GCB - Good Christian Bitches

I know I said my next post would be on the Gospel, but I wanted to post my opinion on a new show coming out.  I had heard that there was to be a new show coming out with "Christian Bitches" in the title, but I thought, "No way."  Well, "Way," it is hear. 

There is much of this show that is negative that can be commented on, but it does bring a few positive things to light that I want to talk about.  First, let me say that the show might actually be an accurate portrayal of some churches in the southern U.S.

Say what?!  Let me explain. 

You may be surprised to know that study after study shows virtually no difference in the behavior of those who claim to be Christians vs. non-Christians.  Many preachers say that the church ought not to act like this and that "the church in America is in trouble."  These preachers are incorrect.  The church in America is growing in holiness and is doing very well.  The problem is this: What we call the church in America today is not the church.  It is a bunch of unsaved and unconverted people claiming to be Christian but are not.

The problem is this: What we call the church in America today is not the church.  It is a bunch of unsaved and unconverted people claiming to be Christian but are not.

It is no surprise then that a show like this would come out that depicts the behavior of people in churches today as being worldly and hypocritical; because, honestly, that is accurate in many cases.  If people in church have not been transformed by the power of God, they will not live lives any different than those of non-Christians.  The problem in our country is that the true message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not being preached.  Instead, too many preachers are using their charisma and powers of persuasion to get people to make a decision; and they tell them that all they have to do get saved is to repeat a little prayer.  See this Shocking Youth Message by Paul Washer post for more information.

Here is the description of the book that the tv show is based on:

"For Heaven's sake...Never let God get in the way of a good story. Good Christian Bitches is the lighthearted tale of Amanda Vaughn, a recently divorced mother of two. To get a fresh start, she moves back to the affluent Dallas neighborhood where she grew up. In an Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Desperate Housewives on steroids style, her old friends are already out to destroy her reputation. In the whirling midst of salacious gossip, Botox, and fraud, Amanda turns to those who love her and the faith she's always known. Will the Good Christian Bitches get the best of her, or will everyone see that these GCBs are as counterfeit as their travel jewelry?"

Television is consistent in that it pushes aside God to tell stories based on what worldly people like to hear: sex, lies, and gossip.  The book didn't get very good reviews on Amazon.com, even from the secular crowd, which was surprising—it is more style than substance, perhaps.  The title is certainly controversial, albeit in a negative way. 

If there was a new show called "Good Muslim Bitches," the media would be totally up in arms.  It is derogatory to say the least.  The name of the show has changed from Good Christian Bitches to Good Christian Belles and now to GCB after criticism from religious and women's groups.  “It is not an appropriate term to use to describe any woman, regardless of their faith,” says Anna Walton of the Women's Media Center. 

Hollywood says that Christians should not be offended:

“ABC’s core viewership is Christian, so the goal of the show won’t be to attack Christianity. Just like the book, this is a show by Christians, for (mostly) Christians, to enjoy a little prime-time self-deprecation,” Los Angeles-based entertainment expert, Jenn Hoffman said in this article.

Matthew 7:15-16 says to beware of imposters and that "you will know them by their fruits," so we can say with certainty that this show is not made by Christians; although as I have already said, it's quite common today for non-believers to claim that they are Christians.  It seems today that it is not politically correct to attack any religious group except for Christianity.  By posing as a Christian, one can make fun of Christianity and say that it is just self-deprecation.  Hopefully most people will be able to see through this.

The fact that the show will bring to light the hypocrisy in churches today can actually be a good thing if we as Christians let others know that not all church-goers who claim to be Christians are truly Christians and point them to the Gospel message of repentance and belief.