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April 28, 2003

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been a big fan or devotee of Touched By An Angel, the CBS show that ended it's 9 year run this past weekend. Not that I didn't care for the format or story premise, I'm just not that big of TV watcher and even if I were, my schedule does not permit much if any prime time viewing. Still, the few shows I saw I enjoyed and when I read the show was ending it's run I was saddened. We all agree there is too much gratuitous violence, foul language, sexuality on the airwaves today, so any show that is based on a good moral story line is good, right? We, maybe and maybe not. After reading some of Cal Thomas' column my interest was piqued regarding the background of some of the principles and after a bit of web search I was somewhat astounded.

Granted there is not that much information to go on, but when I came across the viewer ratings on Christian Spotlight on Entertainment, the mixed reviews spurred me on. A 2001 Focus on the Family review of the show came away with glowing praise for the show and it's writer/producers Martha Williamson and husband Jon Anderson for their commitment to Christian principles in a secular media, I found a thought provoking review by Don Closson on Surf-In-The-Spirit where he evaluated the theological context of the show. I'll be the first to admit that there is a delicate balance pairing off a Christian story line with a broadcaster interested in broad audience appeal and bottom line profit. Still, there is potential for muddying theology and best and totally destroying Biblical Christian theology at worst.

Next a couple interviews with the primary cast members brought some cause for concern. Both Ophra Winfrey and Larry King (Sept. 24, 1999) interviewed the cast and asked them about their Christianity. Both times all (on the King show Williamson was also interviewed) claimed to be Christians. However, on the King show, the question "…are you born again?" was pressed by a caller, and all danced around the issue. Roma Downey finally admitted to being a "…believing -- I am, yes. I am. I have a parish that I attend in Salt Lake City" Catholic. Jon Dye answered, "…I am, yes. I'm a believer" after earlier offering that he was working on a documentary called "The Journey to a Hate-Free Millennium" where the concept that "…not that it's better to be a Catholic or a Buddhist or a Christian, or black or white, or gay or straight or whatever, it's about coming to find out through yourself who God is" is advanced. Williamson responded, "I don't like that term". When asked why she said, "Because it's taken such a political thing. You hear the word "born again" now and everybody shoves way over to the right side somewhere." Well she may have some basis for discussion on that particular point.

To add to this, Della Reese offered that she was raised in a Christian home had been a Christian her whole life, "once you are a Christian you are born again. …I didn't have to rediscover it. It was -- the remains of the household, my mother was a Christian, and God was a part of our family." Yet we discover on Let Us Reason Ministries website that Della is an ordained Unity minister in the Understanding Principles of Better Living church in Los Angeles who married Downey to her husband Davi Ansba. If you are not familiar with the Unity church just read their statement of beliefs and teachings and I think as a Christian you will agree there is some problem here with Biblical Christianity.

The purpose of all this is not to disparage those involved in the show. After all, we are now talking history (excepting for syndication). Just be careful that you look beyond the surface of what people say. And not just those in media. Study their lives and their actions before you wholeheartedly embrace and endorse them. Will I watch the final episode of TBAA? I have the VCR set up to record both parts of it and will view it at a later date. But I will do so knowing that those acting are doing just that, acting. Just because someone reads and performs a line, claims to be of a particular belief, doesn't make it so.