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'GCB' on TV Equals 'Gaudy Christless Boredom'

What do you get when a television network attempts to make a mockery of Jesus Christ, Christianity, and Christians in general? You get a pitiful excuse for "entertainment" and one that is doomed to fail. The latest example of such blasphemy is the ABC show, "GCB."

Where do you even begin to list the problems with a show that has so many faults beyond just the impertinent name? First of all, the series is based on a book that has "Christian" in the title. Bad idea. Neither the book nor the show has anything to do with genuine Christianity. Both are completely Christless. The content of "GCB" drags the name of Christ through the mud by promoting the false message that Christian women don't really live a life of compassion and respect for one another. I suppose a title of "Gossipy Hypocritical Women" wouldn't have generated as much buzz in ABC's promotional efforts.

It is still in vogue in Hollywood to try to make Christians look like buffoons. It's been done so much in recent years that it is getting old. Is there still a market for it? Probably not, as I'm sure we will see with the demise of this latest debacle. Bill Maher and Rush Limbaugh have both recently been blasted for their foul words about particular women. I guess the producers at ABC feel they are allowed to get away with it since the only women they are demeaning are professing Christians. Those seem to be the only women in America who are still fair game to be mocked and ridiculed.

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I suspect that a television producer would have at least a low-grade hatred for Christ before he would put his name behind such an offensive piece of work as "GCB." The book title has the "b-word" in it. So let's put it on television and leave off the offensive word but only use the first letter of the offensive word. Now we're cooking with creativity. Let's all laugh together at this comical connection between the "b-word" and the word "Christian." What a riot! Please tell me they have better ideas than this in Hollywood these days.

I guess this is what happens when television producers and their network convince themselves that the shocking title itself will keep people watching the show. Sorry. No can do. Even the reviews by liberals in the media reveal just how poorly this show is doing. The ratings are down this week and will most likely plummet in the weeks ahead. This "one-hit wonder" had an attention-grabbing title, but nothing to generate any lasting interest. Surprise surprise. Who would have guessed it?

The next time a network attempts to make fun of Christians, they might at least want to consider the financial loss they stand to suffer. You would really have to hate Christ a lot to keep doing this over and over again even though you are losing money at it. Sadly, there are those in our world who do have that much animosity toward the One whom believers worship, adore and follow. Their anger at Jesus gets expressed in their actions toward His followers.

Maybe some of these producers need to go back and look at some truly funny television shows from the 60's and 70's. There are plenty of wholesome ways to entertain people if you are willing to think outside the box. You really can do it without profanity and without deriding the Christian faith. On the other hand, if you have a deed-seated passion to creatively unload your hatred for Christ, you are not going to get very far in the realm of genuine comedy. Even Hollywood can't pull that one off. As they say in Arkansas, "that dog won't hunt."

Memo to certain big wigs in Hollywood: Let the upcoming death of "GCB" serve as a vivid reminder that it's not funny to mock Jesus Christ and those who have surrendered their lives to His plan for them. Just because the Christian message makes you uncomfortable, don't keep falling for the assumption that Americans as a whole are going to laugh at your hangups with hypocrites. Your CFO certainly won't be laughing the next time you come up with another whopper like "GCB."

Dan Delzell is the pastor of Wellspring Lutheran Church in Papillion, Neb. He is a regular contributor to The Christian Post.

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