Who’s On Your Throne?

By: American Decency Staff

The Hollywood Reporter this week detailed the contract* which extras (background actors) on HBO's "Westworld" are expected to sign prior to their use in scenes on the upcoming science fiction show.

As THR quips, the consent form "reads like the Kama Sutra," and warns that the actors may be required to “perform genital-to-genital touching," as well as, "pose on all fours while others who are fully nude ride on your back, [and] ride on someone's back while you are both fully nude,” among other sexually graphic expectations.

You wouldn't know it from what's expected of the actors, but Westworld is based on a 1973 movie by Michael Crichton where robots in a western theme park come to life. The reboot is being billed as, "a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and the future of sin."

Thanks to HBO, we now know that artificial consciousness will lead to naked people riding each other like horses. Who would have thought the future of sin was so unimaginatively carnal?

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, writer Jonathan Nolan told his potential audience what to expect: "What we can tell you is that we intend to make the most ambitious, subversive, f—ed up television series."

It sounds like they're well on their way, but that title right now arguably belongs to another HBO series.

Perhaps you've heard of "Game of Thrones," the fantasy series in which twins have sex by their dead son's grave and a pregnant woman is repeatedly stabbed in the belly, to name just a few of the horrific moments from one of cable television's most popular shows.

The finale of season 5 snatched up 8.1 million viewers, but the total audience across media platforms is close to 20 million.

Earlier this summer, John Piper addressed the question, "should Christians watch Game of Thrones" on his "Ask Pastor John" podcast.

One could also ask, "should anyone watch Game of Thrones?" but then one would be accused of censorship, and seeing as how it's Banned Books Week, we certainly wouldn't want that.

Piper's answer is relevant to all television shows and media that Christians take in, and really should be applied to everything a Christian does for entertainment.

Here are 3 of Piper's 12 points, you can find the rest here.

1.      Am I Assuming Nudity Is Necessary for Good Art?

There is no great film or television series that needs nudity to add to its greatness. No. There isn’t. There are creative ways to be true to reality without turning sex into a spectator’s sport and without putting actors and actresses in morally compromised situations on the set.

It is not artistic integrity that is driving nudity on the screen. Underneath all of this is male sexual appetite driving this business, and following from that is peer pressure in the industry and the desire for ratings that sell. It is not art that puts nudity in film, it’s the appeal of prurience. It sells.

2.      Am I Craving Acceptance?

Christians do not watch nudity with a view to maximizing holiness. That is not what keeps them coming back to the shows. They know deep down that these television shows or these movies are shot through with the commendation and exaltation of attitudes and actions that are utterly out of step with the death to self and out of step with exaltation of Christ.

No, what keeps those Christians coming back is the fear that if they take Christ at his word and make holiness as serious as I am saying it is, they would have to stop seeing so many television shows and so many movies, and they would be viewed as freakish. And that today is the worst evil of all. To be seen as freakish is a much greater evil than to be unholy.

3.      Am I Free from Doubt?

There is one biblical guideline that makes life very simple: “But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin” (Romans 14:32). My paraphrase: If you doubt, don’t. That would alter the viewing habits of millions, and oh how sweetly they would sleep with their conscience.

In a sermon again addressing Christians and entertainment, Piper said something similar.

I am appalled at what Christians do for entertainment by taking it for granted that if it is in the theater it should be watched. I am appalled, not because I am a prude — I have my favorite movies — but because I am ruined by certain scenes. I won’t watch certain good movies because of that scene. I will not because Christ is dishonored in my soul and my mind is contaminated for months and he is more precious than the pleasure of the other 124 minutes.

Come on. Let’s be Christian through and through. Let’s get ready to suffer. If we can’t deny ourselves a little bit of entertainment that the world assumes we must have in order for us to know and admire sweetly and more deeply enjoy constant fellowship with our Jesus, how are we going to face the stampede of horses when they come? …Use everything to enhance your enjoyment of Jesus. And if it doesn’t enhance it, don’t do it.

And there are certainly shows that are less graphic than Westwood and Game of Thrones, that still do not honor Him. Those are extremes, but even many network TV shows glamorize adultery, homosexuality, and myriad other sinful lifestyles.

Christians must "bring every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ," including, if not especially, our entertainment choices. 

Do you or your friends and family entertain yourselves with media that hinders your relationship with Christ?

*HBO later came out denying that they had created the cast contract and blaming an outside casting vendor. They do not seem to have denied, however, their expectations of the cast.

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Mark Friday evening, October 16 and Saturday morning, October 17 on your calendar and plan to join us here at American Decency for The Rising Tide:  Persecution in America.

What:  The Rising Tide:  Persecution in America

When:  Friday, October 16 – 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Saturday, October 17 – 9:00 am – 11:30 am 
(breakfast available 8:30am – 9:00 am)

Where:  American Decency Association
203 E. Main Street, Fremont MI

There is no cost to attend, however a free will offering will be taken.

Register in advance or at the door, however your pre-registration will help us plan.

Call us at 231-924-4050 to register or for more information.

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