Vol. XXXVIII February 2, 2006 No 2
THE ANESTHETIZATION OF THE NATION
by Tom McLemore
The TV program The Book of Daniel has spurred much controversy and discussion. Even though the network has now cancelled the series because of viewer response, it would be profitable to reflect upon the trend it represents. The creators and producers of The Book of Daniel and other programs like it will deny that they have an agenda. That is to be expected. However, what is denied when producers and creators are under fire is explicitly affirmed in friendlier contexts. At the recent Golden Globe awards, one of the recipients (accepting an award for a movie featuring homosexual cowboys) rejoiced that through the media of film and television thinking is being changed.
What is going on? In a very gradual and subtle manner, those who create and produce films and television programs are attempting to desensitize viewers so that they will no longer be repulsed by behavior (vulgarity, profanity, and illicit sexual activity) that once was reprehensible. Have you noticed how that in the last several years, profane and vulgar words have been gradually inserted into television programs? Has it slipped by your attention that now almost every program features some homosexual character, and the move is being made to introduce a portrayal of sex between homosexuals? Have we not seen this maneuver many times before? Did we not notice how portrayals of illicit sex between heterosexuals were gradually introduced into the television and films? Isn’t it true that we hardly think anything of it?
And are we not following like lambs to the slaughter, as so much
of our time and money is consumed worshiping the actors and directors who are involved in providing this numbing drug? Do we really believe that they have no agenda? Can we not see that the ultimate goal is to desensitize the minds of decent people so that we will not be shocked into rising up and speaking against (and particularly keeping on the books and enforcing laws against) the immoral, perverse, and devilish behavior of the libertines? It is a most crafty strategy to hypnotize the American people so that they think that there is nothing objectionable about perversion, debauchery, and licentiousness.
In biblical terms, these folks are trying (and have had more success that we like to admit) to make practical pagans out of us. This has always been one of Satan’s most subtle devises–to gradually desensitize people into tolerating and accepting the behavior of his minions. Sadly, this time, he has figured out a way to accomplish this feat and have the victims foot the bill! The apostle Paul wrote of those who “….have lost all sensitivity and have abandoned themselves to licentiousness, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Ephesians 4:19). Centuries before Paul, the prophet Jeremiah had observed a similar phenomenon. “They acted shamefully, they committed abomination; yet they were not at all ashamed, they did not know how to blush.” (Jeremiah 8:12). Sound familiar?
There are at least two imperatives that emerge from these passages. For one, we must acknowledge sin for what it is. We must be ashamed and blush at the creeping wickedness that is passing before our eyes. We must stand up and be unashamed to call perversion, immorality, and licentiousness what they are–abomination! We must be unashamed to stand on the Lord’s side against the agenda of those who are unashamed to stand for the most shameful sins. We must resist the pressure to keep quiet and conform to political correctness.
Think of our children and grandchildren. How much more difficult will it be to teach them the right ways of the Lord when they are surrounded by those who have been brainwashed? The intensity and thoroughness of training during times when perversion, debauchery, and licentiousness resided in the dark niches of our society is insufficient for these times when it is being portrayed as the normal and even the ideal. All efforts to teach our people that the Bible is God’s word and that he will judge the abominable must be redoubled in the hope that it is not too late. And instead of simply forbidding, the time has long since past for helping youngsters understand why it must be forbidden.
If Christianity was ever a counter-culture in the history of our nation, it must accept its responsibility to be one now. It is doubtful that we ever faced a greater threat to the foundations of the Christian way of life in our nation than we face at this moment. It may be a more serious type of terrorism than that against which our nation has declared war and that has cost so much and so many lives. How ironic that such a price has been paid to protect the right of citizens of our own nation to make such strides in putting our people to sleep morally. One thing is certain: the other side is not letting up, but we must wake up.
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