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Christianity Today, June (Web-only), 2009 |

Speaking Out

The Gospel and the Gosselins

Evangelicals and the making of Jon & Kate Plus Eight.

Julie Vermeer Elliott | posted 6/01/2009 11:04AM

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As such, the breakdown of Jon and Kate's marriage is but a symptom of the larger weaknesses of ethics in the evangelical community. We are easily seduced by wealth and fame. We are easily contented by the shallow rhetoric of hot-button issues. In short, we are easily deceived by cultural values painted in Christian veneers (or clothed in Isaiah 40:31 T-shirts).

The hope for us—and the hope of Jon and Kate—is to turn once again to the rich, complex, and difficult ethics of Jesus and to let those ethics form us into a more discerning people in the world. It is time that we look for role models who value self-sacrifice over material gain. It is time that we practice forgiveness and the healing of broken relationships and call fellow Christians to do the same. It is time that we take our own marriage vows seriously and hold our brothers and sisters to be true to their commitments as well. Most importantly, it is time that we develop a view of faith and life that is capable of asking deep questions and courageous enough to embody real answers. Then, and only then, will Christians have something to offer the world and something to offer Jon & Kate Plus Eight.

Julie Vermeer Elliott is a faculty member at Eastern University, St. Davids, PA, where she teaches courses in Christian ethics and interdisciplinary studies and directs advising and first-year programs. She holds a master of theological studies degree from Duke Divinity School.

"Speaking Out" is Christianity Today's guest opinion column and (unlike an editorial) does not necessarily represent the opinion of the publication.

Related Elsewhere:

Earlier Christianity Today coverage of Jon & Kate Plus Eight includes:

Extreme Family | Jon & Kate Plus Eight is at home with faith. (Nov. 3, 2008)

Jon and Kate Plus a Lot of Bitterness | The Gosselins need to confess their sins to Christian friends rather than to the TV camera. (Lynn Roush, Her.menutics blog, May 28, 2009)

Today's Christian Woman, a Christianity Today sister publication, interviewed Kate Gosselin late last year.

John & Kate Plus Eight is on TLC Mondays at 9 p.m. Eastern. Check out the Gosselin family's website for more information about their family.

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June (Web-only) 2009, Vol. 53

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 303 comments.

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Erica

Posted: June 13, 2009 8:14 PM


Nice article. However true it may be, I still wish the best for the Gosselins. Their children are adorable and I really hope they can turn around and return to their Christian faith and lifestyle.

J.J.	Posted: June 11, 2009 5:08 PM

A year ago I watched the show and said "One morning Jon is going to wake up and decide he isn't having anymore fun." I didn't anticipate the tabloid drama, but it's not at all surprisng. Asking someone to speak at a Christian conference because he or she is a television celebrity at best lacks discernment and at worst is plain old sin. We Evangelicals have the terrible habit of happily and willingly placing people (pastors, conference speakers, reality TV stars) high on pedestals, using them to meet our own narcissistic needs, then quickly despising and discarding them when they fail to behave in a way that makes us look good. I'm as frustrated as anybody with Jon & Kate and am sad for the kids who are the real victims. However, they should have never become role models in the first place. They are just real people who struggle with sin like the rest of us. It's time we started being more discerning about who we espouse as heroes of the Christian faith.

Ernesto Tinajero

Posted: June 11, 2009 1:53 PM


I have noticed what the theologian Miroslav Volf noticed about American Christianity, it is a Christianity lite. We are constantly chasing after other gods, the gods of our culture, money, success, power, and celebrity. Is it surprising that such gods lead us to ruin? We get up in arms about atheists and never question these other gods we chose to follow.

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