"Please - Humiliate Me, Insult My Wife and Mock My Faith!"

It is said that life is too short and that we ought to learn to laugh a little - to include laughing at ourselves a bit, so as not to take life too seriously. However, is there a line in the sand, so-to-speak? A point where instead of laughing at our own shortcomings, we become the proverbial "butt of the joke" and the target for public mockery?

This is the reality of shows like South Park, The Family Guy, American Dad, The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show (Fall 2009). Instead of using shows to make insightful observations about culture and life in general, they are vehicles for absolute mockery. They respect nothing and all subjects are open for "laughs" (to include abortion, though Fox wisely opted against airing The Family Guy abortion episode).

Over the last couple weeks I've been discussing worldview in film (peppered with a little TV) with my teenagers in church and last week The Family Guy (just nominated for an Emmy) was brought up several times with a couple students doing their best impression of the characters from the show. I asked them who had seen at least one episode and all students raised their hands. I then asked how many watched it regularly and about half the hands stayed up. One student quickly said "I know I probably shouldn't like it because they make fun of God, like when He hits on girls and stuff, but I can't help it. It's so funny!"

So then I asked how they would like it if some random stranger broke in to their home and trashed the things they value the most. They all responded as one would expect - they wouldn't like it. Then I said - how is what you are doing when you watch that show any different?

Every night you willingly open your door to a stranger to come in to your life and mock, belittle and ultimately trash everything you supposedly value the most: family (no, the "Family" Guy is not a show about promoting family), real friendships, and above all, God! If someone were to literally bash your life publicly on a stage in front of a crowded stadium of people there is no way you'd stay for them keep doing it - you'd walk out. So why do we keep doing it in this instance?

PARENTS: Again, I am not a fan of censorship; however, it is our job to help our teens see exactly what these educators (television, film, music, and the arts: the #1 philosophy teachers of our day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) are telling your kids (and us as adults) to believe. Yes, there is value in some self-directed laughter (and even some things in religion that are laughable), but when our families, marriages, and our faith become a public mockery - we should not be part of the laughing audience.

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