Was Angus T. Jones Wrong for Bashing Two and a Half Men?

So, Angus T. Jones, 19, of the controversy ridden sitcom Two and a Half Men is in the spotlight because of calling the show “filth” and telling people not to watch it. As a recent convert to Christianity – a Seventh Day Adventist – clearly he is trying to espouse his newfound beliefs and thought he was doing the right thing by speaking out against the program. Instead, he made himself look foolish.

I have to admit, I have never watched Two and a Half Men, and never will. I hate sitcoms. I’ve tried to watch other ones and found them to be rather unfunny; as a Christian myself I find the content worldly, over-sexualized and very distasteful, as are most programs on TV. But as an actor on the program, was Jones wrong for speaking out against it?

As Christians, at work and elsewhere, we are to submit to authority, as noted in various scriptures in the bible. In fact, www.openbible.com lists 73 scriptures pointing to submitting to authority. Here’s one from 1 Peter with different translations.

1 Peter 2:13

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority...” (New International Version)

13 For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority…” (New Living Translation.)

Be subject, then, to every human creation, because of the Lord…” (Young’s Literal Translation.)

Expanding a little on that scripture:

13-17 Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government. (The Message)

But what if the authority you are to submit to is not acting in a Christian-like manner or blatantly acting anti-Christian? This is where we have to ask the obvious question – should Jones be working on a program that espouses non-Christian values? It would be like a young Christian woman working as a stripper but then complaining and telling her customers not to go to the strip club. What is she doing there in the first place?

Jones later apologized for his rant, praising the producers and his coworkers. But it is pretty clear to me, and others, if reading responses around the web is any indication, what the right thing to do is. He needs to walk away from this show – find a way out – and move on to a project that is suitable to his beliefs.

Two and a Half Men has made news before. Charlie Sheen’s shenanigans caused him to get fired, but in the end, it served him well, as a he has a new sitcom he stars in.

Sheen has come out publicly in support of Jones – not because Sheen is a Christian – but more likely because he is getting a twisted satisfaction from seeing his former show involved in controversy again. In the end, it will be a coup for the program, which will most likely draw higher ratings.

The producers would be well within their rights to fire Jones as they did Sheen, but probably fear the public backlash from believers that would inevitably happen. Let’s face it: if you or I publicly trashed our employer, we would be fired.

In trying to do the right thing by speaking out against the show, in his immaturity and excitement over his newfound beliefs, Jones actually made himself look ridiculous. The right thing to do would have been to quietly leave the show, and if asked why, then explain his reasons. It would have accomplished much more in promoting his Christian beliefs.