Why Most Christian TV Sucks
Let’s be honest. Christian television is awful. The shows either have very big families who are preacher’s kids, or wayward Angels. We see ourselves on shows such as Lexi’s interviews and Gospel music programming. It’s just not imaginative at all. Regardless of who’s at the helm, the formula hasn’t changed much. From Jim and Tammy to Paul and Jan to Marcus and Joni to Rory and Wendy, Christian TV is pretty much the same — somebody preaching to the camera and looking for money.
I cringe at what often passes for “Christian TV.” Just ask anyone who’s watched Robert Tilton. The standard “preaching/teaching” programming is fine, just like Sesame Street is still good for children. It’s reaching people at the lowest common denominator. It’s the status quo of what you expect. Christians need to become imaginative and stewards of their trades if they are ever going to enjoy the wide array of choices in the same way that everyday television viewers do. Imagine if there was a show that instead of preaching and shouting at you actually had acted out parables? People wouldn’t turn the station so fast and might be receptive.
The only way for Christian programs to draw enough viewers to earn enough advertising dollars is for them to contain some level of entertainment. I don’t mean violence or scandalous behavior. I just mean something more than a person preaching. Being an evangelist should not be a call to beat people over the head with a virtual altar call. Touched by an Angel and Highway to Heaven were the last outright chances at programming with a real essence of Faith. In the movies the last time we saw anything that challenged the mind was “Fireproof”. Of course, we have the Tyler Perry movies and the Bishop TD Jakes movies. Last year we saw the premiere of the show “Kings”.It was canceled before even building an audience. These movies shouldn’t be the only way that our faith gets defined.
It shouldn’t always be the formula of faith lost, tragedy strikes and faith is regained. Each of us has a walk that can be told in vivid colors more than the same brush strokes. More importantly, why aren’t African American writers engaging and reaching out to write dramas not “Amen” laugh tracked shows? Christians are perfectly capable of entertaining and edifying at the same time. Imagine if you took a drama and actually worked in real Christian characters not flawed stereotypes. We are not all bible thumping, casting out shrieking minions as everyday press would proclaim us. We cannot rely on Disney and the Hallmark Channel exclusively to engage us. It takes committed Christians to know and care about Christian values.
{For more from Oretha Winston follow her on Twitter}
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Comments
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Fear + Guilt = $$$
Don’t get it twisted lady,lol!!! Things like, television, internet, etc., are the most innovative ways to reach people by the masses but, if the only route taken is that of the human conscious, then yes, it will fail… Listen closely when the writer is saying, “…something more than a person preaching”. As for my guilty conscious, yes, I sin and, I have sinned.. Does not mean that I should support a televised dead stick that does not meet my standards.. You were right in saying, “…at least watching it makes me feel like I’ve been there” because, it’s the same old scenario; Tare ya down (birth of guilt) and, build ya back up (Ask for money)… Now that’s game, must feels good to be a Gangsta..
Mr. Darkrthnmost,
I totally disagree why religious based shows do not succeed. How can they play on your guilt? Maybe its your guilty conscious. Ok, so you’re saying they get on national television and preach lies? Come on. I don’t buy that, darkrthnmost!!! So what are you saying, a preacher who don’t preach on tv word is the holy word for true? Please explain to me.
There are several reasons that religious based shows do not succeed.. 1) Most religious based shows play on guilt.. In this day and age, who the hell wants to feel guilty about everyday life??? 2) Everything that is heard cannot be trusted, even if it does sounds Biblical!!! Just because an evangelist, pastor or preacher says something, does not makes it the word of God… I could go on and on but, I’m gonna say this; Ronda-johnson69, a pizza delivery boy can deliver a pizza in 30min or less but, can he please everyone the same way?!?!?!?
I enjoyed the article. I must say, that I personally enjoy watching church on television. If I don’t make it to church, at least watching it makes me feel like I’ve been there. Besides, some of the television preachers can deliver the word and it is like they are telling my life story. I have gotten so much from some of the preachers on television and the word they preach, that I don’t see nothing wrong with it.
right…we need a revival in christian entertainment. I enjoy shows like the discovery channel, nat. geo and the history channel and they often seem to have better christian shows than TBN and other stations.
Wow this was really good Oretha! Thanks so much for writing it up!
This was an excellent article.
I must say, I didn’t hear about “Kings” until it was already canceled, but having watched the season on Hulu, I’m MAD about that. I thoroughly enjoyed the show and it’s modern day spin on a Biblical story.
But I definitely agree. Christian programming, whether it’s music, radio, or TV is subpar. There are a few standouts but not enough to make a difference. It’s a shame.