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Two and a Half Men Star Shares His Story
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Everybody’s got a right to share their story.

While I affirm CBS’ Two and a Half Men star Angus T. Jones for sharing his story of faith, I sure do wish that the producers of the video would’ve cared a little more for Angus, his youth in the faith, and how they released his story.

I woke up early this morning to the entertainment headline trending “Two and a Half Men’s Angus T. Jones Trashes Show, Calls CBS Comedy “Filth””. Basically, Angus did a 30-minute interview for an end-times ministry recounting his testimony over the last year in which he accepted God and found a home within the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Within that interview, Angus spent a couple of minutes expressing how his new understanding of the Bible has led him to conclude that shows like Two and a Half Men are filth, how he wants to leave the show, and how he wants folks to stop watching the show. Of course, that’s the 2-minute clip that made headlines.

I then started getting emails from all of you asking if I’d seen the story. I had to sit with it for a little while though because I wasn’t having the same response as some believers.

There were lots of high-fives and “Way to tell ’em, Angus!” comments, but my first reaction was not glee. Instead, I felt deep disappointment.

Why are we so pressed?

You know me. I’m fully committed and vocal that every believer should stand for their faith. I’ve done so time and time again. Kudos to Angus for sharing his faith.

I am, however, disappointed in Forerunner Chronicles, the group who interviewed Angus and released the video. [UPDATE 11/29/12: The Seventh-day Adventist Church just issued a press release clarifying that “Forerunner Chronicles is not a ministry operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its host is not a pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”] I tried to leave a voice mail, but the box is full. I sent an email and I’m waiting for a response. I would love to chat with them and figure out why this interview was so pressing to release right now:

1) before Angus even told Warner Brothers of his desire to leave the show
2) before Angus’ one year contract ran out and he could simply choose not to renew it, and
3) before Angus even reached one year in his faith walk!

There’s a Journey

How many parents would take their child, who is not even 1 years old, and put them in a position to have to defend themselves and their beliefs? The child has just learned how to walk and talk, much less debate in front of a million YouTube viewers (At count, one video is posting 903,755 and the other 150,625).

As mature spiritual leaders, we are called to protect our babes in the faith. It is our responsibility to disciple, teach and walk alongside them as they mature. And we must use discernment in how we release them to the masses.

Peter and the other disciples walked with Jesus for 3 years before they were commissioned to “Go make disciples…” (Matthew 28:20)

In Galatians 1:11-2:5, Paul recounts how when he became a Christian, “I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Cephas (Peter) and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles—only James, the Lord’s brother… Then I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ… Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain…”

If Paul took 3 years to learn the faith before going public and an additional 14 years to walk it out and be tested in his teaching, surely, surely we can encourage our babes to take more than a year before giving them the heavy responsibility to speak on behalf of the faith worldwide.

Another way

There is always another way.

Angus reached out to Forerunner Chronicles initially because he had questions about the faith. Instead of seeing this as an opportunity for an interview and flying from Alabama to Los Angeles to video Angus on the Warner Brothers lot in his trailer, perhaps the ministry could’ve simply answered Angus’ questions about his faith.

Or, if the ministry absolutely HAD to secure this interview, they could’ve edited the Two and a Half Men comments out until Angus had the opportunity to take the proper steps to notify his employers of his desire to leave the show. It’s the least they could do. They could’ve advised Angus to talk to his agent, manager, lawyer and team to set the wheels in motion. He could give the show a heads up that he wants to released from his $350,000 per episode contract and give them a chance to respond.

In a recent article, Angus “expressed frustration over his character’s reduced screen time this season” with his character only doing “one scene Skype calls”. Could that not have been God’s providential hand moving on behalf of Angus to distance him from the show and give him an easy out when it was time to decline renewing his contract?

Who does this story actually benefit?

Who benefits from this “Hollywood is filth” story? I think the only ones who really like it are believers who want a reason to bash Hollywood instead of praying for us.

I have been misquoted numerous times this year alone by folks who want to push the “us versus them” agenda. That only works if you don’t actually live here or minister here or love artists like God loves artists. People have put words in my mouth that I have not said. I am here, shepherding artists every day and helping them navigate this industry without compromising their faith.

There are thousands of Christians here in Hollywood, who love our Lord, and stand for our faith, and are following in the footsteps of Jesus including dining with tax collectors and sinners and seeking to save those who are lost. We have given up everything for Christ. Yet, we respect our fellow artists enough to go to them in private and express our concerns before they read about it in the morning headlines.

I do hope that Forerunner will give us a call.
I hope to talk to Angus at some point. It’s a small world.
Either way, I invite you to pray for us.
Pray for all of us, and especially those of us who are leaders.

We must put other’s needs before our own (Phil 2),
Naima

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