a big deal. Middle-class families saw movies throughout the year and had favorites to cheer for. One of the last times I actually cared was when Lord of the Rings was up for awards. Since then? A steady decline.
The word is class. It used to be about class - movie makers, storytellers, people who excelled at their craft. That no longer exists. The class of the whole scene is dead, especially with the righteous and common folk. Nobody cares about the Oscars anymore. Literally nobody cares.
Salvaged by God Deep Dive: Deception and Discernment
Scripture teaches us in 1 John 4: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world."
Three key truths emerge about deception and discernment:
- The biggest deceptions people fall for are promises of happiness through fame, fortune, and materialism
- There's only one way to please God - through faith in Jesus Christ
- We must test everything against God's Word, not cultural movements or false prophets
The current state of Hollywood and our culture serves as a perfect example. When you look at everything happening with this administration compared to the last one, God is screaming to His children: "Watch out for deception!" Do you have eyes to see and ears to hear?
Right On or Way Off?
"Men are not intimidated by strong women, but far too many women believe that being aggressive, rude, and generally unpleasant makes them strong. No, it makes you insufferable. It's not that we can't handle you, but that we prefer not to in light of better options."
RIGHT ON!
Being strong doesn't mean being contentious. God made woman as a helpmate for man. True strength comes from sticking to Godly values, not from being aggressive or unpleasant. As they say, the man's the head of the house, and the woman's the neck - she turns the head the way she wants.
"Don't treat them how they treat you, that's what keeps your blessings flowing."
WAY OFF!
This screams behavior modification masquerading as righteousness. God isn't playing a cosmic game of three-card Monte with your blessings. You can't manipulate God's sovereignty through your actions. While we should treat others well, it's not a transaction for blessings.
"When Jesus said 'I am the way,' He clearly intended to exclude all other ways."
RIGHT ON!
As Charles Spurgeon noted, Jesus was explicitly clear: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father except through me." There's no ambiguity here - Jesus is the only way to salvation. No other path leads to the Father.
Cultural Wake-Up Call
Hollywood's disconnect from its audience mirrors a larger spiritual battle in our culture. Just as the entertainment industry has lost its way, many voices claim divine authority while leading people astray. The solution remains simple yet profound: return to God's Word as the ultimate authority and maintain spiritual discernment in all things.