Stephen Colbert, the late-night host who never misses a chance to virtue signal his supposed Catholic faith, has once again proven that he bends the knee not to God, but to the world.
In a recent interview with British actress Cynthia Erivo, Colbert praised the casting of a female Jesus in an upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Hollywood Bowl as “long overdue.”
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“First woman to play Jesus in a major production. Long overdue. I’ve said for years I’d love to see a woman in that part,” Colbert gushed to Erivo, who identifies as bisexual and uses “they/them” pronouns. Erivo replied, “I think the idea that I can play this role, and I’ve been given the opportunity to play it in front of so many people at that place [at] this time of my life is a very special thing.”
This cultural celebration might earn Colbert applause from Hollywood, but it raises serious questions for anyone who takes Scripture seriously. Jesus is not a character role to be reshaped by postmodern ideology. He is the incarnate Son of God, fully God and fully man, not a gender-fluid theatrical symbol to fit the whims of progressive agendas.
The Bible explicitly affirms Christ’s identity in both prophecy and fulfillment. Isaiah 9:6 declares, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.”
The Gospels affirm Jesus as born of the Virgin Mary, Son of the Most High (Luke 1:31-32). Erasing His masculinity in the name of “representation” not only distorts the truth of Scripture but dishonors the One called Lord.
Colbert’s endorsement of this portrayal comes as no surprise. Just a day earlier, he criticized the Trump administration for not publicly recognizing pride month, a cause completely incompatible with biblical values. This is not the first time he has attempted to wrap a distorted, politically correct version of Christianity in a smile and a laugh.
The original Jesus Christ Superstar musical has always been heretical, as it portrays Judas Iscariot sympathetically and omits the Resurrection altogether, the central truth of the Christian faith (1 Cor. 15:14). And now, this new version doubles down on the irreverence with Cynthia Erivo as Jesus and openly gay singer Adam Lambert playing Judas.
As reported by The Christian Post, Pastor John K. Amanchukwu Sr. called the casting “blasphemy,” noting that Erivo is “too bald, brown and bi[sexual]” to portray Christ.
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Jesus is not a metaphor. He is not to be mocked on a stage. He is the risen Savior of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
It is long past time for Colbert to decide whether he truly believes in the Jesus of the Bible, or the Jesus of Broadway. One saves souls; the other sells tickets.
James Lasher is staff writer for Charisma Media.
