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War Must Never Be Trivialized Today, tragedy has become comedy. Conditions that should compel the nation to wear sackcloth and ashes become subjects for wisecracks and ridiculous monologues. This is the case, not only with jokes about drunkenness, or broken homes, or ruined marriages, but with the current political crisis with Iraq. I cite only a few examples as evidence.
Such mockery springs not only from the desire for ratings and viewers. It springs from a low regard for the holiness of God. The Almighty has become a benevolent waiter who winks at heartache and nods at sin. Nothing is sacred anymore, and flippancy has invaded even the church sanctuary. Proverbs 14:9 states, “Fools make mockery of sin.” The Scripture says we are not to be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewing of our minds—not merely nonconformed but transformed so that we may prove by our experience the will of God, that which is good, pleasing (to Him!), and perfect (Romans 12:1-2). It is a well known fact that violence is a learned behavior, and that movies and television have always had a profound influence on society, especially the young. TV teaches children that violence and illicit sex are glamorous, thrilling, and accepted as part of everyday life. Perhaps the worst offenders are the daytime talk shows. Today’s children are likely to see “My Mother Was a Slut” or “Women Who Cheat on Their Husbands With Other Women” or “Identical Twins Who Swap Sex Partners,” or the infamous Oprah Winfrey’s afternoon show on “Women Who Have Sex with Animals.” As our brave military men and women are placed in harm’s way, it is shameful for pundits to trifle with them. War must never be glorified, never trivialized, and never free of consequences. While there are some excellent educational programs on TV, they are far outnumbered by stupid or blatantly violent programming. It is a sad day when people laugh at things that should make them cry. Fools may mock sin. But God is not mocked. March 19, 2003 David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com. |