And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him chariots and horses, and fifty men to run before him. And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel. And it came to pass after forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto the Lord, in Hebron. For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If the Lord shall bring me again indeed to Jerusalem, then I will serve the Lord. And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom reigneth in Hebron. And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were called; and they went in their simplicity, and they knew not any thing. And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom. And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for we shall not else escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us suddenly, and bring evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint. And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, which were concubines, to keep the house. And the king went forth, and all the people after him, and tarried in a place that was far off. And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men which came after him from Gath, passed on before the king. Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return to thy place, and abide with the king: for thou art a stranger, and also an exile. Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us? seeing I go whither I may, return thou, and take back thy brethren: mercy and truth be with thee. And Ittai answered the king, and said, As the Lord liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also will thy servant be. And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness. (2 Samuel 15:1-23 KJV)
We call them schmoozers. Some of their concessions seem harmless enough. Other tactics are less than upright - if not downright wrong. Wrong, maybe, but often successful. Quentin J. Schultze, professor of communication arts and sciences, relates the unfortunate story of a principled man who opted against this course of action:
British film producer David Puttnam wanted to make a movie about 'winning on your own terms.' For 'the past ten years,' recalled Puttnam, 'my career has led me to behave rather expediently.' He hoped that Chariots of Fire would enable him to 'exorcise' his expedient ways. Puttnam imagined himself as the film's major character, Eric Liddell, an evangelical Scot who refused to run the one-hundred-meter Olympic race on a Sunday - the Lord's day of rest. But he recognized that his own life was more like that of Liddell's competitor, Harold Abraham, a 'somewhat aloof, unpopular figure who ran in order to satisfy his personal ambition.' Puttnam felt that, like Abraham, he was living as a pragmatist rather than acting in accord with his higher ideals. He hoped that the making of Chariots of Fire would put him on higher moral ground.
Puttnam's dream of producing Chariots of Fire soon turned sour. Financiers refused funding, and media moguls humiliated Puttnam for trying to produce a movie with limited audience appeal. One studio executive held a draft of the screenplay over a wastebasket as he told Puttnam what he thought of the project: 'You must be out of your mind. I don't understand you. You get an opportunity to produce mainstream commercial movies and you bring along this.' The executive dropped the script in the trash and offered these words of wisdom: 'Go away and grow up, and don't waste our time again in the future.'
In spite of obstacles, Puttnam persisted. He raised the necessary money, worked closely with a screenwriter on five drafts, and cast a little-known pair of actors for the lead roles. Along the way, Puttnam made what he considered to be acceptable compromises! Chariots of Fire eventually won the Academy Award for best picture in 1981, and five years later Puttnam became head of Columbia Pictures.
But Hollywood was not excited about Puttnam's rise to power. In the industry's eyes, he was too principled - too much like Olympic runner Liddell. Puttnam refused to pay stars and their agents outlandish fees. He turned down fat-cat deals that would guarantee whopping salaries to produce even if their films failed in the box office. Worst of all, he simply declined to give the Hollywood elite royal respect and the attention they expected. Within a year, Columbia's board ousted him!
The story of Puttnam's rise and fall raises troubling questions about the potential for justice and peace in Hollywood.
While reading today's Scripture passage ask yourself what role does compromise play in your own life, and what tactics are acceptable for you to 'get ahead'?
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