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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

If you have recently stood in line at the grocery store and glanced at the tabloid covers, chances are you have seen the faces of reality TV stars Jon and Kate Gosselin. Jon and Kate are stars of the ...

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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.

Anonymous

Posted: June 11, 2009 5:31 AM


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Ellen

Posted: June 10, 2009 3:52 PM

As Christians, we should be praying for Jon & Kate and their marriage- not attacking it. Clearly in the Gospels, we see Jesus reaching out to the broken. Jesus calls us to do the same. Christ also taught us to not judge others, but rather pay attention to the plank in our own eye. I was hoping this article might extend the Gospel of God's grace and forgiveness to the Gosselins (and call other Christians to do the same). I'll continue to pray for the healing of their marriage and for their personal reconciliation to God (for only God knows a man's heart).

Hope	Posted: June 10, 2009 9:08 AM

My granddaughter admired this family and read her book for a college course she had to take for her degree in child care. I want so much for her know the Lord Jesus Christ. She is a wonderful Mother and wife and daughter, but I know she doesn't quite understand about making the Lord Jesus Christ your savior. This disturbs me and the one show I did watch I did not like the way Kate treated her husband and on television with everyone watching, in a toy store, in front of her children and others who were shopping there. Now all this about yet another Christian family, the influence they could have had, what a terrible farce for young parents llike my granddaughter, searching for answers to questions that she has for life and looking to this couple. I dearly hope they reconcile this marriage for God's sake and for their childrens sake, I believe in staying together for the children, what better reason can you have, for God -for children, committment is the key.

Donna

Posted: June 09, 2009 7:54 PM

Rebecca, I am not sure that the author was trying to imply that fertility treatments are immoral or sinful. While I do not believe that they are immoral or sinful (nor do I believe that birth control is immoral or sinful), I do believe that we need to be responsible with our use of fertility treatments and I believe that as Christians we need to be discussing all aspects of fertility/infertility, pregnancy, etc. I think it is just as important to evaluate if our fertility treatments are done for selfish reasons, to build our own self esteem, find fullfillment in having children rather than our relationship with Christ. But this is also a discussion we should have before getting pregnant without fertility treatments. And, yes I have used fertility drugs and have had an unplanned pregnancy (especially poignant after using fertility drugs previously).

Molly

Posted: June 09, 2009 8:50 AM


This article was very well-written. It remained factual and refused to wrap itself in either cynicism or false hope. Thank you for your words, which marvelously summed the thoughts of many.

Prophetik Soul

Posted: June 09, 2009 7:08 AM

I never watched the show but I am not surprised at what passes as Christian viewing today. Christians so desperately want celebrity idols. I guarantee you that this couple was legitmized in some Christians minds because they saw one of their books in their local Christian bookstore. This is exactly one reason why I have opted out of the evangelical subculture. Reading Christian books, watching so-called Christian TV and going to millions of conferences does not make you more Christian (although there are good books, etc out there). As soon as some evangelicals see someone that they want to be like (the person is usually white) AND that the world might respect, biblical standards drop...and in the end, we end up looking no different from non-Christians. The very idea of a reality show should make most of us think twice about watching and participating: real life is much more interesting than pure exhibitism. Last I check, the Bible called this pride.

Gail	Posted: June 09, 2009 2:44 AM


I am shocked that Christianity Today is jumping on the gossip bandwagon that sweeps across our nation! Please! Let's start by looking in the mirror!

Debbie

Posted: June 08, 2009 6:02 PM

Ratings are high due to people wanting to see them fail, non-believers love to see Christians fail. But we Christians also are promoting this program by viewing it and helping with these ratings. I don't watch reality shows for the very reason I saw appearing in this show, example the way Jon is depicted as a clown and by his own WIFE. That is not how Christians should behave and is not a good testamony. Occationally mentioning God in the series does not make them good Christians either, its their walk that speaks for itself. They need to stop taking advice from Ophra (no kids or married) or Dr Phil (having marriage problems himself) and go to someone of a higher authority on the matter.

Ruth	Posted: June 08, 2009 5:11 PM

The writer is talking about something deeper than whether or not it's right to have fertility treatments. I agree that the problem for evangelicals is that we tend to lack discernment. We are consumers of Christianity and formulaic answers, buying everything from the latest Christian books to presidential rhetoric to televised versions of happy born again households. We seem to be unable to tell the difference between a well edited sales job and the hard truths that Jesus asks us to struggle with. Heck, I fell for the sentimental story of J+K+8. Even saw them as the poster children for Christian Families 101. Problem is that television is not real. It's more interesting to watch this show than to concentrate on the real stuff of life, the grittier, less dramatic, more ordinary day to day problems that make up our own actual marriages in our own real families.

Stephanie

Posted: June 08, 2009 2:27 PM

On the contrary to what I see posted recently, I am disappointed in your article. Regardless of what has or has not happened between Jon and Kate in their marriage, what they need right now is not scrutiny of past choices, particularly their choices that resulted in their beautiful children. I do not believe it is anyone's right to question that except for God - and God gave them those beautiful children for a purpose. All 8 of them - fertility or not. They need prayers from the Christian community - prayers for their marriage and their family, regardless of living in the public eye. Isn't that what we are supposed to give as Christians? We are to extend an open hand, open arms, and make sure our ears are ready to listen. You comment that we are too quick to jump on the bandwagon to embrace "Isaiah 40:31 t-shirted" celebrities. Perhaps we are too quick to judge them as well. None of us are perfect - Christian or otherwise.

R.E.T.

Posted: June 08, 2009 12:48 PM


"but the materialism, narcissism, and exploitation of children that preceded it was largely overlooked." And that is what I have been saying all along.

Vicki

Posted: June 08, 2009 12:23 PM


Pharisees, all of you. Burn them at the steak. Crucify them! They should be above fleshly shortcomings because you people have watched them on TV. Off with their heads.

Rebecca

Posted: June 08, 2009 3:25 AM


While I agree with most of this article, I don't agree with the implication that fertility treatments are immoral or sinful. I don't believe they are.

Mary	Posted: June 07, 2009 9:07 PM


This was a very good, thought provoking article.

J	Posted: June 07, 2009 1:29 PM

I have watched the program from time to time. I always told my wife, "There is no way this marriage is going to last." I never thought that it was a model of a christian marriage. There is no way that a wife can speak to her husband in public the way Kate speaks to Jon and not embarrass him. Watch how she responds when he tells her that she has done something he doesn't like (such as yelling at him or hitting him). She justifies it and blows him off. This was a divorce waiting to happen even without allegations of infidelity.

Christa Pettis

Posted: June 06, 2009 3:53 PM


As a Christian mother, and a mom of multiples (triplets) I want to say AMEN!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR TAKING A STAND! Exploiting your gifts from God for money is about as un-biblical as you can get. BRAVO, and good for you!

Sandi

Posted: June 06, 2009 11:54 AM

I don't agree with all of the Gosslins choices for sure but until you walk in their shoes, you don't have a clue. And yes, there are ethical issues around fertility treatments. I think those the quickest to judge are those who have babies easily or choose to not have children at all. Do we as quickly judge those who manipulate their cycles to avoid having children? And no, I am not apart of the quiver full camp. Truly, the point is that there are sextuplets living and breathing so let's focus on their well being not if they should be here or not in the first place. My heart breaks for Jon and Kate. They are hurting and I am sure much of that hurt is from wrong choices and sinful desires. Can we not say that about each of our own lives at some point? We all fall short....daily. This very well could be God's kindness to bring them to the end of themselves in order to save their marriage and family.....let us pray so!

Just Me

Posted: June 06, 2009 10:46 AM

I think Kate is losing her mind. From viewing the recent season premiere it seems she has changed SO much ... she really is star struck (with herself). She is nouveau riche and simply has become engulfed with the money and popularity. I do not think her children are her # 1 priority at all. SHE is her own #1 priority - She unabashedly lavishes herself with spas, facials, saunas, plastic surgery etc. She is NOT dedicated to those children. She is exploiting them for her own benefit. I view Jon as a much nicer person in general, he was sort of just along for the ride. I think he loves the kids more than Kate does ... he has been bossed around by Kate for a long time now ... hope he is feeling okay these days, he deserves alot of credit for just living in the same house with the shrew. It is so apparent that he is a really loving parent ...

Jennifer

Posted: June 05, 2009 11:05 PM


The main problem I had in following this show was the way Kate always talked down to Jon. I watched this show for 15 minutes on evening and have never watched it again.

Martie

Posted: June 05, 2009 9:09 PM

Bravo! Well said. When I first started watching this program, I was thrilled to see Bible verses posted throughout the house and on shirts. They seemed to be a couple who lived what they preached. But it soon became clear that things were not what they appeared. They seemed so uncomfortable and out of place at church. Kate became surly with the kids, and emasculated her husband--certainly not the "wife of noble character" that Proverbs speaks of. I can't question their salvation, that's God's job. But what were the churches thinking by bringing them in to speak? There has been no evidence of spiritual depth and, in fact, shows us how not to live. May God lead them on the right track, bringing healing to this family.

revronvegas

Posted: June 05, 2009 5:54 PM

That's right! None of us including the Gosselins, "fall" into the moral muck. We take tenataive, exploratory steps towards the moral edge trying to get closer but not fall. Then when we find ourselves debating (or being debated about) the "big one" we're guilty of (abortion, adultery, drunkenness, etc.) we wonder "what happened?" Roy of Seigfried&Roy played with his tiger from its "kittyhood". Then it attacked him. Had he not raised the cats believing that he could control them he wouldn't have discovered that they were uncontrollable. So is sin. We play with it thinking we can control it and it grows until it's too uncontrollable to handle. We need to learn that we can't pet the kitty. It'll kill us when it gets the chance.

Kate	Posted: June 05, 2009 3:11 PM


Let us not forget that we, too, have a stake in Jon and Kate's marriage as fellow Christians. Let us not forget that, we ,too, are responsible to pray for each other in our marriages. Let us not forget to pray for Jon and Kate.

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