Television

I'd like to add yet another voice to those who say that television shows are becoming more and more immoral over the last __ years. (Fill in the blank as you see fit: 5, 10, 20, 40 years.)

The show "Two and a Half Men" makes constant sexual references including nitty-gritty details. "Big Bang Theory" is mostly about the pursuit and capture of casual sex. "Friends" doesn't have quite as much casual sex, but it has a good bit, and the characters routinely lie and mislead each other. Through some inexplicable quirk, I was watching "That 70's Show" with my mother-in-law recently. (I still can't remember how that happened...) Up to then I had not realized how bad this show was. And, don't even get me started on "Family Guy," which makes the shows above look like choir practice.

Now, don't jump to conclusions about me. I'm not a fundamentalist, hang 'em high, Pat Robertson-hugging conservative. I'm not a prude. But, these types of shows, and similar cultural influences, gradually and almost unnoticeably eat away at the fabric of society.

"The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron." -I Timothy 4:1-2

"For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry. They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you." -I Peter 4:3-4

"Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them." -Romans 1:28-32

I remember a sermon in which the preacher said that our consciences are like an alarm. The first time we commit a certain sin, the alarm goes off loudly. The next time, it goes off, but a little less loudly. If we continue the sin, eventually the alarm will no longer go off. At that point, we begin believing the sin is no longer wrong, but acceptable. And in time, some people go on to believe that it is not only acceptable, but favorable, and they must enlighten others to do the same.

I really do believe that these cultural influences are gradually pulling our nation down. And they are especially deceptive, because most of these shows are funny and "cute." Might these influences be the reason for the behavior of people like Lindsey Lohan, who went from being a talented, beautiful, young actress and singer to a disaster? I don't think there's much doubt.

I'm a strong enough believer in free speech that such shows have the right to be on air, as long as the censors don't stop them. But, we Christians should not support and approve them by watching.