More Than a Superstar

In order to live and experience the truth of Christianity, we have to recognize that true identity of Jesus.  There are those who want to pick and choose what they want to believe about our Savior - by eliminating, for instance, the resurrection, you reduce Jesus to some sort of social activist or moral teacher.  By saying Jesus is a "good teacher," but don't follow His commands, then He is no more than a dead philosopher. We have to discover more about the true Jesus. Paul wrote in 1st Corinthians 15 (ESV):
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

In 1973, Glen Campbell sang the lyrics, "I knew Jesus before He was a superstar."  This was two years after the Andrew Lloyd Webber-Tim Rice musical made its debut on Broadway and the same year that the movie of the same name was released.  Come to find out, Campbell actually didn't know Jesus at the time, and had a dramatic conversion later in life.

Jesus Christ Superstar was a pop-culture depiction of the life of Jesus. The Christian Post related:  "Because of its lack of a Resurrection, sympathetic portrayal of Judas and theologically questionable interpretation of Jesus, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' has stoked controversy since it first debuted as a musical on Broadway in 1971."

Well, just add more controversy now to the legacy of this musical.  Todd Starnes wrote: "You would be hard-pressed not to find someone horrified by the latest revival of 'Jesus Christ Superstar...,," adding, "The Andrew Lloyd Webber production debuted at the Hollywood Bowl starring Cynthia Erivo as a bald-headed, female, queer version of Jesus."   He went on to say, "Erivo says the point of Jesus Christ Superstar is to provide and challenge. She said the teachings of Christ should transcend gender. She also pointed out that musical theater is the gayest place on Earth."  Even though there were positive reviews, Starnes noted, he said, "The rock opera literally desecrated the traditions of the faith, obliterated Biblical truth and mocked God."

Granted, Cynthia Erivo, one of the stars of the movie version of another Broadway musical, Wicked, has a great voice - and for the role in Superstar, she checked all of the intersectionality voices, and shaved her head.  And, she had gay icon Adam Lambert, American Idol runner-up and Freddie Mercury wannabe as Judas.

The Christian Post offered these comments:

"This is demonic," wrote Kevin Sorbo, a Christian actor who posted a video to X of Erivo carrying a crossbeam while wearing a crown of thorns during the show, which ran from Aug. 1-3. The production also starred openly gay singer Adam Lambert as Judas Iscariot.

Many X users echoed Sorbo, noting that Erivo's long, talon-like nails evoked imagery historically associated with demons. Some, such as The Federalist CEO Sean Davis, also noted the deliberately bald Erivo's resemblance to Nosferatu, a vampire made famous in the 1922 silent German horror film of the same name.

"LGBTQ+ Cynthia Erivo is playing Jesus in 'Jesus Christ Superstar,'" wrote Kristan Hawkins, a podcast host who serves as president of Students for Life of America.

"It's no surprise she looks exactly like how demons have always been portrayed. And let’s be real … if you dress like a demon, act like a demon, and mock God like a demon … don't be shocked when people call it what it is. This is intentional blasphemy from Hollywood."

The article also quoted from Huntsville talk-show host Christopher Calvin Reid, who "said casting 'a woke liberal actress' as Jesus was 'a vile assault on Christian doctrine' intended to mock the Incarnation.  Reid noted: "The Bible is unequivocal: 'The Word became flesh' (John 1:14), incarnate as a man, not a genderless symbol for progressive fantasies. Erivo's casting isn't just unbiblical — it’s a deliberate desecration, reducing Christ to a prop for cultural Marxism..."

The Post quoted from a Billboard interview with Lambert, who said: "I’m excited by the challenge of presenting the audience with a production led by a female, black 'Jesus' and encourage the audience to expand their minds a bit," adding, "Originally utilizing rock and roll, 'Jesus Christ Superstar' is supposed to provoke and challenge, that's the point. And shouldn't the teachings of Jesus transcend gender?"

What does that even mean?  Other than to somehow justify a bisexual female to play the role of Jesus. It's kinda reminiscent of William Paul Young's feminine Jesus, or God, or "Papa," in the questionalble novel The Shack from a few years back.

And, remember, this musical does not portray a Resurrection, so this character becomes some sort of misunderstood activist, rather than the Son of God!  

I believe that Jesus will open our minds - as we come to Him with an open heart and allow Him, the Word who became flesh, to teach us according to the Scriptures.  In our seeking of wisdom, we must recognize the source of true wisdom, otherwise, we fall into the trap of believing the lies of the enemy, the ideologies and philosophies of humanity.  

We mustn't take our cues from entertainment culture - Cynthia Erivo is not our savior and doesn't portray Him in a stage show.  Not the true Jesus; just a cheap imitation. Actually, we are all called, as believers in Christ to act like Jesus.  But, we're not playing a role - we're allowing our all-sufficient Savior to live His resurrected life through us.  The same Spirit who raised Him from the dead lives in us to express his love and life.