War Wounds, Critical Care and a Prayer for Perez
(Warning: this post contains mentions of self-harm, psychosis and suicide.)*
Last week, celebrity blogger Perez Hilton was hospitalized after apparently committing acts of self-harm during a disturbing live-stream on social media.
Before I share my thoughts, I want to be clear:
I did not watch the TikTok reel (and don’t think you should either). Distressing/terrifying/traumatizing content should not be part of your media diet (or mine)… ever.
Just like we shouldn’t stir laundry detergent or Drano into our morning coffee… ever.
I don’t know much about Perez Hilton’s (allegedly sordid) backstory, but I know this… like every other human being on the planet, he was created in God’s image. And that alone makes him worthy of our concern and prayers.
I sure hope we can agree on that.
A while back I read somewhere that Perez reported "an encounter with God" amidst a health crisis and later embarked on a spiritual quest - reading scripture, attending church, listening to worship music... and (seemingly) expressing both shame and regret for his past misdeeds.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17 (AMP)
But our old demons don’t quit coming after us.
Jesus is loving, life-giving, gracious and merciful. Yes.
But the enemy of our souls is bloodthirsty, relentless, vile and vicious.
That snake will weaponize almost anything... to steal/kill/destroy.
Platforms.
Politics.
Talent.
Beauty.
Creativity.
Intelligence.
(Both real and artificial.)
Sometimes things that seem bright/beautiful/beneficial turn dark/ugly/harmful.
And nearly always, excess does.
Fame. Fortune. Pleasure. Power.
Unhealthy relationships.
Untethered religion too.
We've all heard the stories of all-stars and pop stars, politicians and pastors who amass millions of followers... and then promptly (or slowly) self-destruct.
Platforms can be dangerous... because if the bottom drops out, you're left hung out to dry.
Or die.
That’s what I think thousands witnessed on TikTok the other day.
An attempt on one person’s life - an ambush - by enemy forces.
We’re in a war, people.
And I don’t mean the geopolitical one wreaking havoc in the Middle East. (Although that one's horrific too.)
I mean a spiritual one, erupting (virtually undetected) all around us - even within us - every day.
In the words of John Mayer: “Clouds of sulphur in the air, bombs are falling everywhere…”
I know that probably sounds paranoid, but the truth is... this world is fraught and frightening. Evil exists. Not just in nightmares and horror movies. In real life. On every continent... and corner.
And if we're not careful, we could get caught in the crossfire.
For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. ~ Ephesians 6:12 (NLT)
(This means war.)
Wait... what? There's some cosmic good vs. evil thing going on in an "unseen world" right now? Mighty powers? Evil spirits? Dark world? Maybe you think that doesn't sound legit. It sounds like little-kid/scaredy-cat/monsters-in-my-closet kind of stuff. Your intellect scoffs. I get it. Most of us are understandably wary of anything beyond what our five senses can detect and our deductive reasoning can reconcile. But then, how do we explain the world's worst atrocities? The Holocaust? Unit 731? The slave trades? The Killing Fields? How do you account for ongoing evil: child abuse, human trafficking, gang rape, death squads? It's savagery. And you better believe there are spiritual underpinnings.
I realize I may lose some of you. But stick with me for a minute.
If there's a threat, we expect emergency alerts and tracking systems and sirens, right? Well, scripture says we should consider ourselves forewarned: a battle's raging. God urges us to armor up... and promises to fight for us.
But most people are incredulous.
Or oblivious.
"The devil's finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist," wrote Charles Baudelaire. (And he sure as heck ain't a guy in a red suit with a pitchfork.)
I'm not fear-mongering or sensationalizing. God knows we have a glut of both. There's plenty that's terrifying and troubling in the world without crackpots and self-proclaimed prophets stoking the hysteria. The prevalence of anxiety, depression, psychosis and suicide is startling. Fear slinks and skulks and creeps... And it seems to fuel itself. It boosts ratings, sways voters and sells stuff. (Security systems, insurance policies and pepper spray, to name a few.) But there's free, (super)natural protection from this rampant fear, and it's available to everyone, everywhere.
A safety net. A storm shelter. A hiding place.
God is a safe place to hide, ready to help when we need him. We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom, courageous in seastorm and earthquake, before the rush and roar of oceans, the tremors that shift mountains. Jacob-wrestling God fights for us, God-of-Angel-Armies protects us. (Psalm 46:1-3, The Message)
On this crazy, scary, spinning planet, God is rock solid.
Rescuer and refuge, both.
It's true that sometimes life imitates horror films. There are sickos, psychos, perverts and predators on the loose. There are personal demons and enemy forces lurking... launching WMDs when we are most vulnerable. So I have no inclination to watch those atrocities on social media… or in a dark theater. (Even if there is popcorn.)
God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God—the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout. (Psalm 18:1-2)
So how do we get there? To that safe, secure hideout God promises?
It's as close as a prayer. A plea for help. (When we realize we can't save ourselves… and call out for the first First Responder.)
We'd be wise to put on the protective gear God provides too. And be ready to obey his orders (for our own good).
I don’t know what battles/demons/darkness overtook Perez Hilton. But I pray for his rescue and recovery. I pray he finds shelter in the shadow of the Almighty. I pray he gets the help/healthcare/support he needs... and heals from his war wounds.
I pray he goes on to live a healthy, God-glorifying, fruitful life.
(I pray we all do.)
The enemy schemes and strikes... and strikes again.
But the battle belongs to the LORD.
*If you are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org or go to the nearest emergency room.
