I just became a Christian!

[Bonhoffer]

Homer makes fun of Ned Flanders, Flanders makes Christians look fony, The Simpsons fall aseep in church, and it is not respectful to Christians or Christ. I have no clue why a Christian would support it.

Yes... Homer does make fun of Ned Flanders, but why?
Because he is jealous of the Flanders Holiness. Ned has the perfect God-loving family whereas Homer has Bart et al!
In many of the episodes God seems to favour Neds family. If the Flanders house catches fire then God will send a rain cloud to put it out. However the fire will then catch on to the Simpsons house and God will not send a rain cloud.

All the time Homer is seeking to get what Ned has, but cant. Why? Because he is trying to get there by his own efforts. Whereas any true Christian is attributed Holiness by grace, not by works. The Simpsons represents the average unHoly American household with a brat of a son and a seriously flawed father. But despite all this and despite Homers jealousy, Ned and co ALWAYS try to be a good neighbour.

As for Flanders making Christians look fony, well have you ever heard of having a laugh at yourself. The Simpsons humour is not having a laugh at God but at a worldly stereotype (and it is clearly shown as a stereotype) of a Christian. Most people know that the majority of Christians are not like the Flanders.
This dull,stuffy, goody-two-shoes image gives a chance for both Christians and non-Christians the chance to share a joke about the worlds veiw of a Christian.

Please dont be offended by this. But if Christians such as yourself started to claim in public that watching the Simpsons is bad and sinful, then that will do more damage to the image of Christianity than The Simpsons do.
People will see us as over-serious, lacking in humour and paranoid about everything. This will only strengthen the image that Christians are boring, which seems to be what you are concerned that the cartoon The Simpsons does. You dont want to confirm the nerdy do-gooder Flanders stereotype do you?

As for the Simpsons falling asleep in church. This is a joke about two things. 1) The common human attitude to God 2) The dull and weak presentation of Christ by many of the old stuffy churches
Surely you have sat through a dull sermon where you felt like going to sleep?

Well as well as being funny; the Simpsons makes a point about the failure of the church to modernize and about how the hearts of Americans are growing cold to God. Surely the Simpsons is putting forwards a suggestion to the church that the church needs change its approach in order for the future of Christianity in America to survive. If the old-styled churches dont change then souls could be a stake.

 

[Bonhoffer]

There is no attack on God, Christ or the Christian faith in The Simpsons. There is however an attack on the Christian Religion and the Church, (which are both fallible man-made things) and on human frailties. (such as Homer being led into Hell by his sinful passion for junk food)

 

[cat has felt the light!]

There is no attack on God, Christ or the Christian faith in The Simpsons. There is however an attack on the Christian Religion and the Church, (which are both fallible man-made things) and on human frailties. (such as Homer being led into Hell by his sinful passion for junk food)

I have to agree bonhoofer, thumbs up on a great post!
C@ xx

 

[Jezus_Phish]

::WAVES!:: Hiya! I'm a new Christian, too, saved less than three months ago. ::grins:: And I love the fervent energy that you have regarding your newfound relationship with God! This is a good place to start. ^.^

Okay... I grew up in a Catholic home, so I know a bit about the Bible, but trust me... going to church doesn't REQUIRE you to know it. I am shocked every day about how little I know about it! And about picking a specific denominational church... you'll just have to pray about it and visit around... see what fits your taste. I like the Catholic setting, but it's a comfort thing. I also notice that I like the more lax environment of non-denom churches, especially in a college town, lol. (I go to FSU... where do you go?) I also have many Christian friends who are introducing me to different churches and denominations. It's very fascinating!

Anyway... that's enough rambling. ^.^ Good luck in your walk with Christ!

 

[Jezus_Phish]

VERY thorough post, Bonhoffer! I also need to comment on that because I see some of the same things (not all, and certainly not as often) in Family Guy... and I love that show, lol. It's also true what you said about needing to stray from the stuffiness... unfortunately, though it's traditional, it turns many people away. ::sighs and shrugs:: But thus are humans... we need to be emotionally stimulated. ^.^

One more...

As for the Simpsons falling asleep in church. This is a joke about two things. 1) The common human attitude to God 2) The dull and weak presentation of Christ by many of the old stuffy churches
Surely you have sat through a dull sermon where you felt like going to sleep?

A-a-a-a-a-amen. ::winks::

¤ Stephie