Reality TV

By Rev. Tom Chryst

Survivor. Big Brother. The Bachelor and the Bachelorette .The Apprentice. Top Chef. Top Model. So You Think You Can Dance? The Biggest Loser. Celebrity Boot Camp. And the list goes on. Yes, it’s reality TV.

And it’s everywhere you look. A recent list of top TV shows reported eight of the top ten were reality shows! But what IS a reality show? The wise oracle known as Wikipedia.com perhaps says it best:

Reality television frequently portrays a modified and highly influenced form of reality, utilizing sensationalism to attract viewers to generate advertising profits. Participants are often placed in exotic locations or abnormal situations, and are sometimes coached, to act in certain scripted ways by offscreen “story editors” or “segment producers,” with the portrayal of events and speech manipulated and contrived to create an illusion of reality through editing and other post-production techniques. 1

Translation: Reality TV...isn’t. But you knew that, right? So, one thing that might sour us on reality TV right off the bat is that it’s often premised on dishonesty. It’s supposed to represent something real, but it really doesn’t.

What’s a Lutheran Christian to think while we’re surfing channels and we land on Cheaters or Wife Swap? Is it bad to watch these kinds of shows? Should we tell our friends and family they are of the devil (and are really very poorly done too)?

For the most part, I’d give the same advice to anyone about watching television in general. As with most activities in life, there are good and healthy uses, and unhelpful, unbalanced, and even sinful abuses we’ll have to face. So, here’s a short list of things to think about as we ponder our relationship with reality TV.

1. Does it glorify sin?

Many reality shows, particularly the dating shows, seem to promote a promiscuity that Christians should find distasteful. Others appeal to the vilest urges in our nature: revenge, greed, pride, and the like. When you sense a TV show is tempting you or leading you into sin, run away! Examples: Rock of Love,The Bachelor.

2. Is it a good use of my time?

Or is there something better I should be doing (e.g., homework, getting some exercise)? Maybe the program you are watching is a harmless pastime. Or maybe it’s eating up time that would be better spent elsewhere.

3. Is there a redeeming value to the program?

Some shows are feelgood stories, like Extreme Home Makeover. Others can perhaps teach us something of human nature. It may get you thinking about your own values, how you would react in a certain situation, or why you should appreciate an art form. Some of those dance competition shows are amazing!

4. Am I so hooked on this show that I am missing other things in life to watch it?

(Maybe you have TIVO and that’s not a problem.) But if a reality show, or any TV show, or any created thing becomes your reason for getting up in the morning, you’ve got a serious First Commandment problem.

So I guess my advice is the same as it is with all of the physical things of this world. Television, including reality TV, isn’t good or bad in and of itself. The value or danger lies with how the child of God uses it. And there is great potential for abuse.

St. Paul says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (Philippians 4:8).

If you have a hard time fitting reality TV into Paul’s list of things excellent and praiseworthy, then maybe you should be thinking about other things.

And here are some excellent things to ponder: the true reality—what is really real—in Jesus Christ; Jesus’ real presence in the Sacraments, and His real Word, written for you and preached to you; the Gospel, that your sins are really forgiven in Christ.

There’s nothing untrue or illusionary, nothing misleading or tempting about Him.With Jesus, what you see is what you get. He is who He says He is and does what He says He will do. He’s always a good use of your time whether it is in worship or study or prayer.

He values and redeems you so much that He died for you: “not with silver or gold, but with His holy, precious blood.” And He is true God and true man, our one and only Savior. This is most certainly true!

That won’t answer every question for you about whether and when to watch what a TV show. But the reality of what Jesus does for us frames our thinking about all of reality, even reality TV. He’s our God, and we are His people. Really.

Rev. Tom Chryst serves as pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Racine, Wisconsin, and can be reached at tomchryst@yahoo.com.

1. Wikipedia contributors, "Reality Television," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television (accessed February 16, 2010).