Breaking Bad…is Good
No, not the highly acclaimed TV show, I haven’t seen an episode or even a trailer/spot for it. I won’t fault you for being a Walter fan or for watching a show based on a character that is so “dark and morally questionable” (Vince Gilligan words, not mine) that even the creator of the series will be glad to get the character out of his head.
I may ask you why you watch it and if you tell me because of its “excellent storytelling with some Christian themes”…I may laugh, but I’m not judging you…unless you think laughing is being judgmental… then, I may be in trouble. Maybe I’m too old or not hipster enough to enjoy shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad but when I hear comments like: “Oh, the nudity is NOT that bad” I cringe and think…
Really? Ask King David how that worked out for him.
When did good storytelling become the criteria for discerning questionable material/media/publications? When did we lose sight of this?
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT
I often think that the enemy of our soul doesn’t even have to get us to sin… all he has to do is distract us by entertaining us. If I add up the time I spend entertaining myself (and not all of it is bad, BTW) and compared it to the time I spend on Kingdom things… well, I’m one distracted fella.
We need to be Breaking Bad…and that’s good
“Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.” Romans 12:21
The real storytelling is going on around us everyday, but who is listening? People are hurting, lonely, depressed, sick, injured, jailed, desperate and afraid… affected by the same evil we face daily… except, they don’t have Jesus.
I know I may be sounding critical but my point is this…why are we choosing a fake world of storytelling (OK it’s entertaining, I get it) over a real one that exist right outside our front door? Believe me, I love a good story and it doesn’t always have to be “squeaky clean”. The Gospel story is the most alive story that was, is or will be… it is a life changer. Let’s break bad with that story, engaging people with its beautiful message of redemption.
So…do you want to break bad…with good?
Comments
She said she would bake some brownies and think about it. Later she brought him the brownies. As he was eating she told him he could go to the movie. After all, it wasn't that "bad", there was just a little violence and since the "little poop" she put in the brownies wasn't hurting him then the little violence wouldn't hurt him either.
I don't think this story is true, but I like it. It only takes a little poop in the brownie to ruin the entire batch.
OK, I'm better now - let us not tire of doing good... :)
Great post, JC!