my husband thinks i pull things out of the air sometimes, attempting to put random thoughts together into a conversation. often he has a hard time keeping up with my train of thought, because it's not really a train at all, but more like a major highway intersection, with cars and ideas whizzing by at high rates of speed in every which direction. guilty as charged. this post may be a bit like that, so love me or leave me.
there's this new show on tv - This. Is. Us. and i have yet to form a solid opinion. part of me wants to enjoy the show, because it is so much better than anything else on tv. and part of me wants to hate it just because everybody else likes it so much. in my pride, i want to somehow be better than the rest of "christian" culture that has praised this show. while it does seem to be a very heart-warming and positive show, i take issue with it because like most everything else on tv, it romanticizes pre-marital and extra-marital sex, justifies course joking, and normalizes crude language.
after all, we have been trying to teach our kids to filter everything they watch and listen to through the filter everything through Philippians 4:8. "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." but that's where it gets difficult. because while there are things portrayed on this show that i don't agree with, there are also messages that are pure and admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. so what's a Jesus girl to do?
so it's had me thinking. i think the reason why the show is so relatable is that it shows us how vulnerable we all are. it shows us how the things in our past make up who we are today. it tells the truth about how much our upbringing and our childhood affects the way we relate in marriage and to our own children. it brings to light the very real struggles of humanity, gives understanding, and offers grace and mercy.
the show does a great job of explaining the struggles of mankind, and bringing a much-needed awareness to the question of why we are the way we are. the characters are able to give others grace because they realize that they themselves have been in need and been the recipients of the same understanding and grace. but i think that's where it stops.
understanding and grace are simply not enough. it is not enough for us to simply understand why we do certain things, or why we struggle with the same things over and over again. it is not enough for a man to simply know the reasons for why he struggles with addiction and anger. it is not enough for a teenage girl to be aware that because she has been abused by her father she is more likely to choose an abusive spouse. it is simply not enough for me to know that anxiety and depression run in my dna. i need more than awareness, grace, and understanding. i need HOPE for healing and power for change.
when this show airs it's last season, where will it be taking us? if it is leading us to a hope in the power of the human spirit, it is simply a false hope and no more than a fairy tale. i mean, i for one have tried and tried to change myself, and simply can not do it. i have tried to be less anxious and angry, only to end up being more depressed that i can't fix the problem. i am even lucky enough to have an amazing husband and wonderful family, but that hasn't made me any less broken, but simply revealed more of the brokenness.
but i have found a real hope. or rather hope found me. and His name is Jesus. and He has offered not only grace and mercy, but rescue and healing.
so as far as whether or not christians should watch the show, i still don't know. what I do know is that our pathologies and family histories are not enough. the truth is - this. is. us. and we. need. Him.
