I’m Dennis
Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a
moment we’ll talk about the attitude of Hollywood and America’s elite who
vehemently reject the philosophy and lifestyle of America’s founding faith –
the world of Christianity…
…Well here we
are in a New Year, but also a new season for our Hollywood media and its
entertainment programming. It seems all the television networks are vying for
the top spot in viewers by giving the American public a new lineup of stars
and shows to titillate our eyes and glue us to their stations for the ratings
and income dollars to soar. To do this, one network, NBC, has stooped to a new
low in its quest by offering the television viewer its newest programming
called of all things – THE BOOK OF DANIEL. Of course, the name is designed to
draw religious and non-religious viewers, thinking it has to do with the
Bible, and the sacred Book of Daniel contained therein. Nothing could be
further from the truth! In fact, this new television shows makes mockery as
usual of the true Christian faith, by giving the viewing public what may prove
to be the biggest trashing of Christianity ever put forth by the Hollywood
crowd that hates Christianity. Now is this an exaggeration? I think not after
I share with you what fare is to come in this new show, THE BOOK OF DANIEL,
and what God’s Word really says about those who follow the true Christian
faith. Stay tuned…
…Our television
networks who give us our prime time viewing for the week, covet of all days,
Friday nights. To have the most watched shows is “big bucks” in the network
pockets, so all the major networks fight for the ratings of viewers. This year
to gain the viewers, NBC is presenting to us the show called “THE BOOK OF
DANIEL.”
In this new
show, "The Book of Daniel," Aidan Quinn plays an Episcopal priest, Daniel
Webster, who unfortunately is a drug addicted man of the cloth, who
furthermore has hallucinating visions of personal visitations and appearances
of Jesus, while trying to maintain order in his church. He also tries to deal
with frightening and sickening issues in his own home as well. Apparently,
Webster’s family is totally dysfunctional, and worse, perhaps the poorest and
most sorry example of a godly American family. His wife is an alcoholic, one
of his son’s is a practicing homosexual, and the other, an adopted son, is a
promiscuous, sex-crazed young man. Furthermore, their only daughter is a drug
using distributor, and to top this off his brother-in-law has pilfered large
sums of money from his church.
Now can you make
any family more dysfunctional and ruinous than this? Yet Holly wood portrays
this as the “typical” American Christian family, of those who lead the Church
of Jesus Christ! One cannot wonder at all, what’s behind the writers and
producers of shows like this other than a quest to mock and destroy whatever
view of righteousness is left in the American public’s eye of Christians.
Thankfully some conservative Christian groups have already protested against
this godless, vile show that is produced by one whose own professed lifestyle
is an abomination to God. Yes, the Book of Daniel TV show, is written by a
professing homosexual, Jack Kenny, who glibly professes to be a “Catholic in
Recovery.” His own words about the show and his supposed faith take one far
from true Christianity or any Christianity at all. He neither believes in
Jesus as God, nor the validity of the Bible as the infallible Word of God. In
its place he substitutes his own manufactured view of religion, God, Jesus
Christ, and judgment of the Word of God. This of course is seen in Hollywood’s
portrayal of what NBC calls the “typical” American Christian family of Daniel
Webster the Episcopal priest.
Now I don’t
usually take issue with what Holly wood drags out of the moral sewer to
present to Television viewers, but this show reeks of that which is
specifically designed to mock and tear down the true Christian faith. It’s
just a further attempt to denigrate and vilify those who truly follow the
bible and the faith once delivered to the saints by the Lord Jesus and His
apostles. For instance, this Christian bashing has growing wildly over the
last decade. We’ve seen the trashing of Christianity in so many differing
ways.
It seems attacks
on Christianity dominate the headlines, even this past Christmas season. We’ve
seen judges banning community nativity scenes, many retailers renaming
Christmas trees "Holiday trees," even public schools forbidding children from
singing Christmas carols and more can you imagine, banning the colors red and
green! This is all true, and what’s worse, if you're not aware, there is a
powerful, demonic current beneath it all whose goal is to destroy
Christianity’s faith in the hearts of people and especially its philosophical
influence in American life and law. Why look at the different ways, our
nation and the world treat the religion of Christianity and others. Remember
the enormous outcry against the American forces incarcerating the Muslim
terrorists in Cuba. The report went forth that the Koran was flushed down the
toilet by rabid interrogators to the horror of Muslim captives. Hundreds of
thousands of Muslims hearing this rioted in anger, including the bellowing of
Hollywood and the atheist elite in our midst. But a while ago when the Church
of the Nativity in Palestine was taken over by Muslim terrorists, little was
said that after the siege was over the priests in the Church reported that the
bible was used by the Muslim terrorists for toilet paper. It seems that the
true faith of fundamental Christianity is truly vilified and attacked these
days with anger and demonic venom, while those religions which are false are
openly accepted and even promoted.
Now what’s wrong
with the TV series, “THE BOOK OF DANIEL?” Here’s the answer. The Bible clearly
says that those who are to serve in the ministry of leadership, especially
those who teach and preach the Word of God are to have lives and families that
are in spiritual order!
No man is to be
given the position of bishop, pastor or elder, who is not an example to the
believer of someone who is totally submitted and under the control of God and
His Word by His Spirit. Listen to the non-negotiable requirements for
Christian leadership.
1 Tim 3:1-5 (NLT) “It is a true saying that
if someone wants to be an elder, he desires an honorable responsibility. 2 For
an elder must be a man whose life cannot be spoken against. He must be
faithful to his wife. He must exhibit self-control, live wisely, and have a
good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home and must be able to
teach. 3 He must not be [addicted to alcohol] or be violent. He must be
gentle, peace loving, and not one who loves money. 4 He must manage his own
family well, with children who respect and obey him. 5 For if a man cannot
manage his own household, how can he take care of God's church?”
The Episcopal
priest, named Daniel Webster, in this anti-Christian television show is a drug
addicted leader, hooked on pain killers, obviously obtaining them illegally.
His wife is an alcoholic, and both his sons are in rebellion to God in their
lifestyles and mock the father’s leadership in the home and church. His
daughter too is involved with drugs and is a pusher too. The entire family is
spiritually dysfunctional and in rebellion to God and His Word. How can this
man serve as a Christian leader? Only in Hollywood!
The answer is
this is Hollywood’s version of what Christian leaders are – phony hypocrites!
Also, their view of the Christian home and family to them, is just a “secret”
den of iniquity. How corrupt Hollywood, its writers and producers are to
portray these lies about Christians and their home life. Of course the goal is
to cause the American public to reject the moral view of the Bible and the God
who gave it to us, as unworkable!
But the truth
is, the vast majority of true Christians and their churches are served by men
and their families who are in spiritual order. The pastor, priest, bishop or
elder, whatever term you want to give them, are for the most part, men of
integrity, honor, decency and trustworthiness. Their families are likewise
orderly and maintain a high standard of purity and example. Hollywood hates
this because it exposes their crude and lascivious lives and living. I think
this dysfunctional family of the TV series best represents Hollywood families
and their producing executives, not Christians as a whole.
But now saying
all, that does the world of professing Christianity see families like Daniel
Webster’s, the Episcopal priest? The answer of course is yes. The reason is we
are all sinners in need of spiritual overhaul and renewal. This is the reason
God gives us the Bible and calls for those who are truly born again by faith
in Jesus Christ, to present lives that are “functional” and working according
to God’s Word. By doing so, it gives the fallen world of sinners a chance to
see what God can do in and through those who surrender their hearts and homes
to Jesus Christ.
What does God
want in a functioning Christian family that He approves and blesses? Well,
here are some principles the Bible calls for,
1. THE HUSBAND AND WIFE ARE TO LIVE IN A MONOGOMOUS FAITHFUL, LOVING
RELATIONSHIP – Indeed, there is no “stepping out,” no
unfaithfulness and immorality on the part of either mate. The Bible says,
Heb 13:4 (NLT) “Give honor to marriage, and remain
faithful to one another in marriage. God will surely judge people who are
immoral and those who commit adultery.”
2. THE CHILDREN ARE TO BE IN SUBMISSION TO THE PARENTS, HONORING AND OBEYING
THEM – the Bible calls for Christian homes and families to rear
children that are obedient and faithful to the teaching and lifestyle of the
parents. This of course can only come when they are brought up to obey and
respect them, by a fear of God. With atheism and agnosticism ruling our
schools today, young people have no fear of God, and live for their sinful
corrupt self. Living uncontrolled lives they fall into the worst sins,
especially sexually. Look today at the promiscuous lifestyles of many unsaved
teenagers, and the addictions that often follow. The Bible tells us,
Col 3:20 (NLT) You children must always obey
your parents, for this is what pleases the Lord.
We can only have
obedient children, when we have obedient parents who are surrendered to God
and His Word, the Bible.
3. THE
TRUE
CHRISTIAN
HOME
AND FAMILY LIVES TO HONOR AND SERVE JESUS CHRIST – True
Christians are those who have made Jesus Christ the Lord God of their lives
and accept Him as their only Savior from sin. It matters not what denomination
you may call yourself, but what does matter is do you have a truly surrendered
heart and life that has accepted Jesus Christ as your God and Savior? Those
who truly have done this, personally, are those who begin to live to honor and
serve the Lord Jesus.
Now, the first
place of service God calls us to, is the gathered Church of Jesus Christ.
There every born again Christian lovingly offers their time, talents,
treasures and spiritual gifting to the work of God’s kingdom to reach out to
save others. If you are in a religion that does not honor Jesus Christ as God,
nor His Word as the infallible, inerrant and fully inspired writings of God to
man – you cannot be pleasing to God.
The Daniel
Webster mythical family on NBC television for this season, in God’s eyes is an
abomination and the one true God who created us all will not accept him or his
family as servants of the most High. Indeed God loves them, and God wants to
help them become functional in life and the church, but not acting as the
leading family. If Daniel Webster truly loved the Lord Jesus Christ whom he
supposedly sees in visions, the same Jesus would tell him of his sins and
failures and require him to step away from church leadership until his whole
family was in spiritual order. Additionally the true Jesus, who by the way,
doesn’t physically or by vision appear to people at all. Rather, He speaks
only through the leading of the Holy Spirit in our minds and hearts. And, if
He were speaking directly to Daniel Webster, He would condemn the families
lifestyles and living such as: (1) the sin of homosexuality of his son, which
God in His Word calls an abomination; (2) the promiscuity and immorality of
his other son, (3) the alcoholic abuse of his wife; and the drug dealing
daughter, not to forget the brother in law’s thefts not publicly dealt with.
OF course these episodes have not aired yet, but time will tell if these
things are true.
To sum up the
newest Hollywood fare and version of what is Christianity – it is nothing less
than a demonic attempt to mock God and His Word and cause the American public
to do the same. I truly hope God-fearing Christians will see through this and
speak up and join any campaign to get such shows off the air. We Christians
have a right not to be mocked publicly.
But failing
that, each of us who knows Jesus Christ as our God and Savior, also knows the
love, care and provision He makes for us to live godly lives in this corrupt
generation. Our godly living is to be an example to the world that we sinners
can be saved from our sins, and we can live in ways pleasing to God. Moreover,
this example should wet the appetite of those whose lives are terrible
failures, to seek the God who saves us and sets us free from the sins and
addiction that ruin homes and lives.
Friend how does
this broadcast find you? Are you living a dysfunctional life? Is your home and
family in such shambles? Don’t despair! God is the God of rescue, and He
stands ready to help you personally and your home too. But for this to be a
reality, each one of us, regardless of our differing sins, needs to come to
God and confess our sin and disobedience. The Bible says,
Rom 3:23 (NLT) For all have sinned; all fall
short of God's glorious standard.
Rom 6:23 (NLT) For the wages of sin is death,
but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
1 John 1:9 (NLT) But if we confess our sins
to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every
wrong.
Mat 11:28-30 (NLT) Then Jesus said, "Come to
me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you
rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and
gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke fits perfectly,
and the burden I give you is light."
John 6:47 (NLT) "I assure you, anyone who
believes in me already has eternal life.
What God wants
from all of us who are unworthy sinners, is to recognize our need, and who we
are, and what we’ve done. Upon doing that, we are to look up to heaven and see
the face of Jesus clearly, as our God and Savior. Jesus came to earth to save
us from our sins, and He went to the cross at Calvary to die for them on our
behalf. When the sinless Savior, Jesus Christ died, He offered up His life as
a substitute for each of us who face judgment and death.
And, all those
who surrender their heart and life to Jesus Christ, will be forgiven all their
sins once for all, and grated the promise of Heaven and eternal life. But most
importantly while we are here on earth God grants to all born again
Christians, special power to live above our sins and gain victory through the
living presence of the Holy Spirit, who takes up residence in every true
believer.
If Daniel
Webster was truly saved and loved the one true God of the Bible, his home and
his own heart would reflect the Word of God and begin the process of change to
become all that God is. But that will not happen because this Christian
minister and family is not God’s version, but the world’s version, without
God, and that is nothing less than Satan’s version to mock the one true God of
all things.
So friend, what
further can I say except as Christians stand up and speak up against this
atrocity and mockery of the Christian faith, by letting your local NBC
television affiliates and the network know of your displeasure. The best way
is to find out who sponsors such trashing of Christianity, and make the
advertisers know you’ll no longer buy their products to sponsor such mockery
of our faith. Even if it doesn’t change things, true Christians will be the
salt the world needs to sting sin, and to preserve our fallen and sin dying
world another day. This is so we can tell others how good it is to be a true
Christians and enjoy the power and blessing of God in our own lives and
families as well.
My last plea to
you as listeners is “turn to Jesus Christ!” He will not only save you from
your sins, but He will grant you a new life so that you can abundantly enjoy
the goodness of God now and for eternity. Crown Jesus Christ your Lord God and
Savior and watch all this happen before your eyes. May God so bless you today…
