by Bobby L. Graham
Society’s choices of entertainment have never been kind to those seeking to honor God and live for Him, but there should be little doubt that the industry spawning current entertainment fad and fashion has sunken to new lows. In previous generations the ever-present teenage rebellion was met and countered with relatively higher standards by parents, educators, and entertainers in general. It is no longer the case!
It is regrettably true that while many parents today encourage the misbehaviors of the young by their “hands-off” approach to parenting, many educators do so by their offer of philosophical justification for the conduct and the moguls of the entertainment industry encourage anti-social behavior and mannerisms for the sake of “filthy lucre.” Their ill-gotten gain will rise up to testify against their greed later in this life, as well as in final judgment (James 5:3).
The general situation of this infamous industry, typified by the award of a Peoples’ Choice Award to the rapper Eminem, was recently the focus of a biting analysis of a column by Bill O’Reilly. Under the cover of “artistry,” the money-hungry advance the cause of social and moral degradation (Proverbs 14:34), by selling mind poison and one-way tickets to misery, as charged by the columnist. The coarsening of America is the undesirable consequence of this endeavor. The abuse of women; the portrayal of American society as a deck stacked against the poor and minorities; immediate gratification on all levels; promotion of the “gangsta” attitude; encouragement of gutter language, tattoos, and body piercings; approval of obscenity and violence; and the selling and use of dope characterize this moral abyss that has developed around Hollywood. Is this really the people’s choice, or just the Peoples’ Choice?
What can the godly do? They must continue to live their lives by divine standards (Romans 12:1-2), pray fervently to the Father to be used to bring better times (1 Timothy 2:1-7), let the light of Christ and the gospel shine in them (Matthew 5:13-16), and seek to teach the gospel to all (Romans 1:16). It is still the hope of the world because it points people to Christ, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). Letters to newspaper editors, church-sponsored teaching articles, and other righteous involvement might gain the attention of a few, but the personal interaction of Christians with individuals in the world will produce the most results. O’Reilly charged that Eminem is as dangerous to society as al-Qaida, but we can be thankful that God’s people have the only antidote to the moral and spiritual poison being spewed on the unsuspecting masses.