So... like many Americans on Sunday evening, I was glued to ABC from 8:00pm to 11:00pm. While I could pontificate the Gospel being revealed through fairy tales in Once Upon a Time, or the deadliness of sin seen in our favorite Desperate Housewives, the show that struck me as both funny with its irony yet sad in its seduction and portrayal of Christianity was GCB.
It's based on the book, and if you were wondering at all what it stands for, let's be clear - it means Good Christian Bitches.
So the name says it all... a young woman who recently lost her husband who was a con artist moves back home to her mom's house with her two teenage children. Not too exciting, except when you throw in LOTS of money, a splash of religion, a few misquoted Bible verses, and neighbors who will make your life a living hell, as if the fire and brimstone needed to start on this side of heaven for this poor woman.
Granted, the said main character was a mean bitch in high school. These woman plotting her demise are simply making up for the past. But they dress up their revenge to make it sound like the high road they wish it would be.
The show is entertaining, but it shows nothing true about Christianity, except to highlight that ALL of us are hypocrites.
There was one moment in the show I held my breath and thought, this woman is going to offer sincere forgiveness in this prayer... but the short sentances became more mud slinging and slander.
I confess... sometimes I am a bitch. It's not like I mean to be, but... I'm a woman, I have my mood swings, and hormones, and emotions that swing all over the place. I'm sometimes mean, I've shared more gossip than I'd like to admit, I can be judgemental even if I don't speak what's going on in my mind... and if it wasn't for God's grace, I'm sure I'd be much worse.
There's a humility that marks a follower of Christ. That person knows they are not perfect that in fact, they are a sinner. In fact, as you grow as a Christian, you grapple with the truth that you are entirely more sinful than you ever imagined, but you are loved by God farther and more than you could ever dream.
And that love, the perfect love that sent Christ to lay down his life for his friends, spurs Christians on to love God and love people, those around them and all over the world.
I don't know if this show will last for 6 shows or 6 seasons, but I do hope Christians will seize this cultural opportunity to share what it really means to follow Christ.
