Picking on One Program |

In yesterday’s post (which was widely read for our site, thank you!), I mentioned the TV program “Modern Family.” I chose to use that program as one example of a show that promotes the homosexual agenda, and does so in a clear and open way. What is amazing to me is how few people really take the time and mental energy to see that!

In the comments, a guest stated that this program is funny. I was not arguing the humor in this program. I was trying to get us to see how, just a few years ago, Christians were constantly standing against programming that pushed a homosexual agenda, and today we find ourselves being entertained by it.

However, this post isn’t about that. It’s about picking one program (or musical artist, or celebrity, or movie, etc.) to represent the whole as an illustration or point of application. When I did that in yesterday’s post, I hope you noticed that it was a rarity. I also do this rarely when I preach. I have two major reasons:

1. Relevance. I do not know the “hippest” programs all the time. (I don’t even know if “hippest” is still used today!) I do not want to use some example of a program or song that “everyone is taking in, only to find out that it became uncool with a certain group (usually teens) a few months earlier. Doing that will cause them to question how well you really know your subject.

2. It allows an easy “out” of application. When I was a kid, I heard many speakers–usually at youth events–rail against heavy metal music. I had an easy “out.” I didn’t listen to that, so I was “okay.” However, there is smut and sinful content in various kinds of music. Instead of picking one and making it the only point of application, I try to speak in more generic terms, and use examples rarely. Then, when I do use one, it seems to have more impact.

When we preach or teach, it is fine to use specific examples, but I think that should be the exception rather than the rule. If we are constantly hammering away at one genre of music, one TV show, or one celebrity, that becomes a hobby horse whether we want it to or not. And that’s a horse I do not want to ride.

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