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Christianity Today, April (Web-only), 2008 |

Theology in the News

Channel Surfing for Common Grace

How reality TV broadcasts echoes of the gospel.

Collin Hansen | posted 4/04/2008 09:45AM

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Worse, these shows may tempt us to settle for the better when God offers the best. What resembles redemption on "What Not to Wear" actually reverses the gospel. It proposes transformation from the outside in. But when we believe in the Good News of Jesus Christ, God changes us from the inside out. The confidence that comes from a new wardrobe pales next to God's promise of renewed minds and glorified bodies.

Even while channel surfing, common grace abounds. Reality TV, of all things, points toward the human longing for redemption and sanctification. But no new home or wardrobe can compare to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.

Conference Season

The period following Lent is the season for conferences. The Wesleyan Theological Society joined with the Society for Pentecostal Studies at Duke University in March for a conference called "Sighs, Signs, and Significance: Pentecostal and Wesleyan Explorations of Science and Creation." More than 600 scholars attended. Jürgen Moltmann delivered the keynote address, which explored the harmony between revealed Scripture and the natural world. Andy Rowell has posted audio.

Next week Wheaton will host its annual theology conference. This year's theme is "Rediscovering the Trinity: Classic Doctrine and Contemporary Ministry." Miroslav Volf regrettably had to cancel, but Kevin Vanhoozer will capably fill the keynote slot.

In two weeks, Theology in the News will report from Together for the Gospel in Louisville. Talks will include Al Mohler on challenges to substitutionary Atonement and John MacArthur on the doctrine of absolute inability.

Verse for the Fortnight

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ."

Philippians 3:8

Collin Hansen is a CT editor at large and author of Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists.

Related Elsewhere:

Previous Theology in the News columns are available on our site.

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April (Web-only) 2008, Vol. 52

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Jack	Posted: April 14, 2008 3:46 PM

"These refreshing acts of selfless community spirit encourage the audience. This is how we want to see the body of Christ work together toward a shared goal of serving the common good." Yes, I agree that these acts of kindness towards hurting strangers ought to serve as modern parables for the Church of Christ. There is much to learn from here, including unity and diversity within the body. But to say that these examples of self-sacrifice echoes the gospel is a long stretch. The gospel is about God sending Jesus Christ, His Son, to die on the cross for our sins thereby paying a debt that none of us could ever pay. Through Christ's substitutionary death all sinners who place their trust in Him escape the wrath of a righteous God and avoid the just punishment which is meant for them. The fact is we are sinners in need of a solution for the problem we face. It's not that we face an outer problem with an inner solution but we face an inner problem with an outer solution: Jesus Christ.

E. Adesina

Posted: April 11, 2008 9:49 AM

I particularly like the way the article compared both the similarities and differences between Reality Shows-highlighting Extreme Makeover: Home Edition- and the Christian Gospel. In the Bible (Ecclesiastes to be specific) we learn that nothing is new. On the other hand when you experience spiritual awakening as you do in being born again or the physical analogy of receiving a new home, the joy and thrill is irrespective of whether your experience is a new one or not.

Margaret Nahmias

Posted: April 10, 2008 3:27 PM

I disagree with you Phil Apperances do matter in the professional world. Would you dress like a slob on the job,even if the dress code was casual? It is What concerns me even more is how TV protray sex. Sex is often seen as sign of maturity and creatvity when maturity is required to make wise desicions concerening sex. It is almost too easy to show someone getting hot and heavy, rather than focus on character development Never mind the graphic stuff.

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