Big Brother Christianity
Dealing with Reality TV with Real Christian Love
The blowup between Jameka and Evel Dick demonstrated what feeds many false perceptions of believers in Jesus in the eyes of many non-believers.
Big Brother 8 has turned into a mock debate about the values of Christianity. The show which aired on Sunday night, August 12, featured a heated debate (Ok, it was more of an argument than a genuine debate!) between several of the residents of the house centered on the topic of one of the guest’s, Jameka, Christian faith. The confrontation began after another of the guests, Evel Dick, accused her of lying and then began to ridicule her as a hypocrite. The argument escalated with both of the guests getting in each other’s faces and words flying in both directions. Later in the show another confrontation occurred between the two and this time another guest who has identified herself as a Christian, Amber, was also involved. After Jameka called Dick a “B****”, Dick responded with the question, “Is that what Jesus would do?” He then brought up the WWJD implying the bracelet that Amber wears and that many Christians wear and again asked if that is what Jesus would do and would Jesus call him that?
Is this Reality TV or Real Drama? That’s the question that many will ask as they view this drama unfold on their flat screens in high definition. Maybe it is not fair to judge Jameka, Amber, or Dick for that matter based on the editing of the show, but that is what many will undoubtedly do. Editing aside, there is some basis of truth in the way that these characters are acting. Reality TV is not real reality. People don’t always act that way in the real world. After all, these people are confined to a made up house with no contact with the real world. Yea, that’s reality. However, the drama that is taking place is real and it demonstrates a very real perception of Christians by those who are not believers.
Actions do speak louder than words! In this case, the actions are accompanied by words. Both Amber and Jameka have blasted Evel Dick with words that are no different from the ones he has spoken to them. Shouldn’t there be a difference in the way believers talk than those who don’t know Jesus? (Colossians 3:8) Another houseguest, Kail, was identified as a believer by her husband but chose not to reveal that to Jameka for assumed reasons that it might have hurt her in playing the game. Didn’t Jesus say that Christians are to be a light to the world and a city on a hill? (Matthew 5:14) In fairness, their faults are seen on the TV while the rest of us repeat many of the same behaviors in the course of daily life off screen. And Jemeka pointed out to Dick that “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven!” Dick is acting like a person who doesn’t yet know Jesus and has been transformed by His grace should act. The question remains about whether the actions of the Christians on the show demonstrate a positive or negative perception about genuine Christianity.
It’s difficult to love some folks, especially those who are deliberately trying to get under your skin. Yet, that is what will ultimately win them for Christ. Loving people the way Christ loved us is the ultimate weapon against hate and unbelief. It wasn’t Jesus’ superior intellect, logic, or persuasive speech that proved that He was God’s Son. It was His act of love in dying on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the world which forever marked the change in history. The church should pray for Jameka and Amber that they would be able to love Dick in spite of his actions. The church should pray that Dick would encounter the love of Christ through the believers that are on the show. It’s only reality TV, but for Dick, this might be the reality of Christianity that he carries with him for the rest of his life and beyond.
