Jaci Velasquez & Repentance
This morning I was reading an interview with Jaci Velasquez over at CMCentral. Velasquez is a Christian singer/songwriter who has achieved quite a lot of success in the mainstream market, especially the Latin market. Not too long ago she decided, as so many musicians do, to expand her portfolio and give acting a try. Her movie debut was in a small film entitled “Chasing Papi.” I have not seem the movie, and judging by the reviews of it, that is a good thing. It seems it is just another forumulaic romantic comedy, little different from any of the other 10,000 romantic comedies that are sent our way every year.
Velasquez, as one would expect, took a fair bit of heat from Christians for acting in this film. After all, it was rated PG-13 due to the use of various profanities as well as some mild sexual content. I won’t get into the specifics, but suffice it to say that while there was no explicit sexual acts in the movie, such acts were presupposed (ie her character, as well as several others, had all had sexual relations with “Papi”) and each of these characters offered themselves to him during the film. Many Christians were upset that she would take such a role, and quite justifiably, I should think.
Back to the interview. In this interview Jaci was asked if she had any regrets about doing the film. Her reply was quite telling:
No regrets. I chalk everything up to a lesson learned. I feel like if I regret something then that means that I didn’t learn anything from it. And I learned a lot. I love acting. And this next time I’ll be more choosy with my roles, and think of what the repercussions are going to be. [laughs] You know, it’s like you live, you learn, and you grow up. I mean, looking back as a grown-up, a married girl, and knowing that I’m going to have kids one day, truthfully, would I have wanted my kids to see that, with their mom in it? Maybe not. But, once again, I chalk it up to a lesson learned and walk away. [laughs] But it’s not to say that I won’t do anymore acting cause I love acting. I just have to pick the right roles, and the roles that really suit me the best. I’m actually looking at a picture right now. It’s an independent film; it’s based on Jane Austin’s Sense and Sensibility.
I would love to see some Biblical support for her statement that “I feel like if I regret something then that means that I didn’t learn anything from it.” Regretfulness and learning are not mutually exclusive! I think the exact opposite is true, for when we regret something, turn to God and ask for forgiveness, we can learn so much! Instead she quickly excuses her sin (which she does not see as sin) as a learning experience and even laughs at it. I think it is wonderful that she has learned a lesson from this experience, but had she really been convicted that what she did was wrong, she could easily have said so. It seems her regret is based more on the fact that she turned off some of her fan base more than that she participated in something that was sinful.
To Jaci I would say this: what you did was wrong. You glorified sin and made light of things God has forbidden. But God is a gracious, forgiving God. When you regret what you did, turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, He will help you learn lessons about His grace, His forgiveness and His willingness to help you avoid committing similar sins in the future. He is more willing to forgive you than you were willing to sin in the first place. Turn to Him.
Comments (11) »
1. Julian Lopez
January 12, 2006
11:30 AM
Well where shall we begin? It is the same to hate someone as it is to kill them. That’s a sin. There are seven deadly sins the bible talks about, but acting in a movie I don’t think is one of those sins. But, back to Jesus. What do ya think or can you remember what he said when he was facing a woman who actually committed adultery ? Wait, wait, its coming to me oh yea he started a website took a picture of the whole thing and in front of the whole world he made an example of her shaming that woman to her bones before he stoned her to death for her sins!!!! Maybe that isn’t quite right, you tell me. Or was it that he said go looking for every thing, popular people are doing so that if they are influenced by someone to do some thing we don’t like we can really let them have it. Paul said some thing about fear and trembling but what does he know he was only a deciple, diciple, whatever he wasn’t God.
2. dpymm
January 12, 2006
12:02 PM
Some good points here Tim. Your last paragraph was very inspiring. I am sad to see such a response from an obvious Jaci fan who is willing to defend her actions while sacrificing the glory of God.
Quote: Well where shall we begin? It is the same to hate someone as it is to kill them. That’s a sin. There are seven deadly sins the bible talks about, but acting in a movie I don’t think is one of those sins.
We are supposed to hate something, sin. We are to hate sin so much because it spits on the glory of God. We are to hate it as God hates it, we are to hate it to the point of willingness to die before we would promote such sin. That is why what Jaci V. did was a sin. She promoted sin by acting in a movie where her character participated in sinful behavior, and showed no remorse. She did not do it to show the horrible consequences. I think she would admit that. The film mocked God and glorified sin. She should regret what she did, no one would look on her as a fool for regretting it. Quite the opposite could be true.
Tim’s last paragraph reads true for any of us who mistakingly selects to sin instead of glorify God. God loves his people, and that love will cover all our sins. What a great God we have.
3. Julian Lopez
January 13, 2006
1:37 PM
You all don’t get it. Your words are not that of love but of judgement. Your discussion is about someone else and that is gossip. The sin you all are falling into is one where Christ asks for us to visit those beaten down by the world and in this case your choice for an example is not helping the subject of your discussion “jaci” your sister in christ. But I understand your mistake. You all have not seen the movie. So you don’t know what her character says about her behavior at the end of the movie. But that is not my point. My point is Jaci reads these and feels terrible. Why don’t you all post all of your mistakes and sins and we can all be on the same playing field. I think it is the nature of the beast ” yea Revelations” that if you want people to listen to what you have to say just use a celebrity as an example because people will listen. What about the results. Could be the same as throwing a stone. One stone will not do that much damage but a few thousand will kill. What Jaci has spent more years in front of people than not and all the comments and gossip is ripping her to pieces she can’t handle that kind of “your ministry”. So think about what you say because every word is taken into account by the Father at the end of the age. Oh yea, I would be your best fan if christendom came raining down on you to smash you. Love your neighbor as your self thats #2.
4. Jekylldog
January 13, 2006
3:33 PM
While I can’t necessarily agree that acting in a film where the character is immoral is wrong, I think a point is being missed here. The interviewer asked her if she had any regrets since she had taken a lot of heat for her choice. Whether or not the “heat” was due or not, I can’t say because I haven’t seen the movie.
But based on the movie stills available over at IMDB.COM (one wearing a skimpy outfit along with the two other female stars in underwear), and the fact that this movie is PG-13, I can see why she would take flack for it. Yet it is her answer regarding what regret is that is simply WRONG.
Tim wrote: “I would love to see some Biblical support for her statement that “I feel like if I regret something then that means that I didn’t learn anything from it.” Regretfulness and learning are not mutually exclusive! I think the exact opposite is true, for when we regret something, turn to God and ask for forgiveness, we can learn so much!”
Secondly, do we say nothing when a self-described believer does something wrong? Much of the New Testament is written to counter false teaching and immoral behavior. (Being called a Corinthian is not a good thing.) Rather than write letters, perhaps Paul should have placed a loving and understanding hand on those inrepentant adulterers’ shoulder.
While I will not venture to guess the state of Ms. Velasquez soul, I would say this statement about regret does injustice to Christianity and sullies the name of Jesus Christ. His once for all death for sin did not give us license to laugh off sin as “experience”. This simply sends the wrong message to Christians who look up to her as well as to the watching world. And that is specifically why Tim made this comment - when a Christian “celebrity” makes an unChristian statement like this, it should not go unchallenged. Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:11 to expose unfruitful works. I would think that part of this is to warn others, not necessarily to shame the sinner - but if they are unrepentant, then they may need shaming.
Commenting on public statements is not gossip. I also don’t believe that Jaci is being “beat down by the world”. If Jaci reads this, perhaps she could clarify her comments. And Christians are on the same playing field, not because of sins, but because our sins are forgiven through Christ.
If anyone has made an unwise choice, they should fess up and repent. If Ms. Velasquez had said, “yes I regret what I’ve done because…” or “no, I don’t regret it because the film depicts a Christian lesson of…” then there probably would have been no need for the original post.
We’re all sinners, that is true. But there is a reason that we are given church discipline and the call to expose the works of darkness. How can we communicate a hope that no one can see if what people do see of us is as bad as the rest of the world?
By the way this post was written about 1.5 years ago. You should read Tim’s recent post on Sincerity and Judgment: http://www.challies.com/archives/001573.php
5. Julian Lopez
January 14, 2006
10:24 PM
Tim’s original post is wrong about the details of the movie because he never saw the movie. Jaci’s character is repentant at the end, plus the movie was a farce showing the ignorance of being earthly minded. So repent for what? You all even have the rating of the movie wrong it is a PG rating since there is nothing in the movie. Repentence is a change of direction, a turning around to go the other way. That’s what repentance is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Jaci said she would choose her roles differently and you know that is what she did. So time has proven her repentence is true. Jesus basically says talk is cheap actions speak the truth. Besides satan is suppose to be the accuser of the brethren. Challies did not have the correct info to correctly speak or write on the subject in the first place. The subject was repentance and well done Jaci. Just so you know I have first hand knowledge that she has been given the chance to write her own ticket in the movie industry and she made a choice not to go that direction, because they want her to give up who she is in Christ. That is the info you need to complete your study on repentance. Also this isn’t the only web site to really focus on her negatively. She doesn’t need any of your love directed this way, because she has family and people who know her to challenge her. Paul also knew the people that he was writing to intimately and you all do not know Jaci!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So use your selves for examples and next time you will be more accurate with your information.
6. alexandria
January 15, 2006
6:38 AM
Everyone has his or her own perspective about sin just to defend ourselves or someone else sin. But is it biblical? It has been an expression of christians to say ” It’s okay, It doesnt matter, that’s life, we are not perfect because we are just humans.” This words seems to be normal to christians when someone compromise to sin. Very sad!
Jaci compromises to the acts of this world, in one world yes, she just want to glorify herself. Think of the situation, she was gifted but uses the gift for something else. Will this glorify God?
It’s really sad when we think of the christian leaders and gifted Christians falls because of Popularity, Money and Girls or guys. Hoping not to be deceive by our own emotions.
Jaci, not to judge you but my concerned is whats your very priority in life? What motivate you to enter that kind of work?
7. Julian Lopez
January 15, 2006
7:56 AM
Your problem is you think people are popular because they do it all on their own, but we make them popular we put them up there so we kind of worship them. You think any singer or christian leader is out side of sin you fool yourself we are covered only by God’s grace and blood. And that means no one owes you an explanation. Are we not supposed to work out our own faith in fear and trembling. So what beam our we looking past to pull a splinter out of Jaci. See these are paraphrases of scripture, uf you look at what Christ is teaching he is saying get off your brothers case and look at your own life.
8. jekylldog
January 16, 2006
10:46 PM
Julian, Perhaps you should apply your own philosophy to the tone you are taking in your posts.
You are calling people judgmental. Is that not a judgment that you are making? Does that not make YOU judgmental? You are very quick to tell others their problems while not allowing anyone to point out the problem with what Jaci has done or said.
You don’t know those you are talking to either. Perhaps you should take some time to get to know who you are pointing those exlamation points at.
Your using quite a double standard.
The movie’s rating, the movie’s plot, the movies she won’t be doing - none of these change the fact that she made unfortunate comments regarding what regret and repentance are that, if anyone who didn’t know any better listened to, she may have misled.
So, if you please, instead of tossing more stones, can you show us biblically where regretting means we didn’t learn anything?
9. Julian Lopez
January 17, 2006
1:37 AM
Because you do not know Jacquelyn, you do not understand her statement. You see she is lost to a world that christians have created, a kind of fake world where formulae has replaced relationship with Christ. She was being honest about her feelings and not just saying what she knew would be the right thing to say so that everyone would be ok with her and then move on. Instead, she said what she knew was true for that moment. Which is to say that regret means there was only bad that came from that time and she can’t feel sorry about that time because it taught her so much. To Jaci that is a good thing. Whether or not she took what happened before God is not for every one to see. She does have her own life she lives and does not share everything with every one. She could have played the game, but she understands God sees and knows every thing, so better to be honest with God and not play games. There is no formula for a relationship with the father. If you say one thing and mean another you can never be honest to any one. So she would rather be honest and fail. She is a wonderful person and she cares nothing of her fame and really, up to a year ago, didn’t care about her money. Now she realizes that her money takes care of whole families and there are many people that have jobs because she is so successful. She is an easy target because she doesn’t know how to politic. She was raised on the road with mother and father and trusts easily. She did not grow up going to school like we did. She does not know how to play the game. She never had to. She has no defences, because she never developed them. You know like we all do in school protecting our fragile egos. She went from home school to fame in no time from 13 to now she has never not been in the spot light. So you see she is a person who needs your love, your prayers and most of all your mercy. This is the last post I will make here. There are people all around you and me who need to see God and the only way that they will see is if we love them and each other. Show them mercy and love and you will show them Jesus. Throw the the ten commandments at them and they will get the same treatment every one gives them. There are so many marginalized people in this world and Christ wants us to show them his love. To reach out to them is to love them. God bless you !!!!!!!!!!!!
10. Chad
January 17, 2006
9:45 AM
Christ did not come to reach out to marginalized people. He came to save sinners. And in order to be saved, you must believe and repent. I think that perhaps one of the problems that Julian has with what has happened here (and she would be justified in this if it is true) is that this discussion was started about Jaci’s unrepentance at worst, and poor comments at best, without a personal encounter. In other words, no one has addressed Jaci regarding the issue. this is a blog in which Christians are to be interacting about the truth and to use the Scriptures to shed light on the issues we face.
The problem with bringing up to many people the issue of another’s sin is complex. In one respect, it is wrong because she was not confronted. If we love her with the love of Christ, we would approach her about the issue in a spirit of meekness. But in another respect it is entirely needed. If she is unrepentant, then Christians who listen to her music, or people among whom she has an influence, are in danger of being drawn into the worship of our great God by a person still in darkness. This is dangerous.
The original post seemed to be more directed at Jaci, calling her actions sinful. If however, it had only been directed at he statements about regret, and if perhaps those comments were quoted to make a point in a larger context of what true repentance is, then we could have no problem.
As Christians we are called to expose sin in the public arena. Call it for what it is. Eph. 5:11 -“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” But as all things, this is to be done with all love and sincereity and concern. There is a way to expose sin with love (our Lord demanded of the rich man that he leave his riches which were an idol to him, and then wept when the man would not) and there is a way to expose sin which itself is sinful (gossip, slander, or we would think of the Pharisees exposing the woman in adultery who themselves were regarding sin in their heart).
Hope some of these thoughts are helpful.
11. Amanda
July 25, 2006
1:40 PM
Wow, who are you to throw stones. As Christians we all live in glass houses and we like to judge and throw stones. Simply because Jaci is in the spotlight doesn’t give anyone to judge her. What she does and what she does about it is between her and God. We need not worry so much about what other people to and look after our sins and our messes and in turn maybe influence others. All we should do in these situations as hard as it is… pray let God handle other people and us and our opinions and most of all our mouths.