I guess a single woman having sex in the city is no longer enough for the American viewing audience. The premiere of the highly advertised “Desperate Housewives,” on ABC makes it clear that it is time to “take it up a notch.”
Apparently, it is not enough to show young single women (and men) denigrate themselves (as is done on virtually all prime time shows as well as in the myriad of reality shows). It is now necessary to desecrate the role and sanctity of a wife and mother—an integral one-half of the pillar upon which family and society is built. When will it stop?
Unfortunately, I don’t think this slow, devaluation of everything that is good will stop as long as the majority of Americans are eager to turn on the tub and watch such trash. Trash? Is this too strong a term given the show is portraying reality for many American families?
Reality is not always good. The reality is that many Americans are broke, sick, hurting, confused and angry. You might even say—desperate. However, the Word of God tells us not to focus on these things, no matter how real they may be. We’re admonished to focus on whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Focus on the goal. You’ve heard the saying, “your life will go in the direction of your most dominant thought.”
As intriguing and entertaining as “Desperate Housewives” may be—especially if you love a good soap opera, it is actually poison to our hearts and minds and God’s Word tells us to guard our hearts and minds with all diligence because from the heart flows the issues of life.
Have you ever felt desperate? Of course. But what you do when you feel desperate is the bigger, better question. Don’t allow secular television to plant devilish ideas in your mind, let alone attempt to offer suggestions as to how to handle life’s challenges.
I happen to be a housewife. One who is striving to be all that God has destined for me to be. Yet as pure as my intentions are, I don’t need any outside suggestions for thinking and acting “out of character.” And that’s what shows like this provide—An opportunity to identify with one of the characters, justify their bad behavior, covet some material thing they have, and reflect upon your own life in light of theirs (which is albeit, fictitious).
These are all things we do unconsciously when we are engrossed in a show. I don’t need the drama of four fictitious women cluttering space in the back of my mind. But I can always use plenty help strengthening what is good and pure in my life as a woman, wife and mother. But they don’t offer that on prime time. So, the only way this show will ever get ratings from my home is if they adjust the plot and title it “Housewives Desperate for More of God.”
Copyright ©2004 by Anita S. Lane
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