Never mind that silly presidential campaign, the unrest in Syria, or the controversial health care law being taken up before the Supreme Court next week. We have bigger issues facing our world today, namely the new ABC show “GCB.”
Short for “Good Christian Belles,” the new comedy starring Kristin Chenoweth (of “Wicked” fame) has come under attack from religious organizations for its portrayal of a small group of fictitious Christian women.
Watchdog groups such as One Million Moms, fresh off their unsuccessful efforts to have Ellen DeGeneres fired from her endorsement deal with JC Penney, have labeled the show “blasphemy at its worst,” while GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich has called the program “anti-Christian bigotry.”
I tend to think that Speaker Gingrich’s time is better spent explaining how he might pay for his creation of a colony on the moon rather than discussing ABC’s primetime lineup, but I digress.
“GCB” may not be appointment viewing for me, but as a Christian myself, I do not believe it is the blasphemous propaganda machine that others have suggested it to be.
In fact, Chenoweth, the show’s lead actress, has previously recorded a gospel album, was profiled on the Christian Broadcasting Network, and has eloquently discussed and defended her Christian faith with the likes of “The View,” CNN’s Piers Morgan, and TIME Magazine.
“GCB,” in its own satirical way, shows the humanity of Christians.
As Christians, we worship a perfect God who I believe must be revered and is beyond any form of parodying, deprecating humor or criticism.
But I certainly am not.
The Christian subculture, and the hokey bumper stickers and church marquees that sometimes follow, are not sacred things in and of themselves. We should be able to have a laugh or two at our own expense.
The Christian community has welcomed the satirical efforts of others in the past. For example, in 2010 speaker, author and blogger Jon Acuff wrote a popular and highly entertaining book entitled “Stuff Christians Like,” which Christian retailers continue to proudly sell.
In the book, Acuff lampoons metrosexual worship leaders for their skinny jeans and excessive amounts of hair product, offers tips for avoiding uncomfortable handholding situations in prayer circles and muses about that awkward moment in church when the congregation loses the will to continue clapping during upbeat worship songs.
The content of “GCB” is admittedly more provocative, but it offers that same reality check.
Additionally, the writing and the characters of the show shine a light on what has unfortunately been a common perception of Christians for some time now.
Rather than asking that this program be censored, as One Million Moms and others are doing, perhaps our time is best spent working to address this matter from the inside out by cultivating communities of genuine, kind-hearted believers who don’t lend ourselves quite so easily to the caricature seen here.
Can I get an amen?
