For those of us who are old enough to remember Pat Boone in his younger years, we can recall the example he set in spite of his association with the entertainment industry. Pat was once a faithful member of the Lord's church, and his life style showed it. He was well known for his refusal to drink alcoholic beverages, and his denouncement and criticism of the same. But near the end of the 1950's and on into the early 60's he began his drift away from God. Some came to Pat's defense with their affirmation that a little doctrinal difference did not amount to a wholesale rejection of God. Quite the contrary. A refusal to abide by God's "doctrine" will eventually lead to a refusal to abide by God's moral standard as well. Pat is a case in point. In the early 60’s he succumbed to the Pentecostal leanings of his wife and some of their associates. It would not be long before he fully embraced the belief that miracles still exist today. That would eventually lead to fellowship with denominations and embracing a wide range of their false ideas and practices. His trek away from God would not stop there, for the morally pure image he portrayed back in the 60’s would give way to the acceptance of many of those things he once opposed.
Let me side track for just a moment and introduce you to another "entertainer" (and I use that word with limitations). Unless you keep up with the news in the entertainment world [something that I am not "wont" to do, as they say], you may not be aware that this particular "rap" star and self proclaimed "artist" has produced no little controversy among liberal and conservative thinkers alike. Eminem (pronounced like the candy, M n' M) is known for his overall violent and immoral "rap" music. He espouses, among other things, rape, incest and murder. He mocks authority and rails a dignitaries. In one of his songs he even speaks of raping his own mother so that he can fulfill his sexual drive, father a child, and get a brother along the way. When criticized, he claims he is sending a "message," and that he is simply expressing himself in what he and others have claimed is "the art of music." Astonishingly, he gained quite a following and has managed to surpass some of the top stars in sells and popularity. He has also received a number of the music industry's most coveted awards. Everything about him from his actions, his life, his music, his lyrics, to his out and out rebellion, reek of someone who is anti-God, anti-family, and anti-morals. One would think that we would hear a national outcry. But little is said, and even less is heard. Unfortunately men like Eminem have those who would come to their defense. Pat Boone is one such defender.
A recent item on the world wide web reflected on a ten year old article in the Dallas Morning News in which the editor observed that "rapper Eminem has his share of detractors, but musician Pat Boone is offering some support." This caught my attention. Here are Pat's exact words: "I don't agree with his lyrics, their content or tone. I'm totally opposed to violence, racism and homophobia, but I vigorously feel that we must respect an individual's right to speak his mind, especially when it comes to all forms of art." There are a number of things wrong with Mr. Boone's thinking. First, you cannot "totally oppose" violence and lend support to those who espouse it. You cannot remain neutral when it comes to opposition of that which is wrong. You must actively fight it. Second, Boone has sided with those who have bought into the lie that opposition to homosexuality is "homophobia." There is a negative connotation that derives from the use of that word. Among the gay and lesbian community, as well as the liberal left that is opposed to any criticism of homosexuality, the word "homophobia" has come to refer to anyone who expresses even the slightest degree of opposition to that immoral behavior. Third, Boone seems to think that an individual's "right" (as he calls it) has no limits when it comes to self expression. Common sense says there is no such thing as "absolute" freedom. Freedom entails responsibility, in both action and language. Absolute freedom wherein everyone did exactly what they wanted to do without any limitations whatsoever would produce only chaos and tyranny. Fourth, our one time colleague in the faith thinks that Eminem's "music" and tirade against all that is good and holy is "art." Come on folks! Webster defines art as "an esthetically pleasing and meaningful arrangements of elements, as words, sounds, colors, shapes, etc; any system of rules and principles that facilitates skilled human accomplishment." Would someone please explain to me what is "esthetically pleasing" about someone who advocates raping one's own mother? What "skill" is there is trashing things that are good and promoting error? If Pat Boone thinks Eminem's music is "art" then our brother has sunk further than we had ever thought possible. As I pointed out when I began this article. Abandoning the "doctrine" of God is the pre-requisite to abandonment of God's moral code as well. It is only a matter of time.
There are some important lessons we can learn from this entire incident, not the least of which is the undeniable truth that any move away from God is not static. One is either moving “toward” God, or he is moving “away” from God. Sin, when embraced, leads to more sin, and the end of the journey into ungodliness often takes us where we do not want to go. The prodigal son is a prime example of this truth. The words of Alexander Pope serve as an appropriate warning:
Vice is a monster of such frightful mien
That to be hated needs but to be seen;
Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face,
We first endure, then pity, then embrace.