Racism, Bigotry and ABC
Racism is evil and should not be upheld in any environment. ABC took swift action to end one of their most popular (based on viewership) sitcoms “Roseanne.” The lead actress, Roseanne Barr, tweeted racial slurs during Memorial Day weekend and blamed it on Ambien. We live in a world where racism exists in many corners of the world and entities such as the church have a responsibility to stand against it. Before I get to the church’s responsibilty, what does the swift action say about ABC? (1) ABC must currently have a zero tolerance policy for racism in place and (2) ABC must be more tolerant for other versions of hate such as religious bigotry.
In a recent episode of the View, Joy Behar made fun of Mike Pence and Christianity (see https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2018/03/13/vice-president-pence-is-right-joy-behar-publicly-apologizes-for-mocking-christianity/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.27e2ab375c86). She was allowed to publicly apologize and the show continues.
Reminders for the church:
(1) Jesus was ridiculed and so will we. We do not live in a society where Conservative Christian views are created equal. Watch an episode of The View, South Park or the Family Guy and you will realize that Christianity is fair game for ridicule. Jesus stated in John 15:18-21 (NAS): “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me."
(2) Christian values are not necessarily the world's values. We cannot hold the rest of the world to the same measurements that we hold ourselves because they are not followers of Jesus. We should not expect the world to act Biblically. We are needed to act, think and lead Biblically in hopes of showing the world the hope, peace and salvation of Jesus. Leaders in Hollywood will continue to police that which they deem unacceptable or beneficial. The ongoing ridicule of Christianity displays that it is not something that secularists hold dear. Isaiah 55: 8-9 (NAS) states: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts."
(3) The need of Jesus. ABC's tolerance of bigotry reminds us of the world's ongoing need for a Savior. When sin is praised, embraced or ignored, the church should be reminded of the need of Jesus' saving grace. We should also be reminded of our own sin and repent. We can spend much time conversation about other people's need of Jesus and blow over the fact that we (as the church) are in constant need of Him. A posture of repentance is the greatest posture that the church needs. Proverbs 28: 13 (NAS) states: "He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion."
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david evans is the Evangelism Team Leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board. Feel free to contact david via e-mail devans@tnbaptist.org. In the meantime, check out “The Reaching App” by searching in your app store or visiting www.TheReachingApp.com.