Righteous Insanity

Albert Mohler Meets Eric Cartman

It happened again. I saw a moral message portrayed on what is perceived to be the most immoral show on television. The same message I am used to hearing from Dr. Albert Mohler, Jr. on my radio every day after work was presented with superior wit and toilet humor on "South Park."

(For those of you who did not click away and stop reading as soon as I mentioned "South Park," I thank you.)

It took me a long time to realize that "South Park" is more than just sheer lunacy for it's own sake. Every week, "South Park" brings parables that ring true into millions of homes. Sadly, most people miss the morals, just as they miss the point of the gospel. But the messages Trey and Matt choose to conceal inside their vulgar, offensive, boundary-pushing show prove that, deep down, we all hold certain inalienable truths.

Last night I caught an episode that dealt with Cartman and his mother, the enabling buddy parent who has inadvertently turned her child into a monster. The message of the episode was that buddy parenting simply doesn't work. Children must be parented, taught, and disciplined in order to become functional adults. This has been a recurring theme in the show, as has the impact of a fatherless environment of Cartman, a child with no moral constraints who lives solely by the id.

Another new episode took on the role of cheating in modern society. In a parody of "Stand and Deliver", Cartman motivated a group of underachieving to succeed by cheating. Bill Belichek was held up as an example of this kind of success. He cheated, and he excused himself by saying his misinterpreted the rules. The media forgave him and went on to hail him as a genius. The same strategy, Cartman proposed, would work for his students - and in this episode, it does.

No topic is off limits to the "South Park" team, and Christianity often gets attacked. But if you can see past your self-righteous anger, you'll find some of their attacks on Christianity are not without merit. Take the episode when Cartman formed a Christian rock band. He took pop love songs and substituted the name "Jesus" in for "you"; it's blasphemous, but it's exactly what most Christian pop acts were doing in the 90's. In fact the whole episode went right at the heart of a lot that is wrong with the Christian entertainment industry.

Granted, these writers are not Christian, and they do not write with a Christian worldview. What's more, the episodes are far too vulgar to be of any use in a ministry setting. (Not to mention you'd get angry response from a lot of folks that could cost you your job.) But it worth noting that a TV show written by non-believers is demonstrating the foolishness of today's worldview, calling people to account for their own greed, selfishness, hypocrisy, and stupidity. It means that deep down, the moral fabric of humanity is intact. We inherently know that absolute truth exists. The challenge is not getting people to acknowledge that truth, but to bow before the author of truth.

A Vincent-centric "Lost" episode

If you're like my wife and me, you're thrilled that Lost is back in town. You're also less than thrilled that the writer's strike means we'll only get half the Lost we should get this spring. For those who need an extra fix, here's an episode I wrote after season 2. The events are now irrelevant, since season 3 shot my theory to pieces... but it's still fun. Who doesn't want to see the island through Vincent the dog's eyes?

http://www.righteousinsanity.com/fiction/lost.html

Kid Fit Premieres Tuesday, Feb 5

Kid Fit, a new TV show aimed at getting kids to live healthier, more active lives, premieres this Tuesday on Smile of a Child TV. It's an exciting premiere for me because it's my first TV writing credit. Tune in for episodes on that talk about everything from eating right and getting enough sleep to living room baseball and football.

For more about Kid Fit and Smile of a Child TV, visit www.smileofachildtv.org

Theology and South Park

save your "south park" is immoral speeches. whatever you think of the show, or matt and trey, they are probably the most insightful writers on tv (but only because sthere are no joss whedon shows left on tv).

i was watching the infamous jesus vs. satan boxing match episode, and it struck me how theologically true the plotline was. here we have 135 lb jesus squaring off against the giant satan. the people get one look at satan, and EVERYONE (save the kids) bets their money on satan. matter of fact, by the time the bell rings, only one person in town has bet on jesus.

that one person? satan himself.

in the episode, satan takes a dive, and makes off with everyone's money. then everybody begs jesus' forgiveness for not betting on him.

honestly, i can't think of a better picture of what heaven will be like. can we honestly say that in our daily lives, we are counting on jesus? we say we love him on sundays, but during the week, where do we put our hope, or trust, our faith for the future? i'd bet not even half the people who sit in church with you can honestly say they trust jesus in their jobs, their money, or their lives.

in the south park episode only the kids and satan believe in jesus. how true is that to scripture! satan KNOWS God exists more vividly than any of us. he has stood in his presence, and he, unlike us, has no delusions about his fate and jesus' ultimate victory. his goal is to take as many of us down with him as he can; hence the lies and deception to get us to put our faith any place but in christ.

then there are the children. jesus himself said we must believe like little children. the kids never lose faith that jesus can save them. it's a shame that kids grow up. that WE grow up.

again, say what you want about matt and trey, but God reveals himself in everything, even the writings of two non-believers who revel in offending everyone. deep down, these guys show an innate knowledge of truth, even if they don't embrace it openly. deep down, we all have that innate knowledge. will we obey the inner voice, or be swayed by the 300 pound satan that clearly looks bigger than the gentle jesus in our picture bibles?

or more likely, be swayed by the green paper gods in our wallets rather than the one true God?

An Annoying Little Sin Broadcast Premiere 12/20

AN ANNOYING LITTLE SIN, one of Righteous Insanity's most popular skits, has been turned into a short film by director Mitch Robbins of Daystar Television/Top Secret Productions. The film will be aired world-wide this Thursday, December 20th, during the 11:00AM (Central Time) CELEBRATION on the Daystar Network. You can watch the show on Direct TV, Dish Network, Sky Angel, and a variety of other satellite and cable networks.

The Wages of Nothing

My father recently gave my wife and I a copy of Seinfeld season 9 on DVD. Aside from having some of the best and most brilliant episodes of the entire series (including Festivus and the episode with the Indian wedding that runs backwards), season 9 featured one of the most powerful morality plays in television history.

I’m talking about the last episode.

I can still remember the backlash that followed the last episode, with critics and fans saying how disappointed they were. I myself was blown away that a show about nothing would, in the end, have a moral conscience.

Jerry, Elaine, George, and Kramer were incredible selfish people. They lived for the moment, they looked out for themselves, and they rationalized every selfish action they made. It wasn’t just the humor that drew us to these characters; everyone acts like one or more of these characters on a daily basis. I have a George Costanza meltdown at least once a month.

Then one day after a near plane crash (a symbolic death), they end up in a town where morals do matter. They are put on trial for their sins, and everyone shows up to stand and accuse our beloved heroes. To paraphrase the Soup Nazi, there’s no pardon for them; they are guilty, and they are sent to their punishment.

Is it any wonder so many hated this episode? No one wants to think they will be judged for their sins. Yet all of us will face judgment, and the punishment for sin is far greater than a year in jail. What will matter most at that moment is not how good we were, but who stands in your defense… and Jackie Chiles is just not going to cut it.

Next time you watch an episode of Seinfeld, enjoy it, but ask yourself: who have you wronged that would stand in judgment of you? More importantly, ask yourself who will stand as your advocate? Only the blood of Christ will spare us at the real judgment day.