I read a great many blogs and websites in any given week. I enjoy hearing from both sides of political life – from conservative republican talk show host Rush Limbaugh to liberal democrat musician and vegan Moby.
As I was reading the other day, a post by Moby caught my eye. As many people know, I am pretty anti-violence. I believe strongly that the violent imagery found in our movies, television, music, video games and culture in general have contributed not only to the fact that we are one of the most violent cultures in the world, but the sad fact that we see this violence as entertainment. The worst part of it for me, is that followers of Jesus Christ have been sucked in to this unhealthy pattern of living.
Anyway, Moby says, “i’m flying from los angeles to nyc as i write this, and there’s an in-flight movie wherein hundreds of people are being killed and no one bats an eye. there goes another person, killed in a gruesome manner, and businessmen and parents and senior citizens and kids are all watching happily. but if one of the female characters were to show a breast, or if one of the characters said ‘f—‘, or if two of the characters were to have sex, then it’s safe to say that almost every person on the plane would be outraged and the airline would be boycotted by right-wing groups and the right-wing media pundits would talk about the lack of decency and values in hollywood. … the right-wing in america … are obsessed with the sanctity of life, right? but no one bats an eye when movies or tv shows are made that show thousands of people being brutally killed.”
He makes a interesting point. Unfortunately, I do believe that many would not care about the profanity since it is so common. Even the blatant sexuality. But it would not surprise me if many people [who watch this same stuff all the time in the homes anyway] would get up on a soapbox and decry the falling morals of America. Seriously, the whole Janet Jackson at the Superbowl thing was ridiculous. I don’t think what everyone saw for that split second was nothing most kids and parents have not seen before in their homes on a dvd before. That is the sad truth of it. Read the polls. Kids have seen way more now than we ever saw as kids.
So that brings me back to violence. I have been preaching this for a long time myself. Why do we as “the conservative right” have no problem with violence when we get all upset over the Janet Jackson incident. Why is violence acceptable and exuality not? Why is violence acceptable and profanity not? [When I say acceptable, I mean that we tolerate it much more.]
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see a man who modeled a life of pacifism. He had sovereign power. At his word, he could have commanded the earth to dissolve. But he refrained. This man told us that if someone were to hit us in the face, to turn the other cheek. He said that if someone took your coat, give him your shirt as well. This man modeled servanthood beyond anything we could understand.
There was a time in history when violence was viewed as entertainment. That was when the Christians were killed in the arenas for sport. Thousands would gather to watch them be torn apart by lions. Sadly enough, our culture is swiftly heading in that direction. We allow our children to view thousands of acts of violence on TV. We are so desensitized to it. As it was put in the movie Hotel Rwanda, “they will see these images on the evening news and stop for a second and say how awful that is happening over there and then go back to eating their dinners.” This statement is so cutting to us as a culture and to me personally as I have found myself guilty of it. Do you think there will be another day when people are killed for sport. It is certain that it will come to pass. In that last days, all manner of unspeakable evil will befall our world. That which was considered sacred will become profane. There will no longer be a sanctity of life.
Sounds like a dark view of the world, doesn’t it. I guess that is why I thank God that His truth will triumph over the evil in the final battle. But in the mean time, I do what I can to try and promote non-violence in our lives. People, please, rethink what you watch and what you consider entertainment. Violence is not and should not be something for we view as amusement. Because there is nothing amusing about what happened in Rwanda 11 years ago. There is nothing amusing what happened in NYC 4 years ago and there is nothing amusing about what is happening in the Sudan today.
well, since you mentioned the sudan, im assuming that you know whats happening there. and i must say that its comforting to know that another christian knows about it.
i feel that too many christian people are consumed by their own world and what the lord is doing right where they are. i’ve fallen victim to this horrible condition and know that to be informed and know what is going on takes work.
i could get on a soapbox on this, but i will spare you my rambles.
not trying to stereotype, but too few know what is really happening.
and my faith in people is once again renewed.
peace.
I concur
eric – if you and i spend our time in prayer and truth speaking rather than filling our minds with the world’s crap… i am thinking that it will radically change us and embolden us, and apathy will really not be an issue.
Sorry for the mega post, I meant to say “A duty” not “I duty” which is completely funny
My point is plain and simple. I am for getting rid of all the crap that is in the media and what not. My point is this, even if you do it will not solve our violent tendencies. My time is better spent through prayer and speaking truth to others around me. I duty I believe is hardly apathetic
Your hearts voice is a quiet thunder!
I will be looking for you in the front of the church preaching…..
If you think for one second that the enemy – the lying deceiver who is constantly roaming the earth seeking for whom he can devour – will not use any means necessary to pull our children – the future generation of leaders – away from an intimate relationship with Jesus, then you are sadly mistaken and blinded. If he can pull kids’ attention away with video games and desensitize them to violence, if he can use secular music to fill their young minds with all kinds of garbage and lies (that you claim will help them learn discretion), if he can use images and words from the media, he will. Our enemy is the prince and power of the air [waves]. The only way we combat this constant assault is putting on the armor of God as Paul tells us in Ephesians 6. It is by choosing to live way differently – radically different. It is not by accepting the crap that this world offers us day in and day out. I for one, am tired of apathetic Christians who think they need to be so close to the way the world looks, acts, and speaks in order to reach them. That is so bogus and a lie of the enemy. How can anyone stand here and say that the constant assault of sexuality, profanity, violence and other perversions are not worth our time or worth combatting? I believe that the reason that Christianity is where it is right now is because for too long we have stood by and done nothing.
I’m not going to even talk about Halo.
ABC, I feel for you and your son; my father and I have a semi-distant relationship. I just think that this falls exactly under Moby’s *other* category, whining and complaining about nudity and such. Apparently, some Christians DO whine and complain about violence. We’re only making his point stronger: Right-wing fundamentalists have lost sight of what matters.
Don’t get me wrong, Moby’s nuts. He thinks all Christians are murderers because of past abortion clinic bombings. Yeah, we all support that. Right. That’s the same mentality as the “all Muslims support a violent faith” thing we’ve had since 9/11.
Mr. Ward has it right.
We ought to put Halo at the bottom of the list. I can’t believe it’s even a priority, for ANY of you! Go ahead, tell your kids they can only listen to Christian music while you’re at it. That will teach them discretion.
I am *convinced* that you are all missing something.
I think that every kid who picks up a gun and shoots a classmate knows without a doubt the gravity of what he/she is doing. Most of the time these incidents happen, they are planned events. I’m sure there is a time when a gun weilding student goes through the conscious thought of “is it worth it”. And somewhere between the pain of their existence and the rejection of peers they do find it worth it.
I think that the cause of this kind of activity is far deeper than video games and media. Even if every opportunity of violent propaganda was diminished there would still be murder and acts of insane violence. The absolute reason why is because we are human. The root of all violence is jealousy and revenge, The story of Cain and Abel proove this without a doubt. Cain is one man that I doubt was blasted with violent media and what not. He was a man guided bt the wickedness in his heart. Another example I might add is in the movie “The Village” by M. Night Shamalan. If you haven’t seen it and this subject is of importance to you, get it (it’s a clean movie).
All this to say Yes, we have been desensitized to violence by the media, but to say it is the root of violence in America and getting rid of it will not protect us or our children from violence. What will is teaching our kids how to love and to turn the other cheek.
Ah, see, now you are singing my song. I have harped on this to all 3 of my boys forever! Do they listen? Of course not. Since one is now 22, I guess he can play any XBox game he wants to. But Halo, Halo 2 and many others are completely banned in our house. It has cause one of my boys to not like me anymore, but I’d rather be not liked and stand up for what I believe in than raise a kid who won’t realize the gravity of picking up a gun and shooting a classmate.