Happy New Year Bloggers! So much has gone on since I last blogged. It seems so much crazy stuff happens so fast that when I think I want to blog on a subject, a new subject comes along and then I am in a torn on whether I should blog on my first thoughts or my new thoughts. Of course while all this is happening something else comes along and the process starts again.
Anyway, I finally narrowed it down for this blog. This blog is in response to a response to an email I sent out last week. I sent an email concerning the new NBC show "The Book of Daniel" about a priest, who has frequent chit-chats with an "in the flesh" Jesus, and his dysfunctional family. For those who didn't get it, basically some church folk are starting a petition to get this show banned. Some are opposed to the shows topics about premarital sex, drugs, addictions, sexual orientations, and any other controversial topic, I suppose.
Well, I have not nor probably won't watch the show for a few of reasons: 1) I don't really have time for much television. Once I finish watching my taped "All My Children" I usually go to bed. Aside from my favorite soap, I can only usually squeeze in a couple of other shows per school semester. In the Fall, I made time for ER and The Apprentice. This Spring semester, I will still make time for ER and of course, AMERICAN IDOL!!! (WHOOOO HOOOOO). Oh yeah and there is football. 2)When I saw the commericals, I was not real impressed. To add an additional show to my schedule, it has to peek my interest. 3) and what really did it for me, was the Jesus character. First off, this guy looks pretty creepy to me. And second off, who decides what Jesus is suppose to look like. Now this ain't about race...Is Jesus black or is he white? Personally, I think he probably looked more like the people we are over there declaring war on. But I have told many people this, I don't subscribe to any pictures of Jesus. I don't own any and probably won't ever buy any. Why? Here's why:
Exodus20:4 - 4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.
Deuteronmy 4: 15-19, 15 You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
I actually choose to find Jesus in everyone since we are made in his image. Which means he has a lot of looks. Okay, let's progress...
So that is how I feel about the new show, whether it is as bad as what these protestors are saying, I'll never know because I don't intend to watch the show. But a response I got to the email I sent made me think and I will share a piece with you to make you think as well:
Also, I must say, as you know, I get a little bothered by the Christians who hold up their bibles and tell us all how 'the Bible says this, and the Bible says that..." when it comes to homosexuality, but conveniently forget that it is not our place to judge, condemn, or ostracize each other. I think that if we are living our lives as Jesus has shown and instructed us to do, then we wouldn't worry about our unsaved friends and neighbors watching a TV program and forming skewed views of us as Christians. That's like saying all wives should be mad about how we are depicted in the TV drama 'Desperate Housewives'.
I don't know of any Christian who doesn't have an alcoholic, drug abuser, tax cheater, cable stealer, or homosexual in their immediate or extended family. Because, as Christians, aren't we supposed to all be brothers and sisters in Christ? So, why we would get so bent out of shape over a TV drama that depicts things that actually happen here on earth, escapes me.
After all, I thought that the Christian thing to do is to show others how to use our lives (the sinners that we all are) as an example of how messed up and human we are by nature but how we are redeemed and made clean in the blood.
Oh yeah this made me think...and when I was asked my opinion, I thought I better let the Holy Ghost help me out because I was like this person is right. However, I was also given an additional revelation.
Now ministers are humans and they have human family members. So sin is all around everyone, everyday. No one can claim a perfect, sinless family. If they do then they are what my mama would call a "bald-face lier", and Jesus says the devil is their daddy:
John8:44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
And it would be naive to take think these types of situations depicted in this can't touch your family. You can probably count already all the dysfunctional people you share the same blood with, truth be told, it might be YOU! Anyway, we love these folks and at best we can pray for them and live a life that sets a good example.
Now, we should not be surprised that the church is under attack. For John 15:18 - 23 says:
18"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20Remember the words I spoke to you: 'No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. 21They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the One who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin. Now, however, they have no excuse for their sin. 23He who hates me hates my Father as well.
Does this mean we are suppose to sit back and take what the world dishes out. Oh no...As the saying goes, "if you don't stand for something"...yall know the rest. When the people turned the synagogue into a marketplace, did Jesus say oh well, they just don't like me or my church. Naw, he went in there turning over tables and cleaning house. When the Pharisees started talking junk, did Jesus set back and not respond. Nope, he always had a word for them and it's funny, his response usually started off with a few unflattering names. He called them names like "brood of vipers" and "snakes". Doesn't seem too passive to me but we always try and depict Jesus that way. (And there ain't nothing tough looking about that Jesus dude in the picture up above...like I said before "creepy")
So in my humble opinion, it is not a bad thing for Christians to take a stand against the world. In fact, I think we have to. Now with the tv show, the question is the motivation behind the stand. What becomes of it, I have no clue. But I believe we all have an assignment and perhaps, the leader of this NBC revolution felt this was theirs. I conclude by saying don't be afraid to take a stand just because you are a Christian. Of course, know why you are taking your stand and give the credit for the victory to the One it's due.
*This blog is dedicated to my dear friend "Tricky"... Thanks for keeping a sista on her toes!
