Why Do We Need To Watch That Trash??
The
following is my response to a friend who asked me why I recommended the MTV Video
Music Awards for the past couple of years. He couldn't understand why he NEEDED to watch that “trash” when all he had to do
was read the information on the web?
He was also concerned about the fathers who struggle with porn
subjecting their eyes to the skimpy outfits most of the performers wore.
MY RESPONSE:
Thank you for your interest and for taking the
time to express your concern.
Please let me try to respond.
I’ve
been recommending that parents watch the MTV Video Music Awards (The VMAs)
since 2003, to help parents learn and experience the culture that
influences their children so deeply.
It’s more than just watching
trash. You are right that there are many ways parents can learn which
artist or program their kids watch and listen to, but there is no
better way to experience the depravity of the
entertainment culture that is teaching our children these values.
Sometimes
I, too, am unable to watch the complete program and nearly every year
I literally cry for our children and our nation. It breaks my
heart and disturbs my soul to see the depths of depravity the entertainment industry
teaches our children. To be honest, it usually takes me a full day or two
of listening to worship music to keep me from becoming depressed by the
“culture” that I just experienced.
Youth
culture is not our culture! I meant what I said in my letter to
parents, "we may live in the United States of America, but our children
live in the United States of Entertainment.” I believe we
live in different societies than our children - even if we live in the same
house! The 2004 Super Bowl illustrates this dichotomy.
The
Super Bowl committee wanted to attract the youth market so they invited
MTV to produce the halftime show. What could go wrong? MTV brought a bigger
audience, but that was also the year Janet Jackson had her “wardrobe
malfunction” and exposed her breast on TV. The parents were shocked and
offended, but the youth didn’t think it was a big deal. Why? This was the first
time most parents were exposed (literally) to the culture that their
children experience daily and have gotten used to seeing everyday. By the
way, nearly every Super Bowl halftime show since has featured a MTV type of
extravaganza, but parents no longer complain because we’ve slowly gotten
used to it. And most of us haven’t
even noticed the change.
(I
sincerely believe that empty values have enveloped our whole society. And I believe I can prove through
Scripture that America really is the “Whore of Babylon” that
is prophesied in the “last days.” And I sincerely believe our nation is rapidly
being entertained to death. But this is a digression from my response to
you, so I will be writing a blog on this topic in a future newsletter.)
I
don’t want parents to ever just accept the mind pollution that our nation has
become addicted to. And a good way to actually shock them into reality is
to “experience” this depraved value system by watching the VMAs. Why?
Because our children are in a completely different society, with a
different language, customs, and very different values. If parents
are ever going to learn to communicate with their children, to
reach their children with Truth of the Gospel, they MUST first
fully understand this “foreign culture”.
For
example, suppose you were to lead a team of men on a mission trip to Uganda.
What would you do to prepare? First, you would bring in an expert on
Uganda to help familiarize your team with Ugandan society. The idea is not just
to help your team avoid social faux pas (which is definitely important!) but to
help your team to understand their culture, customs, and values.
Understanding
their society would give you a “heart” for the people, then when you see
and understand Ugandan culture your heart would probably be broken and you
would begin to see Ugandans in a different perspective and with a new and an
unconditional love. When you “visit” another society with a humble
heart and love, then those people will more likely listen to your message.
The
same holds true for parents “visiting” their children’s culture in today’s
society. You can hide your children for a while. Or you
may say your children never watch nor have they ever watched MTV, but MTV is
the society that tells them what is “cool” and socially acceptable if they
watch MTV or not. In effect, MTV is writing the constitution for the
society of the United States of Entertainment. And if the parent
hasn’t taught them how to think biblically, who knows how they will think when the
parent isn’t looking over their shoulder?
Of
course, I believe Christian parents should always use caution. Of course,
I believe parents should pray that God would open their hearts, eyes, and minds
to the needs of their children. Of course parents should commit their heart and
mind to the Lord, and ask for His wisdom and protection before watching the
VMAs.
But
I also believe that Christian parents can learn by experiencing the VMAs.
Watch with a pen and notebook to take notes. One caveat. Some men
who struggle with pornography may have a difficult time watching the VMAs
and shouldn’t subject their mind to this or any type of activity outside
of marriage that may be sexually stimulating.
I’m not above being tempted with
sexual sin, but in the thirty plus years I have been studying this topic and
the 20 years or so that I have been watching the VMAs I don’t see the performers
as someone to be envied and desired.
All I see is a generation that has bought into the LIE, dancing on
the road to Hell and like a pied piper leading our children to join them. And
that breaks my heart!
And that’s exactly why my
ministry is dedicated to helping parents and leaders deal with the issue of
entertainment from a biblical perspective. As you know, entertainment is a key
weapon in the battle for our minds and for our families. We must get
involved with our children and help them see “their world” from a biblical
perspective. We can’t accomplish this from a distance.
I hope my emails,
suggestions, or this letter doesn’t offend you. I write this in love. I
never discount criticism and it always causes me to look inward. This time, I am very confident this is
what God would have me do.
Your friend always,
Al
Al,
ReplyDeleteWhen do you think you'll post about America being the "whore of Babylon?" I'm very interested in your thoughts.