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Jaci Velasquez Controversy

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Kiffin, May 14, 2003.

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  1. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    I was sad to hear of Jaci Velasquez starring in the racy movie CHASING PAPI.

    As one Christian Film review stated about Jaci,
    " Now for the not-so-small matter of CCM artist Jaci Velasquez making her big-screen debut in this movie. "How can Jaci Velasquez represent the Contemporary Christian Music industry in the skimpy outfits she wears in her new movie Chasing Papi?" asks Whittier, Calif., teen and loyal Jaci fan Alena Takii. "I like her music and can understand that she wants to break into the mainstream industry to reach out to the rest of the world, but is she really giving herself a good name by choosing to be in a movie that compromises what she stands for as a Christian?" It seems to me that Alena has answered her own question. Don't let Jaci's starring role mislead your family. Chase teens and tweens away from Papi. "

    The review came from http://www.family.org/pplace/pi/films/a0025599.html
     
    #1 Kiffin, May 14, 2003
  2. Speedpass

    Speedpass Active Member
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    Sounds like another example of "Should Christians influence culture, or should culture influence Christians?".
     
    #2 Speedpass, May 14, 2003
  3. WW2'er

    WW2'er New Member

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    This is a tough situation. I have not seen the movie, but don't doubt that Jaci's character is not the model of Christianity we all would like to see. However, I do feel that people should remember that it is acting. That is not who Jaci is and as an actor myself, I know that I am not recommending the lifestyle or choices of the characters I play. It is just a story to be told. (But I realize you also have to judge the overall message of the story and decide whether or not to have any involvement at all.)

    What I believe is much more important is your life and the testimony that you have to those you come in contact with. I have read and seen some interviews with Jaci, and I believe she has been an excellent personal testimony to those she works with. She seems to be shining some gospel light into corners of the movie industry that wouldn't see that light if she were not there.

    I'm sure she's not perfect and has made some mistakes, but who among us didn't at her age?
    We should all try to not to be too quick to judge, but instead be quick to examine ourselves.

    Grace and Mercy,
    WW2'er
     
    #3 WW2'er, May 15, 2003
  4. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    WW 2,

    I have seen clips from the film and it is bad. The girl is young but (I think around 20 or so) she is raking in money from selling CD's. We all make mistakes when young but most of us at that age are not in the spotlight to be a role model and influencing thousands of other with our music and lifestyle.


    There is accountability in that many Christian teens look up to her as a role model. The sad thing is that there seems to be little controversy over this in CCM and may say that the moral character of CCM artists is irrelevant as long as they bring in the money.
     
    #4 Kiffin, May 15, 2003
  5. WW2'er

    WW2'er New Member

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    Kiffin,

    I think we will have to agree to disagree on a few points here my friend.

    Very few people in CCM "rake in the money", and if she is one of those few and has done it by blessing others with Christian pop then why should I judge? (By the way, I do not own one of her CD's)

    If she is influencing others with her music and lifestyle, I say, "Great!" Her music is God honoring and her lifestyle (As far as I know) is also. It's her movie acting that we are discussing. (By the way, I won't go see the movie and I recommend that others don't either. But that is not because Jaci is in it. It is because I have read the reviews and they say it is a poor quality movie. Average at best. I want to demand excellence from Hollywood not junk.)

    Accountability is not to the unseen masses. It should be to a close group of spiritual authorities or advisors. (Like her parents and pastor) I do not know if she has such an accountability group that she meets with regularly or not, but I hope so.

    Who is saying that moral character of CCM artists is irrelevant as long as they sell music???! :( I have not heard or read such comments, but if true, I agree that it would be distressing and wrong!

    WW2'er
     
    #5 WW2'er, May 15, 2003
  6. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    WW 2er,

    The raking in of the money is to the industry itself not necessarily the artists. I have no problem with a artist making money but the CCM industry has gotten lax especially when it comes to people such as Amy Grant and even it's acceptance of Philis,Craig and Dean who are Modalist Pentecosts (A cult).

    Apparently Jaci was not given good advice or she ignored it by playing in a racy movie. It is hard to believe that her record company would not have warned her on this. The CCM industry should hold it's artists accountable or else we could have Maddonna, Britney Spears and Ozzy Osbourne as acceptable artists for the CCM industry. It could be her record company could see the movie as a way to up record sells. I don't know but the CCM industry is a big money business and does anyone notice that it is rare to ever see a overweight, bald, CCM arist?(Not referring to older ones like Michael Card) Many of the new artists seem to look like models. This I believe is because the CCM industry is following the secular music industry in making sure their artists have the right look to appeal to people rather than what the message is.

    Look I defended CCM for years but have found it harder and harder to defend.
     
    #6 Kiffin, May 15, 2003
  7. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

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    How can her music be God honoring if her life style is not.
     
    #7 RaptureReady, May 15, 2003
  8. WW2'er

    WW2'er New Member

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    Homebound,

    Is her Movie acting her "lifestyle"? Her personal lifestyle is not the character she plays in the movie. Many movie actors play despicable characters, but are the nicest people in real life.

    Her music is seperate. The music is "hers". It's her personal outlet for creative expression. The movie is not. Someone else wrote the script.

    And if you think her music can not be God honoring because of her lifestyle, well that can be(and often is) argued from both sides. I just wonder if you feel that all songs from Sandi Patti, Amy Grant, and oh yeah, King David are not God honoring because of their "lifestyle"?

    WW2'er
     
    #8 WW2'er, May 16, 2003
  9. RaptureReady

    RaptureReady New Member

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    If a porno person confessed a Christian life and still did what they do(acting is it) would this also be acceptable?

    1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
     
    #9 RaptureReady, May 16, 2003
  10. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    So, you have no problem with Jaci coming tearing her dress off and unveling herself in her underwear onscreen in an attempt to seduce Papi to have sex? (Have you really read the reviews of this movie)This is not like a Christian playing Darth Vader on screen.

    Amy Grant from what I read has never repented (I think she is poor role model) and King David of course immediately repented.

    If we take your logic to it's ultimate course then lifestyle does not matter since it is separate from what a person sings or preaches.
     
    #10 Kiffin, May 16, 2003
  11. WW2'er

    WW2'er New Member

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    (Sigh)

    Kiffin, yes, I have read the reviews, and no, Homebound, pornography would never be acceptable for any Christian. We can argue endlessly about where you draw the line concerning involvement in a movie or play and if you want to do so, please continue without me. However, I have no doubt that there would be some that would argue that no true Christian should ever ever play a role in most Shakespearean plays, or even Pontius Pilot in an Easter Passion Play!

    I am not even trying to say that she was right to accept the role in the movie! My point is that what she does or does not do as a character in a movie is not her lifestyle.

    I guess I will have to repeat myself.

    "I think we will have to agree to disagree on a few points here my friend."

    Have a good day gentlemen.

    WW2'er
     
    #11 WW2'er, May 16, 2003
  12. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    No one is saying this is her lifestyle. This is not like a Christian playing Darth Vader however. Dressing in a immoral way in a movie and then singing "For God So Loved the World" is hypocritical.
     
    #12 Kiffin, May 16, 2003
  13. WW2'er

    WW2'er New Member

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    Kiffin,

    Your example doesn't make much sense. Sure, Darth Vader was fully clothed, but he also personally killed innocent people and ordered the destruction of a whole planet and it's inhabitants. Which is the worse sin or moral example?

    Are you saying if a Christian played Darth Vader and sang "For God So Loved The World" that he would not be hypocritical?

    (See how silly this can become when we try to draw these types of lines? [​IMG] )

    Your friend,
    WW2'er
     
    #13 WW2'er, May 16, 2003
  14. Kiffin

    Kiffin New Member

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    WW 2er,

    It is not the same and I think you know it. [​IMG] Vader is a sci fi character who is a clear villain that is more of a cartoon character. I don't think any one is going to go around blowing up planets because of Darth. [​IMG]

    Velaquez plays a heroine and there is no moral to the story according to reviewers. Just a chessy racy movie. How many Teen boys will have something else on their mind when glaring at her at her concert fantasizing about how they saw her in this movie. The trend if continued teaches a form of moral relativism. It doesn't matter if a Christian dresses practically unclothed is the message who endorse Jaci on this.

    I also find it interesting that the movie and her newest album are out at the same time. A clever marketing ploy? I don't know but considering the current state of CCM it would not suprise me.

    I think Jaci, is a very talented singer but we are clearly to represent a Christian world view when in the world. There is no question Jaci is not doing this by trying to make herself a sex symbol in her starring role (And I am relying on the reviews I have read and have no reason to question them). It is very very sad not silly my friend.

    [ May 17, 2003, 10:13 AM: Message edited by: Kiffin ]
     
    #14 Kiffin, May 17, 2003
  15. AdoptedDaughter

    AdoptedDaughter New Member

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    This is merely what I've heard:

    I heard that Jaci talked to her pastor before doing this film, and also refused to do some scenes because of the content,and that she had some rewritten...Again....this is just what I heard.
     
    #15 AdoptedDaughter, May 18, 2003
  16. Travelsong

    Travelsong Guest

    I just had to take that statement out of context :D

    Seriously though, playing an evil character in a morality play like Star Wars is not an endorsement of said evil characters behaviour.
     
    #16 Travelsong, May 18, 2003
  17. Ps104_33

    Ps104_33 New Member

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    Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

    And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.


    Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
    MAtt 4:8-10

    There you have it. Waste high, across the plate. Some people have it and some dont.
     
    #17 Ps104_33, May 18, 2003
  18. blackbird

    blackbird Active Member

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    When David was runnin' away from Saul--horror of all horrors, he ran to Gath!! Hometown of the Philistine giant!!! While he was in Gath--he acted just like the Philistines do when they're in Gath!!!!!! Hollywood is the US's version of Gath!!

    Jaqi needs to get out of Gath!!!!!

    Blackbird
     
    #18 blackbird, May 18, 2003
  19. Travelsong

    Travelsong Guest

    !!!!!
     
    #19 Travelsong, May 18, 2003
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