Disagree. But don’t dehumanize. For the Colson Center for Christian Worldview, I’m John Stonestreet with The Point.

“Dear Hollywood celebrities, you exist for my entertainment.” That’s an actual line from a viral rant that was shared and reposted by conservatives all across Facebook—including Christians. The post’s message was, in essence, “shut up and act, you’re not paid for political opinions.”

Now look, I get the frustration. Celebrities can be unbearable. Stars like Meryl Streep lecture the rest of Americans about our political opinions as if being famous for acting and singing gives them special insight. It doesn’t.

But as my colleague, Gina Dalfonzo pointed out at Christ and Pop Culture recently, responses that treat celebrities like trained monkeys who exist to amuse us aren’t acceptable. The folks in Hollywood are human, and they have every right to express their views. And (thank God) we have every right to tune them out.

What we don’t have a right to do is treat any men or women, including celebrities, as not made in the image of God. He loves them and desires their good. And so should we, no matter what their political opinions.