Bill Cosby. Lance Armstrong. Mel Gibson. Tiger Woods. What do these people have in common? All of them achieved fame in our culture. And all of them turned that fame into notoriety. Consider the facts:
- Actor-comedian Bill Cosby has been a star since the 1960s. Thanks to the astounding eight-season, award-winning success of TV sitcom The Cosby Show, he became known as America’s favourite Dad.
Then the accusations started – at least 20 women claimed to have been sexually assaulted by Cosby over a period of many years, sometimes after he drugged them. He was set to likely spend the rest of his life in prison, until being released on a technicality in 2021. - Mel Gibson was one of the most handsome, popular and successful actors on the planet (ever heard of the Lethal Weapon movies? Braveheart?) when allegations of racism and domestic violence, coupled with drunk driving arrests, destroyed his reputation.
He was shunned in Hollywood for a decade, only making a comeback through directing 2016’s Hacksaw Ridge. - Tiger Woods is still trying to regain the form that made him far and away the best and most popular golfer on earth. It all went south in 2009 when his marriage to Elin Nordegren exploded in very public allegations of serial infidelity. Several high-profile sponsors dropped him.
- Lance Armstrong gained worldwide fame and adoration for winning seven Tour de France cycling titles and creating the multi-million-dollar Lance Armstrong Foundation, which funds the fight against cancer.
When allegations of long-term performance-enhancing drug use were proven in 2013, Mr. Armstrong was stripped of his titles and several major sponsors dropped him. He also resigned as chairman of his foundation.
All these men have their pictures in what might be called the Hall of Infamy. All were what the The Globe and Mail newspaper labelled “demigods” who fell flat on their faces and enraged their fans, who thought they could do no wrong.
What’s so interesting is the lesson we can learn from these men is as old as humanity. And it seems every generation has to learn it.
Consider what Jesus of Nazareth (who many people believe is God’s Son) told some of His followers: “Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better.”
I get what Jesus is saying because I’ve had the wool pulled over my eyes. Years ago, I trusted an author to have found the secret to living with grace and serenity – until I found out she was a bigamist juggling a lie-filled double life. I got rid of her books after that.
So who can you and I believe in who’s not going to leave us dangling off the cliff of crushing disappointment and betrayal? Who can we trust who really does have our best interest at heart, who understands everything we’re going through and won’t leave us, no matter how bad things get?
How about God, who offers the gift of Jesus to every person on this planet?
Frank's Cottage 
I really like your site at https://frankscottage.wordpress.com/2012/11/03/the-hall-of-infamy/! Fabulous content on the subject of drunk driving. Thanks so much for sharing.
Two thumbs up, Frank.
Just when I thought you had something wise to share, you tell us to put our faith in a mythical figure.
How about: don’t put *absolute* faith in any man, but try to be worthy of it yourself?
Thanks for your thoughts, Laurence. I definitely try to be worthy of people having faith in me. But I can guarantee you right now, I have and will continue to fall short. So have (and will) you, Laurence. So will every single person on this planet.
All of us fall short of what we can be and accomplish; all of us miss the mark at least sometimes. It comes with being human. That’s why the essay ended with those thoughts about what some people call a mythical figure.
That “mythical figure” did amazing things for you and me, Laurence. The life and ministry of Jesus proved it 2,000 years ago and that proof still stands today.
I invite you – and everyone else reading this essay and our comments – to find out more about him so you and all others can make the most educated, mature decision as possible about whether to trust in him and follow him.
It was all reasonable as an essay, until you brought Jesus into it. Then you lost complete credibility.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Barry. I appreciate it. I’m also quite curious; what was it about bringing Jesus into the essay that caused the article to lose credibility in your eyes?
Maybe I can answer that question. Barry Artrad lacks the courage to dare to ask the big question of: What does it mean to live a life of perfect virtue? He was probably looking for some other secular answer than to even contemplate the study of the life of a man, whose birth (and) death and resurrection are still honored more than 2000 years later.
Many people are too cowardly to truly recognize what a great example Christ’s life was, for all people, not only Christians. Instead they would rather seek comfort in the moral failings of seemingly titanic people becoming public so that their own persona non grata life does not seem so lonely.
Do not take Barry Artrad’s comments personally. He is just one more person whose life will never come into focus because he has no criteria, moral or otherwise, by which to measure the quality of a person’s life and achievements.
what credibility does Jesus need to explain anything to a mere mortal man like you? He died and gave everything up, for you! even tho you reject him he never rejected you!
Hey Frank! I just had a cousin tell me on Facebook that “the Bible is a lie.”
Unfortunately, until a person experiences the healing power of Jesus Christ in their own lives, they will not understand. And they will not understand until they give themselves permission to open the door of faith a crack.
I love the article. I was disappointed when I heard about Lance Armstrong and shocked when I learned of Tiger Woods’ indiscretions. I think about this celebrity behaviour from time to time through a Biblical lens.
One day my wife was watching a celebrity gossip show and believe me, this made me feel like an old Bible thumper but all of the sudden I heard myself say, “All these people are going to hell. Even the ones we feel are out there doing good in the world are living the lives of excess and self.”
These celebs are human, and they will let you down over and over again. Jesus, on the other hand, was solid as a rock 2,000+ years ago and still is today.
P.S. ~ I have faith in you man! 🙂
Thanks for reading and for your thoughtful (and kind) comment, Lawrence. I appreciate it! 🙂
Outstanding work here Frank… People who have yet to live the freedom provided by the piercing of one’s heart by the love of Jesus are going to condemn those who have.
The freedom, understanding, grace and clarity which come as we develop a personal relationship with Jesus Christ are the gifts. Those that have yet to receive this gift are missing out.
Please continue to try and reach them through your work, blog and photography!!!
Thanks for reading and for your kind comments, Jim. Much appreciated! 🙂
Glad I found ya Frank, through your comment on a Lance Armstrong blog called ‘The vampire must not rise again’.
I felt the ‘vampire” article smelled of hateful talk. His last paragraph took me back to Luke 15 in the Bible – the famous parable of the prodigal son. Having a very difficult time attempting to express God’s forgiveness to individuals, really tough without being eye to eye.
Respect your calmness and perseverance in what I’ve read so far.
Glad you tracked me down, read the essay and took the time to comment, Thomas. Thank you! 🙂
It’s very easy to add fuel to a burning fire. These stories of infamy might make us feel a smidge more virtuous if we ignore our own mirror. However, each of them have amazing potential and each story is a tragedy… or is it?
Hopefully their lives are more honest and free because of their mistakes. Our society craves idols and our magazines make millions from their faults. I would challenge you to search for their post-trauma testimony. If they have remained arrogant, then they were not fit to have ever have been our idol.
As for me, I will strive to treat men with a huge portion of grace because I too have been forgiven.
Thanks for reading and for your excellent, thoughtful comment, Gwen.
I can tell you that the failings of these men certainly don’t make me feel more virtuous. In fact, I included a *very* condensed list of my weaknesses on this Frank’s Cottage essay: http://bit.ly/LSccLB
I love when folks say things like perfect virtue (Christianese) and trust and be true to yourself…as a parent and wife…thanks goodness for Christ! How often do we run into a situation in life that completely swamps us with no where it seems to turn?
Thank goodness for my faith…it’s not a weakness or inability to cope…it’s knowing that He has my back and that I can do all things in Him. I can face any situation that needs dealing with and know that I don’t have to be a perfect person, just trusting and loving. Thanks for such a wonderful thought provoking blog, Frank.
Thanks for reading and for your kind comments, Tere. Much appreciated! 🙂
Don’t know if you’ll publish my comment but while I am a BELIEVER for sure, my take here is that God has given us a brain so why do we just sit around and blame it or pile it all on him instead of taking action ourselves?
Why do we let actors, celebrities, sports people and others in public life get off so easily? Most of them are where they are NOT by their talent but by their PR skills or PR stunts. They create FAKE balloons of themselves glorifying and glamorizing themselves by giving PAID press releases, sleeping with the media, being on magazine covers and in articles, employing expensive PR agencies who get them grand brand endorsements and with that money they repeat the cycle.
Their basic goal is to get away by making an a$$ of people like us who can’t do this or won’t do it because we have values but who out of folly and dont care attitude, let them off when they do this.
We need to have an investigative mind and question irrational showbiz and unless we do that, these conmen and conwomen will keep fooling us, keep getting rich and keeping taking potshots at the so called “commoners” when in reality if they are stripped off their hot air and their balloons are busted they may not get a job as a janitor!
I’d like Accenture to explain how they even justify Tiger Woods commercial anymore and why they do not fire their ad agency and marketing staff for giving Tiger more due than he deserved just because he was able to build that balloon.
Great words, Rachel and you make excellent points about celebrity culture in North America. Thanks for reading and commenting; I appreciate it. 🙂
Thanks for the eye vomit Frank.
Uh, I’m not sure what you mean, but thanks for reading and commenting just the same. 🙂
Sir, I envy your faith. Currently, I am lost and adrift with no sense of purpose. Not depressed or suicidal, just going through the motions. God bless.
Fred, we all have seasons of faith; there are times when even the most fervent Christ follower goes through the motions and feels adrift. If you’ve been feeling this way for awhile, perhaps it might be time to visit your doctor? Either way, I’m praying for you.
That was a good one, Frank. Well said.
Good post, Franks.