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Teens, Sex, and Subjection to Christ
Posted by Andrew Wencl in News & Culture
The other day while listening to The Briefing, a daily cultural analysis program from Dr. Albert Mohler, I heard him mention a new TV program from MTV that has begun airing.
This program, called Skins, is a drama designed to look much like a reality show. The child actors are aged 15 to 17. One would wonder whether shows featuring teenagers might be better suited to MTV’s other network, Nickelodeon. It is not uncommon for actors in their twenties (and even thirties) to play the role of a prepubescent teenager on that network.
So why would MTV, a network geared towards adults, feature a show with teenagers? I can only guess, but I believe part of it is designed to transition teenagers from the more childish Nickelodeon to the more adult (though still childish) MTV using actors their own age in exploits they see or can imagine in their high schools.
The problem is that Skins is definitely NOT for children. As a matter of fact, were the parents likely to enforce the show rating on their kids, the child actors who appear in it wouldn’t even be allowed to watch it—it’s rated TV-MA, signaling that it is not appropriate for viewers under 17.
The reason Dr. Mohler mentioned the show was because it appeared in an article in the New York Times. It seems the show’s producers are afraid they may be in violation of child pornography laws due to some of the graphic nature of a few episodes. One episode due to air at the end of this month features, from behind, a 17 year old male running naked down a street. The episode apparently focuses on the teenager’s misuse of an erectile dysfunction drug.
Other episodes, according to the article, show “simulated masturbation, implied sexual assault, and teenagers disrobing and getting into bed together.”
On the one hand, this is nothing new. MTV has been pushing the envelope on sexuality and obscenity in film and TV for quite some time. Other movies popular with teenagers, such as the American Pie, Scary Movie, and other series, feature much of the same content (links are to reviews by Focus on the Family). Additionally, many teenagers are exposed to obscenity and sexuality throughout their high school experience. Chances are the concepts of teen sex, sexual assault, and sexual performance are not new to the average high schooler.
But there is a big difference. This show features teenagers in the leading roles as teenagers, and it is designed to look like reality. We live in a culture that has refused to be defined by any kind of moral system, much like Israel in the time of the Judges: “In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25).
Our culture by and large, and MTV in particular, is lusting after the exact same system of morality. MTV pushes this mentality on its viewers, saying, “We also have taken numerous steps to alert viewers to the strong subject matter so that they can choose for themselves whether it is appropriate.”
MTV has raised a defense, saying that the show itself is “specifically designed to be viewed by adults.” Does this make it any better? First off, obscenity and immoral sexuality is not edifying to the spirit but rather gratifying to the flesh. As beings under the law of God, we are to put on Christ and not gratify our sinful desires (cf. Rom. 13:14). We are very good at excusing ourselves by saying that we can filter out the bad because we’re older or more mature, yet that kind of self-justification is evidence of our own immaturity!
Second, and what I find personally disgusting, is the logical conclusion that comes from saying Skins is “specifically designed to be viewed by adults”: the teenage sexuality is for adults. If the content of the show borders on child pornography, the purpose of the show borders on pedophilia—fulfilling and encouraging adult fantasies about minors!
We as human beings are under the law of God and we stand condemned. Living as though we are the masters of our universe will not change or delay the inevitable subjection of all things to Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28). We need reconciliation with God, which is only possible through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As people under the law of God, we should avoid TV shows, Movies, music, and other forms of “entertainment” that push Satan’s agenda for the world on our minds and consciences. As parents, we should work to teach our children to adopt a biblical worldview instead of a worldly, rebellious worldview that says, “Do what is right in your own eyes.” As Christians, we should engage this world with the gospel of Jesus Christ to “destroy strongholds… arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God” (2 Cor. 10:4-5).
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Excellent rejoinder, Andrew.
MTV’s disclaimer, “It’s adult entertainment not intended for teens,” makes it even worse as a program. There is no way they can explain away this one.
What’s even worse; if you miss the episodes on television you can watch them in full on the MTV website. I am going to do what I can to get this program off the air.
Good post, Andrew.
When it appears to be reality it takes voyeurism up a notch and will make it more appealing to the perverts. A sickened land becoming sicker, if you will. Rights and freedom have taken us toward God but seldom keep us there.
This topic is near and dear to my heart. I do a lot of work in the arena of sexual purity advocacy and I get regular emails from students with broken hearts and broken lives.
I applaud Andrew for holding high a Biblical Standard. Yet this one has always been hard to square. Too many what passes for the Focus on the Family approach leads to a headset ripe for alienation like a Holden Caulfield of Catcher in the Rye.
Head a good discussion on NPR other day about the same show. And somehow it seems like Preacher’s kids are most often tempted to consider rebellious exploration. Consider some of the episodes of Billy Graham’s sons and even the children of some of the leaders of the SBC resurgence if reports come close to truth.
STill, instead of over reaction like Debbie Kauffman vowing to do everything to get programs off Television; a crusade that folks like Don Wildmon has pursuded to the distraction of greater issues for his homestate of Mississippi; why not join the oped pages of Christianity Today, for instance and affirming movies like Get Low and Winter’s Bone for Instance which they nominate as two of the top five Redemptive Movies of the year.
Some serious engagement of these night New Testament parables are great rather than the annual calls to make it harder for evangelical children to develop in ways that may help them feel at home in this world instead of always unnecessarily alien with the problems that brings.
I think there is a middle ground and am delighted Christianity Today may be somewhere Billy Graham’s parents and my grandparents as Noble as they were and with all the affection I have for them; the taboos they set which weren’t always realistic.
Even so the standard Wencl sets is there. Maybe my friend Marilynne Robinson has a word in Gilead if you read it with open heart.
I guess one thing I don’t wish for any of us is the wife of leader of the resurgence who was so stressed she almost ground her teeth to nubbins. Not saying that was sexual uptightness, but we have to value the urges of puberty God designed for adolescence and for all the sinister and calculated marketting designs of MTV, nothing on those shows that are not possible with the urges God Created; and said they were good.
Not saying I have the definitive or perfected response here; just engaging the discussion.
No Chrisitan would suggest that this show was acceptable. Further, God, in His inerrant word*, said those urges can only be acted upon in the confines of marriage which is the union of one man and one woman**. Therefore, no Christian would write anything supportive of this show. Of course, since you don’t believe the gospel and are therefore not a Christian, your support of this program really isn’t that much of a shocker.
*All Christians recognize and affirm the Bible is inerrant.
**All Christians recognize and affirm that marriage is only between a man and a woman and that homosexuality is a sin all the time without any exception whatsoever.
Stephen,
The Bible makes it pretty clear that if we are in the Spirit, we will not be comfortable with the world. Those who would seek to avoid alienation and just want to fit in are giving the indication that they are of the world. Jesus told us that we will know them by their fruits.
Joe,
Fully recognizing that I don’t agree with Stephen on many things, I must say that your comment is more vitriolic and less helpful. I agree with inerrancy. I believe homosexuality is wrong. But I also recognize that Christians can make sin and be in error.
If no Christian could write anything supportive of the show, then you have made that the litmus test for orthodoxy. How many Christians have done much worse? No Christian should support slavery, yet much of the South did. I suggest more caution in your search for damnable heresy.
Of course I agree Christians can be in error. I also agree that the comment was vitrolic. My intent was to insult Steven and those of his theological persuasion.
You post and comments communicated quite clearly some important biblical truths for everyone to consider.