Beware Of Bad Theology In Family Friendly TV Shows

Family friendly television shows are viewed as being safe.  It is considered good wholesome entertainment.  After all there is no sexual immorality, bad language, or graphic violence.  But some views presented in these shows are not in line with Biblical Christianity.  

One example of this is "The Waltons".  The television series ran in the 1970's and was set in the time period of the 1930's and 1940's.  It was a clean family show.  But what about the religious teaching of the show?  The Walton family attended church but the father, John Walton rejected the church. When confronted by his believing wife he says he is a good person and that is enough. He worships God in his own way.  His wife ends up agreeing with him and everything is okay.  

We are also taught on the Waltons that becoming a Christian does not mean confessing that you are a sinner.  It simply means accepting the Lord.  But if someone is not a sinner he has no need for a savior.  It misses the whole point of Christianity.  And no one is good enough to get to heaven. All people are sinners who fall short of God's standard.  Unfortunately the television series presents liberal theology. And liberalism is not Biblical Christianity. 

Another example would be "7th Heaven".  This series ran during the 1990's and the 2000's. It was family friendly and basically clean especially for the time period.  The show was about the Rev. Eric Camden and his family.  Camden was more like a social worker than a minister.  The show taught traditional morality but had little Biblical content.  

In the series the oldest son marries a Jewish girl and converts to Judaism.  At first Rev. Camden and his family are troubled.  But they eventually accept it and everything is fine.  After all, all religions are the same and all roads lead to heaven.  In one episode the son's father in law, a Jewish Rabbi presents a sermon at Rev. Camden's church.  Never mind that Judaism rejects Jesus as the Messiah and the Son Of God.  Later on Rev. Camden's daughter becomes a minister.  Even though the Bible clearly teaches that women are not to be church pastors.  

Even in family friendly television shows we must be aware of bad theology.  Not surprisingly what comes out of Hollywood is usually theological liberalism and not Biblical Christianity.  We must be careful when we watch these shows because they tend to make the views they promote seem normal, while making Biblical Christianity seem abnormal.  There is a strong need for discernment when watching television.         

ESPN Pushes Homosexual Agenda In Your Face

Openly homosexual Michael Sam was picked by the St. Louis Rams in the 7th round of the NFL draft.  He was the first homosexual drafted by the NFL.  7th round picks are not expected to have much success in the NFL.  But that did not stop ESPN and others in the sports media from heaping endless praise on Michael Sam.  He has gotten more attention than any of the 248 players selected ahead of him.  This is all because the secular liberal sports media wishes to push the homosexual agenda on all of us.  

During the draft ESPN had cameras covering Michael Sam at his home.  We got to see Michael Sam and his partner (a very feminine man) hugging and kissing continually.  ESPN could not show it enough.  This perversion was on display for the entire world to see. It was one of the most disgusting things I have ever seen.  Of course the gang at ESPN thought this was great.  They could not stop praising Sam for his great courage in living a sinful lifestyle.  ESPN commentators and other sports media people thought it was one the great moments in sports history.  When in reality it was one of the saddest moments in sports history.  

ESPN and the rest of the secular liberal sports media are proud when they should be ashamed.  No one is allowed to speak out against this perversion either.  The NFL and the sports media will shut that person down. A Miami Dolphins player said something negative about the Michael Sam spectacle and now he will be going to a reeducation camp. Secular liberals are behaving more and more like totalitarians.  Anyone opposing them  must be silenced, especially Christians.  One wonders how long it will be before this blog post is considered a hate crime.

Even President Obama chimed in on the Michael Sam spectacle calling it an important step forward in the history of our country.  Obama and his fellow secular liberals could not be more wrong.  It actually shows that we are a country in rebellion against God.  Our nation is promoting a sinful lifestyle that God hates. America has exchanged the truth about God for a lie.  We are morally insane.  We have become a nation of fools.  How long before God pours out his wrath on us?  

(Read Romans 1:18-32)       

Jars Of Clay Singer Rejects Biblical Christianity

Dan Haseltine lead singer of the Contemporary Christian Music group Jars of Clay has embraced homosexual marriage.  He says he has never been given a compelling reason to oppose it.  How about because God says it is a sin?  God calls it an abomination, unnatural, and says that those who live that way will not inherit the kingdom of God (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11).  Haseltine said he does not care about what the Bible says is wrong.  He just wants to focus on loving and caring.  Haseltine also said he was tired of trying to uphold evangelical beliefs.  

It is obvious that Dan Haseltine does not believe the Bible is the Word of God.  He does still claim to be a Christian though.  He just wants to focus on love and the things he likes.  Haseltine has simply embraced theological liberalism.  And liberalism is not Christianity at all.  Theological liberals do not believe the Bible is the literal Word of God without error.  They are not willing to reject Christianity even though they do not believe the Bible.  Liberals should be honest and renounce Christianity.  

Jars of Clay achieved much success in CCM and in the secular arena.  In 1995 the song "Flood" was a very big hit.  They were even referred to as the Christian Beatles.  But now after the remarks by Haseltine some Christian radio stations are rejecting them. Many of their fans are no longer their fans. We can only hope that Dan Haseltine repents and turns to God.    

Basic Christian Worship

(Acts 2:42) "And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers."  (ESV) 

Worship in the modern church seems to have gone astray.  It often includes elements that are not Biblical.  So let us go back to the early church to see what their worship was like.  

The early church was first of all devoted to the apostles' teaching.  This would be the Bible, God's revelation to us.  The Scripture is foundational to all Christian worship.  It is the literal word of God without error.  A true Christian church must preach and teach the Bible.  

Next we see the early church was devoted to the fellowship.  This involves partnership and sharing.  We are partners with Christ and other believers.  What makes Christian fellowship "Christian" is Christ himself.  He is what we have in common.  We gather together to focus on and worship God.  The focus should not be on ourselves.  Christian fellowship is much different than a social gathering.  

We also see the early Christians devoted to the breaking of bread.  This is the Lord's supper.  All Christians are to observe it. Should it be observed every week?  Maybe, but at least it should be observed more often than it is in most modern churches.  The two ordinances of the church are the Lord's supper and baptism.  Finally the early church was devoted to the prayers.  This included individual and corporate prayers.  Prayers should include praise and thanks to God, confession of sin, and our seeking to be in line with the will of God.

Unfortunately much of modern worship is not regulated by the Bible.  The modern church often bases it's worship on the desires of people instead.  The focus is on man instead of God.  Often worship in modern evangelical churches devolves into entertainment and triviality.  We are not very serious and so the world does not take us seriously.  We lack a sense of the holiness of God.  We seem to think we have encountered our chummy, buddy God.  When in reality it is the Holy One Of Israel that we have encountered.