Kathy Griffin’s Statement of Faith
September 18, 2007
The reactions from conservatives and the Christian community to comments made by comedian Kathy Griffin during her Emmy award acceptance (taped on September 8 and aired on E! Entertainment Television on September 14) have been swift and pointed. William Donohue of The Catholic League is leading the charge, characterizing Griffin’s speech as “obscene and blasphemous” and a “vulgar, in-your-face brand of hate speech.” John Gibson of FOX News’ Big Story says Griffin “blasted Jesus.” Lauren Green, the religion correspondent for FOX News, says Griffin insulted “a man who preached love and acceptance.” What, exactly, did this comedian say that has the entire Christian community on the defensive? Upon taking the microphone—with Emmy in hand—she said:
A lot of people come up here and they thank Jesus for this award. I want you to know that no one had less to do with this award than Jesus. He didn't help me a bit…. So all I can say is, “Suck it Jesus! This award is my god now!”
Kathy Griffin is well known for her vulgarity and her obscenity. There is a sense in which the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences is commending her profanity by recognizing her with this award. To their credit the Academy edited the offensive remarks when the Emmy’s were broadcast. But why are we shocked that an atheist celebrity would deny that Jesus had anything to do with her talent? Moreover, would we really want her to give Jesus credit for her act?
Christians would deny that Muhammad or Buddha or Confucius had anything to do with their talent. In doing so are we guilty of blaspheming another religion’s God, or are we just singularly committed to our own?
Griffin’s comments are blasphemous, but they are also creedal. When Kathy Griffin says, “Suck it Jesus! This award is my god now,” she is making a statement of faith, albeit a humanistic, atheistic one.
Without question Kathy Griffin was “taking the name of the Lord in vain.” But Griffin herself admits Jesus isn’t her Lord. I would argue that some Hollywood actors who take the podium and thank Jesus for their award are also guilty of taking the name of the Lord in vain—if it’s just mere words with no heart and no evident commitment to Jesus backing them up.
The name of Jesus doesn’t have to be used in a profane way to constitute a violation of the Third Commandment; it merely has to be used in an empty, meaningless way. We who live to honor Jesus are often guilty ourselves of taking the name of the Lord in vain in little and big ways every day. When, without thinking, we say things like, “Thank God,” or “Thank You, Jesus” in response to the minor successes we experience (e.g., we get the copier un-jammed or we finally succeeded in getting an internet connection), we run the risk of using the Lord’s name vainly. In these instances we would do well to consider if we are truly thankful to God or merely invoking the Lord’s name in a casual, rote sense.
Jesus’ words in Matthew 15:8 come to mind in relation to some celebrities who tip their hats to Jesus in the way Griffin refused to d “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Of course, Griffin carried it a step further by profanely challenging Jesus to “Suck it.” That certainly goes beyond a flippant use of Jesus’ name. Griffin’s words and conduct betray a person who deep down knows the Truth and resents it, confirming the words of Rom. 1:21: “For although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
Paul Edwards is the host of The Paul Edwards Program and a pastor. His program is heard daily on WLQV in Detroit and on godandculture.com. Contact him at paul@godandculture.com.
Originally published September 21, 2007.
