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Here was my problem with Touched by an Angel: No matter how predictable the storylines, no matter how cheesy and melodramatic the acting, no matter how contrived and calculated the emotion, by the time Monica (Roma Downey) turned on her holy glow and revealed, in that trademark Irish accent, that she indeed was “an angel, sent by God,” my tear ducts were moist, my spirit was moved, and I was utterly hooked.

This past weekend the landmark CBS series ended its nine-year run. And though I hadn't watched the show on a regular basis for the last year or two, I was once again drawn in, hooked, and inspired.

When the show debuted in September 1994, the critics assailed it and no one believed it would survive. But then a couple of things occurred: the show's loyal fan base wrote in to support it and producer Martha Williamson, a born-again Christian, was brought in to guide the show creatively. The rest, as they say, is television history.

Touched by an Angel went on to become, for a time, one of CBS's highest rated shows. And before the network rediscovered its prime-time fortunes with programs like Survivor and the various CSIs, Touched by an Angel was its most popular drama. Not only did it boost CBS, it set off a trend. Before reality TV became all the rage, shows focusing on spirituality and family values had a run—thanks to Touched by an Angel. Programs like 7th Heaven and perhaps the entire lineup of the PAX network would not be around today had Touched by an Angel not blazed the trail.

The show, of course, had its detractors. TV critics could not stomach the show's predictable plots and maudlin performances—not to mention its blatant religious themes. On the other hand, many Christians were upset that the show didn't go further in its depiction of faith issues. God and his love for humanity were always mentioned, but rarely did the show reference Christ or suggest that real faith requires more than just being visited by a pretty angel and deciding to be a nicer person afterward.

Still, Touched by an Angel regularly offered bold declarations of God's presence in the world and the fact that, despite the grim circumstances of our lives, there is always hope for a new beginning—that God is waiting to walk the road with us and heal our brokenness. And occasionally, like on select Christmas and Easter episodes, producer Martha Williamson rolled out blatant Christian symbols to drive home her points. Working in a medium that could sometimes be hostile to evangelical Christianity, Williamson knew how to pick her spots. In the series finale, for instance, not only does the show feature visits by Satan (in the form of a prosecuting attorney), but also a mysterious drifter, who turns out to be Christ himself.

For all of its shortcomings, Touched by an Angel will go down as a groundbreaking television series—one that stretched the boundaries of what could be said and portrayed about religion on network TV. And one, I believe, that delivered healing, encouragement, and hope to millions and millions of yearning souls.

So what that it never talked about Jesus directly or laid out the classic plan of salvation. In the end, Touched by an Angel probably will have done more for getting the Good News to the world than any other prime-time network show. And that is a gift from God.

Copyright © 2003 by the author or Christianity Today International/Today's Christian magazine (formerly Christian Reader).
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