F-bombs and the sky... both apparently falling...
This week I received in my "in" box the latest Christian email rant. Seems that during the 2003 Golden Globes Award show the "f-word" was aired. Now, emails are flowing to the affect: "F-word to be allowed on all TV channels all hours of the day and night." It's the typical, "The sky is falling," scenario. The truth is the FCC did allow that to be aired on the award show. It is not true that the FCC has now allowed the f-bomb to fly freely on television. Click here for full story.
(Before you get goofed here, let me say I'm not in favor of the f-bomb on TV. I also think the FCC's ruling on this was pretty lame. Those two things out of the way, let's push on...)
The first issue for me in this deal is the half-truthfulness of it. If we're going to forward these kinds of things to everyone in our address book, let's first sift through what is fact and what is conjecture. I don't know why Christians seem to be some of the biggest violators of truth-in-email; there seems to be a "the sky is falling" vibe just below the Christian waterline that I don't relate with.
The second thing I don't understand is how shocked everyone seems to be about this. "What?! The f-bomb was aired on that bastion of moral appropriateness----network TV??! How shocking!" (end sarcasm)
I didn't watch the award show, but I'll wager that percentage-wise the cameras shots showed more
exposed breast than covered; but that didn't initiate a "blouse is falling" email tirade. Or how about this concept: We could be outraged that the culture makes pop icons the role models and heros of the younger generation. We could be outraged that Eminem or Kid Rock or Britney Spears are looked up to by 13-18 year olds. But we're not....because there's an f-bomb hanging out there somewhere...
exposed breast than covered; but that didn't initiate a "blouse is falling" email tirade. Or how about this concept: We could be outraged that the culture makes pop icons the role models and heros of the younger generation. We could be outraged that Eminem or Kid Rock or Britney Spears are looked up to by 13-18 year olds. But we're not....because there's an f-bomb hanging out there somewhere...
And for the record, I don't find the f-bomb on this show nearly as offensive, morally bankrupt and mind-numbing as I do the general faire of prime time network television. And again, no "the sky is mind-numbing and lobotomized" emails in my in box. I suggest that in the scope of the Golden Globes and network TV there are bigger and more impacting issues; but as usual, we Christians go for the most blatant and I would argue less-impacting.
Let me explain: If any of my kids heard the f-bomb they would know instantly that it was not kosher. But as to the content of the music hearlded as "great" and "good" in this award show, she would probably not be able to discern it's "good" or "bad" impact on her without my help.
And here's my theory of what happens beyond the in-box: Someone gets this email from a Christian friend in Des Moines. They're both outraged. They in turn send it to all the Christians in his/her address book. All the Christians are outraged. They begin talking about how TV is going to Hades in a handbag and where it will all end. Then everyone who was outraged by the email goes home and after dinner, watches network TV.
So what can we draw from all this?
1. The world IS going to Hades in a handbag
Here's the Bible in a nutshell: God makes it all. Adam & Eve mess up. Man searches for God. Jesus revealed and made available to all. World goes to Hades in a handbag. Jesus flies in with Holy Army and sets it straight once and for all.
I'm not saying that we should let everything immoral take its coarse; but I am amazed at how shocked we are that things cycle the way they do--this IS the course of things. This is the evil one's world and Christians are residents of Heaven on temporary visa here. (See my Invisible World message for more on this.) So let's not be shocked; be ready.
2. Do something productive.
Emailing is NOT doing something productive. It's doing the very least we can do. It's making 3 mouse clicks and precious little more. Try this instead: TURN IT OFF. TURN THE CHANNEL. As long as people watch said network, said show; and as long as people talk (positively or negatively) about a show, the networks have hit their mark.
In these days of 100-channel cable and satellite systems there are plenty of redeeming networks to turn to: artistic, educational, historical, home-improvement, biographical etc. etc. etc. I suggest that the bastion of morally bankrupt, mind-numbing, leud and inappropriate TV is solidly in the hand of the person holding the remote. So flip.
And let's leave the water cooler talk and emails to things more productive and truly worthy of our time.
