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| Image | BET Networks |
Last week the television series, Being Mary Jane, concluded its 8-week run on BET. The show followed the life of Mary Jane Paul, a successful news anchor that has a tumultuous family and love life. She dates and pursues a relationship with a married man.
The troubling fact is, that in an effort to promote the show, BET urged women to take to social media and explain why they are Mary Jane. Thousands of women responded for the chance to be featured on a commercial break. And it made me wonder, why is there a constant stream of indecency nowadays?
Media Rewards Indecency
Say you are Mary Jane, and we’ll give you a commercial. Beyonce bares her backside on the Grammy’s, and her album sales skyrocket. Miley Cyrus shakes her fanny, and she is rewarded with millions of YouTube views. And, the Boston Marathon bomber is featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. The message we send is do something harmful, indecent, or reckless, and everyone will pay attention.
The Principle of the Path
In his book, the Principle of the Path, Andy Stanley says that direction-not intention-determines our destination. If I get in my car and drive toward I-95 South headed toward Richmond. My destination is ultimately, Richmond. It doesn’t matter that I intended to go I-95 North to Baltimore and visit the aquarium. The same is true in life.
If your actions and decisions are headed in the direction of heartache and heartbreak, that will be your ultimate destination.
People Need Truth
The Mary Janes of the world need people that will tell them the truth, reach out, and pray with them and for them. Indecency thrives when we sit by, shake our heads, and do nothing.
We Are in a Battle
The death of decency is simply a symptom of a deeper problem. John 10:10 says that the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But, I came that you might have life and it more abundantly. The death of decency is all a part of the enemy’s plan, and it is played out every single day when a husband is stolen, a family is destroyed, or an innocent is life taken.
But, Christ came that we might have life and it more abundantly. Pĕrissŏs is the Greek word for abundantly, and it means superabundant, beyond, superior, excessive, and superfluous. And, that’s the life Christ wants for me, you, and even the Mary Janes of the world.
Question: What factors do you think are contributing to the death of decency? How can we fight those factors?
Reality television is contributing to the death of decency. There are "reality shows" that make it ok to have the baby, then get married (or not). Young girls are watching these shows. Last Halloween a little girl dressed up as Kim K, because she wanted to look like her. I'm concerned that there are young girls who not only want to look like the reality show stars, but actually want to be them…
Reality television is a HUGE contributor, and it seems that the more outrageous the show is…the higher the ratings. It saddens me that so many young girls look up to these sort of celebrities.
One of the practical things that we can do, is in encourage our social circles not to watch the shows and explain why. The example you gave is perfect for that! The fewer the people that watch these shows, the ratings will drop.