Think Twice Before You Hit That Remote Control
A commentary by Rex Sexton
Pastor of United Church of God congregations in Olympia and Tacoma,
Washington
Last week several television stations around the United States announced
that they are refusing to air NBC's new racy sitcom Coupling.
Last year, the 2002-2003 television season provided a challenge for any
viewer who desired relaxing entertainment that was not laced with sex,
offensive language, or gutter themes. However, this season will be, by
all indications, much worse!
Coupling—which features talk and scenes of six singles
who are into lots of sex and not much else, is taking most of the publicity.
However, it is only one example of the fare offered during prime time
to America's willing viewers—or should we say voyeurs?
Tom Shales, editor of Television Week, recently wrote about
what Americans are in for: "Cold Case will air on CBS Sunday
nights at 8, once Ed Sullivan's family-friendly home. But the Cold
Case pilot is raw and tawdry. The heroine, a Philadelphia Cop, at
one point uses a crude slang term for (sexual expletive) . . . Very graphic
sex talk later includes the subject of masturbation, and for good measure
we see the crime reenacted: a young woman molested and then beaten to
death with a tennis racket . . . It's going to be awfully sleazy stuff
for a Sunday night."
New "themes" for this year are obvious. During the 1980s shows
depicting unwed couples living together were frequent. During the 1990s
the theme of homosexuality dominated or was an undercurrent in more than
50 shows. This year the producers apparently want us to constantly see—you
guessed it—strip clubs!
Gratuitous strip-club scenes are woven into or simply forced into a
large number of shows to be aired in prime time. Is this type of mind-garbage
required to prevent audience erosion? So many shows—both daytime
and nighttime—feature amplified sex and violence that viewers are
hard pressed to find something that is not offensive or disgusting.
So, lots of viewers are simply turning off the trash. I am one of them,
and I'm happy to say most people I know are doing the same thing.
What does our Creator God advise us to do with this constant barrage
of entertainment smut? King David recorded what he did: "I will
set nothing wicked before my eyes . . . a perverse heart shall depart
from me: I will not know wickedness" (Psalm 101:3-4).
The simple act of hitting the remote control "on" button can
result in inviting evil ideas into your house. These ideas can become
thoughts, thoughts then become actions, and actions become destiny. Is
it any wonder that all types of crime, substance abuse, recreational
casual sex and juvenile delinquency are on the rise in areas where these
shows are constantly broadcast?
Recent studies have demonstrated that when youngsters regularly view
abnormal or degenerate behavior on television, they gradually accept
it as normal. Simply telling them that TV is fantasy does little good.
They accept it as reality and subconsciously see themselves in the roles
they watch acted out. Is it any wonder that so many reach adulthood not
knowing right from wrong?
So how do the producers of these programs justify what they are putting
on the airwaves? They blame the audience! When recently asked about the
sexual content of the NBC show Coupling, producer Ben Silverman
answered: "I think it's ground that has been covered on cable .
. . we are trying to make it as provocative as we can . . . The viewing
audience is ready for it . . ."
Such talk matches what David observed about the wicked in Psalm 36:1-4: "There
is no fear of God before his eyes. For he flatters himself . . . the
words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit; he has ceased to be wise
and to do good . . . he does not abhor evil."
Let's be honest. This is an apt description of a large percentage of
those who produce television, movie and video entertainment today.
So what should you do? Turn off the trash. Protect the minds of your
family members as much as you can. There was a popular saying years ago, "A
mind is a terrible thing to waste." A mind is also a terrible thing
to fill with garbage.
Remember the apostle Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:8 to focus our
thinking on things that are pure, wholesome, virtuous, true and of good
report. You won't find much to fit that description in what the television
networks are offering you this season. |
