Earlier this year during a Liberty University class discussion of Christian ethics my professor used the popular TV show “House” to illustrate a point about American culture. He described how Dr. House, as the show’s main character – independent and unconstrained by morals, law or protocol – has become a celebrated hero among viewers for saving lives by diagnosing especially challenging illnesses. He often uses unorthodox methods or procedures in the process. House is a fearless risk-taker who thinks and acts outside the box – and often the law – but saves the day and his patients in the end by proving that he is smarter than the rest…superior. These are exactly the kind of values that America loves to embrace.
     I must admit that I was a bit disheartened when the vast majority of the class quickly agreed, but not because our professor’s point was invalid. Even I concur with Dr. Smith’s comparison between House and dozens of other characters on primetime TV and how they personify the “American spirit.” My disappointment stemmed from the fact that despite almost fifteen minutes of discussion, during which it was evident that most of the class was quite familiar with the program, no one addressed what for me was a much bigger issue: Why is a class full of passionate, committed seminary students equipping themselves to fight the “good fight” for God’s kingdom so comfortable watching programming that is overtly contrary to the very Christian ethics that we are studying?
     Here’s my personal take on House: The show features and celebrates a self-indulgent drug addicted criminal (who happens to be an excellent analytical physician) who is surrounded by hospital administrators and fellow doctors who know about and enable his illegal addiction to prescription painkillers. He treats his interns and patients with disdain and his peers with contempt. He lies, cheats and steals, but in every episode the end justifies the means and almost always the patient survives. In other words, the bad guy wins.
     In reflecting on that morning’s discussion, I was drawn immediately to the foundational scripture for the ministry my wife and I founded a year ago that helps to illuminate the tragic impacts of popular culture (and especially the media) on American society at an unacceptable cost to Christianity: “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” Proverbs 4:23-27.
     In the interest of full disclosure, I have seen several episodes of House. It was a favorite program of three of our four teenagers when Tina and I married more than three years ago, and they often watched it in the company of their 11 and 12 year old sisters. That situation did not last long because Tina and I decided to block the program on our satellite receivers (along with dozens of other shows and many entire channels) as part of our personal commitment to parenting according to Godly values. We have come to recognize that one of the most insidious aspects of Satan’s efforts to destroy Godly families is the incremental and compound effect of small decisions not to act on moral matters. Any one of these issues may seem inconsequential at the time, but over time the impacts can be catastrophic. “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.” Colossians 2:8
     Later in the day my professor made the point that Paul’s letter to Philemon was also addressed to the church that met in his home, thus making Philemon’s decision about whether or not to grant Onesimus freedom was as much a matter for the church as for Philemon. We discussed that in fact this is an important matter for the church today. For members of the church, the fact is that there are really very few “personal” decisions that are not also the church’s business and that can and do have significance for God’s kingdom. That discussion took me back to Monday morning when he had creatively challenged us by asking that we imagine our neighborhood as though the homes were like a dollhouse with the walls missing on the side facing the street. If we walked the streets and observed the families living inside our neighbor’s homes, could we distinguish the Christian households from the secular ones?
     I’m optimistic that anyone passing by our home in Carrollton, Georgia would see a difference even if they did not know at first the reasons for it. They may not notice our framed copy of the Declaration of Dependence on our wall, but they would be far more likely to hear laughter than loud arguments; they would observe nearly every day a devotional lesson being shared around the kitchen table or at bedtime. Family game nights do occur, but only after kitchen and household chores are shared by all and completed. Even our youngest girls help out weekly at our home church’s food pantry; my wife teaches Bible studies in our home; and strangers are welcomed with open arms and invited to break bread with us. Christian music frequently emanates from our home. Use of our family computer – situated in plain view – as well as our telephone is allowed only when parental permission is obtained. Food is often prepared for delivery to others. Money is dedicated and sent, sometimes along with handwritten letters, to the young man we sponsor through Compassion International every month. Grandparents call us, and are called by us, weekly. Televisions are on sparingly and all programs are O.K.’d in advance. Dr. House would be welcomed in person. His television show, however, and dozens of others like it, is not invited.
     “And this is my prayer; that your love may about more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.” Philippians 1:9-10

We’re at the International Christian Retail Show 2009!

July 12-15, 2009  Colorado Convention Center, Denver, CO, USA

For more information got to http://www.christianretailshow.com/

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