Why reality T.V.?

This morning I am driven to reflect on the question of Reality T.V. What's our fascination with Reality T.V.?
Last night while channel surfing I ran across Baldwin Hills, I love Money, New York goes to Hollywood, from G's to Gents and theses are currently airing shows. Truly I must admit to having watched all three seasons of Flavor of Love, I've seen too many episodes of College Hill and even more main stream reality shows like the Bachelor, and Wife Swap.

The variety of reality shows prove that this is not a racial phenomenon but a cultural one as Americans. Last night I found myself drawn to these characters and wanting to find out what will happen next, curious about the drama or doom coming up after every commercial break. Hours can go by and we still sit glued with our eyes to the television sets waiting for the next fight, argument or elimination. As if we were watching waiting for a train wreck to occur.

I argue that we invest ourselves in the lives, trials and tribulations of others on these shows and today I ask the question why?
1)Is it that in our daily lives we face so much stuff and mess that we look to the t.v. to make our lives seem more bearable and normal?
2)Are our lives so boring and redundant that we must look to others lives for excitement and action?
3) Or do we as a society lust so much for the emotional downfall, destruction and pain of others that we need to see persons make fools of themselves, fight, argue and cry night after night?


I'm reminded of the movie Gladiator starring Russell Crowe. There is a point in the movie when the crowd is screaming after a match for more death and more blood, when Russell's character Maxims ask the question; ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? I believe that sometimes we get so caught up in the action of reality t.v. but also the news and life in general that we began to have a growing thirst for constant entertainment. The trouble is that this entertainment comes at two cost .
1) The cost of others because it does not matter whom is hurt or harmed as long as we are entertained.
2). The cost of ourselves, because we invest so much of ourselves into this lust for entertainment we forget about whom we should be invested in.

Yesterday we focused on Psalms 139, which spoke about how God made us so wonderful and fearfully. How we are divine. Well taking that a step further today I would like to remind us of Paul's words in Romans 12 vs. 2 "Don't live any longer the way this world lives. Let your way of thinking be completely changed. Then you will be able to test what God wants for you. And you will agree that what he wants is right. His plan is good and pleasing and perfect." (NIV)

Brothers and Sisters, as Christians we must be mindful of the influences we invest our time and ourselves in. Just because the world says something is acceptable does not mean God says the same. Now I'm not saying that we should never watch t.v. or listen to the radio but I am saying that as Christians we must set a different bar of acceptability. Meaning that we must be careful of what we invest in and spend majority of our time doing. As we are Christians we must be different than the rest of the world.

Let me know what you think?

As you focus on Romans 12:2 today think about how others know that you are a Christian, and can tell it by how you live.
Be Blessed today, and remember God is...
Love Pastor J.