Reality TV
June 22, 2009 by Standing on Truth
Filed under Culture
I’m embarrassed to say that I am at all caught up in the reality TV couple Jon & Kate. And a disclaimer: I’ve only watched the show about 5 times total, but I have read their book, so keep that in mind when I offer my opinions.
Part of me feels quite played by those two, as well as TLC which airs the show. How much of what we see between them is for entertainment purposes. . .drama for the camera?
But for the part that is not a performance–and given the fact that the “big announcement” that is all over the media scheduled for tonight is rumored to be a divorce–here is what I feel:
I feel very sad for this couple. They are obviously in pain about their relationship. Marriage is tough, and I can only assume those difficulties are magnified when you have 8 children and a camera in your face all day. However, I am also very sad for those children. Media reports say that these kids do not want this intrusion into their lives and it is the parent’s job to put raising their children ABOVE financial gain.
Which brings me to why I’m angry, and I will express myself while still reserving judgment, since I do not know all the facts. I’m upset because, if in fact a divorce is in the works, a family is being broken apart without the very obvious best option of all being tried–stop doing the show and focus on your marriage! (Ok, there was a little judgment in that) Have they given that a try? It seems like such an obvious, common sense choice and yet, it seems that option was skipped right over on the road to divorce court and broken families.
After reading Multiple Blessings by Jon & Kate, I know that they have a personal relationship with the Lord. We know that through Christ we can do all things. I’m not saying that they may not have very real issues of pain and anger and difficulty between them. . .most marriages go through that to some degree. . .I’m just saying why can’t they go through these things OFF camera, and see if that makes a difference. Give God a chance to repair the damage in their marriage without the seemingly stronger pull of financial gain (reports are that they are paid quite well for each episode).
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24).
This leads me to my 2 new favorite words that I read this weekend in a Max Lucado book called Facing Your Giants.
BUT GOD
No matter what it is that tempts us, scares us, pains us, derails us, or ails us. . .no matter why we want to give up or give in. . .and no matter how seemingly insurmountable the odds. . .
BUT GOD
There is nothing more to say, right? And that’s not because our problems are small, it is because our God is huge! For those of us who know the awesome power of Creator God, Savior God, Redeemer God, those two words stop whatever “what if,” “if only,” or “but” we can possibly say. And so, to Jon & Kate, or to any of you out there that are suffering deeply in a marriage, with a physical ailment, or are in emotional turmoil, I think God is asking us to remember Him. . .His power, His omniscience, His omnipresence. . .because He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). That is Truth.
I’m praying for Jon & Kate. . .and for the marriages all over the U.S. and world that are crumbling at the Enemy’s suggestion and to his great delight.
