This is not a post on the normal “Why God?” we generally ask. Instead:
Why are we fascinated by sordid reality shows?
Why are we fascinated by shows that highlight immorality?
Why are we fascinated by stories that highlight the evil and bad?
Why are we fascinated by stories of celebrities going “commando” or have a love affair with their ex-wife’s best friend’s sister-in-law twice removed?
Why are we fascinated by stories of celebrities behaving badly?
Why are we fascinated by “Top 10 reasons for…” lists?
Why are we fascinated by stories of the latest scandal to strike the religious world?
You get my point. What got me thinking is this article. I need to warn you about some of the comments (which ain’t worth reading) and the advertisement you will see). I know I have written about the reaction to his lies before, but this is just way over the top. I mean, come on! I don’t take to lying or cover-ups (although I have done my share along the way), but let the guy go! But they don’t stop with him. They go on to talk about others who are on the list. Give me a break!
As if people who live in glass houses shouldn’t be concerned about stones being thrown their way. But it is just this attitude that has the “rags” and gossip magazines at the checkouts doing a brisk business. It is this same attitude that has shows like the Kardashians, the “Housewives of some city,” and others like them doing well. TV shows would be cut in half if they were all removed. Honestly, ask me if I really care?
In my reading of Proverbs the past couple of days these verses have stuck out:
“An evil men is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous escapes from trouble.” 12:13
“Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin.” 13: 15
Here is one from Psalm 5:6: “For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you.”
I realize we all have to pay for our sins. Some get it big here. Some will pay down the road, either on earth or when they stand before God. But for crying out loud, do we have to keep bringing the garbage up? Do we have to take polls asking the same type of question the witch asked the mirror: “Mirror, mirror, on the wall/ Who’s the fairest of them all”? I am disappointed Lance was guilty. I so wanted him not to be. He has admitted it. LET IT BE! I know he was not a model citizen, hurt a lot of people, and is “now getting his due.” Isn’t that enough? Why do have to downgrade someone with a poll?
I sure am glad God doesn’t take polls. I would be in a major world of hurt. MAJOR. “If any man is in Christ, he is a new creation.” Yep, that sounds a whole lot more appealing to me than a poll. Thoughts?
I love how folks (oh, me included) like to think that some sins are clearly worse than others. Homosexuals can be completely torn apart for their “sin”, while I can sleep around with any random woman. These actions actually get me kudos and winks of approval from the guys. This
is just one example, there are so many more. We are all sinners. All sin is abhorrent to our God. Folks need to appreciate this. We are all condemned.
Certainly are Daniel. All sin is anathema to God.
I still kind of like Lance as long as I don’t have to listen to him talk. I think he juiced against other juicers. It was the the coverup more than then actual details that bother me. I still have great memories of him destroying Jan Ulrich. And I like Tiger on the course. I just don’t set any of these guys up as role models and I’m ok.
i think the key is not setting them up as idols. Arrogance does not go very far at all.
A couple thoughts. The market on sells what people want to buy. And seeing Justice done is a very “feel good” experience. I don’t watch reality shows, have cable TV, go to movies, or read fiction. Just not my thing. Some people, I suppose, get some sort of vicarious thrill out of other peoples more exciting lives than their own.
I do very much get a kick out of watching Justice prevail. I am always attracted to the scandals when the strong get caught taking advantage of the weak or being hypocrites in their quest for power and glory. I don’t think you can expose these things enough for me and maybe keep someone else from repeating it. So I say to the journalists give me all you can on the Armstrong’s, the Penn State abuses, The Catholic Church abuses,the Pete Rose’s, the Ted Haggerty’s, etc. The plot never ends, just the characters. Sort of like James Bond movies but in real time.
Vicarious thrill is a good way to put it Jeff. You raise an interesting point as to why some (like yourself) want to hear more.
I think humans like to prove themselves better than one another. Polls help them to do this as we can say, “Look! See! The numbers don’t lie!” Ah, but they do. They’ve been manipulated and massaged and they don’t consider the heart. Only God looks into the heart.
I love what you say about the numbers being manipulated and massaged. In more ways and cases that we can imagine. God definitely sees deeper than we can.
Like you said Bill, we like seeing them in ruin because somehow it makes it easy for us to point fingers and say …wow…my life is way better than theirs. I would never! and sad to say, especially in Christians… we like to pick up stones… and say.. my life is holier than that person…
FORGIVENESS IS SOMETHING HAS GOTTEN LOST IN TRANSLATION…EVEN AMOUNG THE CHURCH…AND THAT IS SOOOO SAD…
you are right Arny. Forgiveness has gotten lost in translation. Sadly, the unbeliever is sometimes more able to forgive than the follower of Jesus.
I think it has to do a lot with us getting away from moral absolutes, believe it or not. When we start to relativize things, the only real measurement that then matters is the majority opinion.
That – and also the massive proliferation of media means they have to come up with story after story, and they end up resorting to polls just to fill the space.
i totally agree with you Loren about the loss of moral absolutes. With nothing to gauge by we can do/think/act any way we want.
I despise those shows and the TV and radio stations that make a living off of gossip. How does any person stand up? Glory is designed for God and when we realize His love and sacrifice to save His creation it is manifested. When a fallen person is glorified there is a great fall that awaits them.
Come on, people! We gotta put things in perspective; He rode a bicycle! Hello! He rode a bicycle… I don’t care how fast he goes, if he can’t ride it to heaven then he or no person deserves to be glorified or denigrated… All of creation is just that… the created… He is the creator.
Turn the TV off…
We have a very bad habit of glorifying humans. It says God will share His glory with no one else.
The only reality show I watch is the musical ones since I love music. Always interesting to me by the time the last 12 are left to compete their looks have changed dramatically. Of course they are only doing what the world says it takes to make it. I am about to give that up too….it only gets worst each time I watch it. The enemy of my soul knows how to get me, doesn’t he?
Yesterday Ace ask me if I had read the manifesto put out by Chris Donner. I hadn’t and have no desire to either. After being caught up in the drama surrounding him I was left with an empty feeling. It is true our sins will find us out, either here on when we meet the Lord. So very grateful I am covered in the blood and the only drama I want to be a part of is the battle for souls. The only poll I know of that God will take is about names written in His book book of life. He is the only one who has the correct numbers of His sheep.
Just a side note…Psalm 139:17-18 How precious also are His thoughts about me, how vast the sum. If I could count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. I am afraid my thoughts towards others is not always precious. Good post brother…
Great Scripture Betty! His thoughts about us are really the only ones that count.
I’m glad God doesn’t take polls either.
😛
I hear you, brother. As my niece says, “Let the fishy die.” God is not in the business of pouring condemnation, He’s in the business of rescuing us from ourselves and our sin. God offers forgiveness and grace to sinners. And boy howdy am I glad about that.
I like the idea of rescuing rather than pouring out condemnation. Well said Susan.
I’m with you Bill! Please everybody, just give it a rest! The guy screwed-up, got caught, tried to hide it, then denied it and finally was forced to admit it. The fiasco cost him big – really big – how many more floggings does he deserve? All those “stone-casters” might want to get some big tweezers and start yanking some planks from their own optic orbs.
Lance, obviously, is not the only one who messed up. We all have…ours isn’t publicized as much because we don’t have celebrity status. Great word picture David.
Hey everyone! Sorry it took me so long to reply. I was out Valentining today. Jo took the day off. I would much rather be with her than you all. 😀
I liked the comment about forgiveness being forgotten in this. For those who make money sensationalizing stories, of course, that’s not going to be something to think about. Also Betty’s comment .. wonderful. And it was something that He spoke to me the other day. I saw a picture on an advertisement of a celebrity type preacher that I just can’t listen to or watch. God quickly told me that only His thoughts about this guy matter.
Glad you got to spend time with Jo! God bless you and yours!