Let us disambiguate this sensational Hollywood trial enrapturing much of America and set to resume next week.

First, folks who pretend to be someone they are not (society calls it “acting”) are not only lavishly compensated but exalted to extremes: able to buy yachts, their own jets, and in the case of one who made a major Christian film, spend money from that film transporting an entire bowling alley to his private island.

It is called “the world,” and nothing is worldlier, more superficial, and more steeped in materialistic-human idolatry than Hollywood. (In second place: Wall Street. In third, television. In fourth: politics.) Shame on all of us, in all walks, and whether it is a major “celebrity” or (in smaller circles) countless “mini” ones.

What are we celebrating? Is it what we ourselves want and aspire to? Are we celebrating self-interest and ego?

There should be no such thing as a celebrity save for Christ and His saints.

Excuse the candor.

Secondly: much prayer is needed.

Prayer is needed first and foremost to see the blots and logs, the infiltration of darkness, in our own eyes, and then to recognize when those we “celebrate” have it in their eyes and are broadcasting (and celebrated for) it. Beware: evil will endow an “anointing.” We ultimately have victory in Christ, but it is a fallen world.

In the aforementioned trial, a former spouse who seems to have issues of her own is recounting allegedly terrifying and horrendously violent situations during which — at least in one case — her then-spouse’s personality altered and his eyes “turned black.”

This is a mega-famous actor. The phenomenon is well-known to exorcists. She mentioned the word “demon,” feared what he “brought with him,” and claims they both recognized a second personality in him they called “the monster.” He pointed out her alleged “borderline-personality disorder” (psychology comes up with new names for ancient things all the time) and called her “possessed.”

Not a marriage made in Heaven.

Let us pray — and survey our own psyches.

Oh, celebrities.

The painting of one sultry mega-celebrity actress sold this week for $195 million.

Prayer need indeed.

Such are those we idolize — wives of this or that city, former heavy-metallists, raucous singers of the occult: The state of America is written in its celebrities, some of whom gained initial notoriety via leaked videos of immoral sexual acts, striptease fashions (including during visits to the Vatican), hobnobbing with folks charged in one case with a historically famous murder, or spewing occult songs that glorify the prince of darkness.

Few seem to realize that the devil will give you all the things of “the world,” if you do his bidding.

When you see something skyrocket, when this or that goes “viral,” when there is a deluge of money or acclaim, remember that the “prince of this world” can delve out charisma. He anoints with money. He inspires ego. He bequeaths fame.

Worldliness. The “glamour of evil” (a brilliant Church phrase).

At baptisms, we are asked if we renounce this.

Have we? Or do we continue to gawk, when we should be looking away?

–MHB

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[resources: Michael Brown books]