An Open Letter to Rev. Jon Weece of Southland Christian Church

Dear Rev. Weece,

Members of your congregation have been writing me in response to my editorial on your recent sermonic and blog appeal to "support Britney." In the hopes of addressing their many questions as well as my personal concerns, here are some thoughts to further elaborate for the benefit of all involved. A similar version of this letter was also submitted directly to your attention via your website.

To the point...

I find it a bit disingenuous to only see the "plight" of Britney Spears, yet conveniently omit the other, yet equally lost Hollywood elite. Your church singled her out by name, yet conveniently omits the thousands like her, past and present who share her troubled state.

Is Britney Spears worthy of God’s love and Jesus Christ’s grace?

Absolutely. We have no debate there.

But a coordinated effort to "uplift Britney" when there are inarguably more pressing and effectual issues in Southland's own backyard is misguided and smacks of idolatry and church self-aggrandizement.

Was Britney the first or only starlet guilty of "devastating life choices?"

Clearly not. But since the ONLY starlet your church is active in supporting is Britney Spears, it sends that erroneous message.

Was Britney the first to fall prey to the trappings of the world or deal with the harsh realities of divorce, drugs and depression.

Clearly not.

Or moreover, is Britney the last starlet who Southland Christian Church will devote its time AND resources?

Highly likely.

So given these realities, it's fair to say that this is not about uplifting Britney or bringing her closer to Christ, but something less miraculous in nature.

At the risk of sounding ultra-cynical, where is/was the salvific postcard campaign for OJ Simpson? Where are the letters of encouragement for the rapper T.I.? If it is about the wholistic nature of God’s love and not the particular celebrity involved…consistency is required.

Where is the public appeal for Lindsay Lohan? Where was the public appeal for Genarlow Wilson or the Jena 6? How about Michael Vick...he could use a postcard or two these days. That Brotha has had a pretty bad year, one to which Britney's pales in any comparison.

When you talk about God's love in this "Britney Spears" context...these oversights must be acknowledged. The "convenient" and seemingly "inconvenient" recipients of God's love must both be acknowledged, not simply those more "palatable" to one's congregation.

To specifically call to uplift BRITNEY SPEARS, instead of an all-encompassing love of those in Hollywood (and elsewhere) who are "falling short" just can't be ignored or overstated. It is a telling course of action.

Singling out Britney in your sermon and on your blog was not by chance, but by choice. To sell the idea of "God's all-encompassing/inclusive love" but CHOOSE a particular Hollywood celebrity is a major contradiction.

In the end, the haphazard display of love and affection which is NOT all-inclusive is NOT consistent with God's love...but is consistent with opportunism.

Picking and CHOOSING who to show your love for is what leaves a peculiar and bitter after-taste in my mouth as well as others. You and your members can't and shouldn't even try to clean it up after the fact and say that Britney is some sort of "symbol" that can be applied to everyone, everywhere. When you single out a celebrity, you've singled out who supposedly is deserving of God's love. In essence, you're guilty of the exact sentiment you allege you're trying to defeat.

If Southland Christian Church is now committed to reach out to all "troubled" celebrities, devastated by their life choices...then my complaint is moot.

But clearly…that’s not going to happen.

The love your church is showing for Britney is not akin to God's love, as His love is neither haphazard, selective in nature nor opportunist.

If a representative of Southland Christian Church can forward me the future dates of the letter-writing campaigns for such troubled stars/starlets as Whitney Houston, Paris Hilton, Michael Jackson, R. Kelly, Bobby Brown, DMX, Mel B. and the Olsen Twins et. al...that would be appreciated.

Otherwise, the publicity ploy is ill-conceived and inappropriate. The terminally ill children in Lexington, who probably are actively struggling with the idea of God's all-encompassing/inclusive love more than the likes of Britney Spears, would have been both much more appreciative and much more touched by the efforts of your church community. Their souls are on the line and in a more-immediate sense.

Morris W. O'Kelly
mokellyreport@sbcglobal.net
www.mokellyreport.blogspot.com