The email arrived in my inbox today, taunting me. “Removal of Joel Osteen, Joyce Meyer, Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah and other pastors from the airwaves,” it proclaimed. “Really?” I thought. The email provided all the details:
An organization has been granted a Federal Hearing on the same subject by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in Washington, D.C. Their petition, Number 2493, would ultimately pave the way to stop the reading of the gospel of our Lord and Savior, on the airwaves of America. They got 287,000 signatures to back their stand! If this attempt is successful, all Sunday worship services being broadcast on the radio or by television will be stopped.
I thought about that for a moment. Joel Osteen off the air? You know, that might be a pretty good thing. The email evidently assumed I’d be appalled and want to take action against this petition so I could help keep Joel on the air. The answer? A counter-petition.
We are praying for at least 1 million signatures. This would defeat their effort and show that there are many Christians alive, well and concerned about our country. As Christians, we must unite on this. Please don’t take this lightly. We ignored one lady once and lost prayer in our schools and in offices across the nation. Please stand up for your religious freedom and let your voice be heard. Together we can make a difference in our country while creating an opportunity for the lost to know the Lord.
Instructions followed, directing me to “sign” (by which they mean type) my name at the bottom and forward it on. When it reaches 1,000 names, there’s a special address to forward it to, but the message only had 538 names as I received it. If I decide not to participate, I’m to send it back to the person who sent it to me so they can keep it going. “Dr. Dobson is going on CNBC to urge every Christian to get involved,” it continued. “I hope you will sign and forward to all your family and friends. …Please defeat this organization and keep the right of our freedom of religion.” The email warns that the same group is campaigning to remove Christmas programs and carols from public schools.
Unfortunately, the message failed to provide details on how to sign the other petition.
Now, this may be a shock to some none of you, but I tend to be a little cynical now and then. No, no, it’s true. Really. I rolled this around my brain for a few minutes, and I decided I honestly couldn’t tell if this would be a good thing or a bad one — but I’m leaning toward it being a good thing. Televangelists aren’t known for being the best representatives of the Kingdom of God, at least in my view. Or in anyone pretty much anyone else’s, as far as I can tell. Maybe all the money that goes into the televangelivortex could be diverted to something actually useful. Just to be sure, I tried to think of a positive example of a televangelist, and, well…. if you come up with any, let me know.
Of course I won’t be signing either petition… it’s a hoax, which the FCC formally denies, as though they didn’t know that there were still Christians living in America. As for “well and concerned,” I wonder if “misguided and gullible” might not be a fit. Although the version I received doesn’t mention her, others floating around make reference to Madalyn Murray O’Hair as the person behind it — despite her disappearance in 1995 and having been confirmed dead in 2001. Not only that, the intent of P.M. 2493 was simply to ensure channels reserved for educational purposes ended up being used for education and not by religious groups seeking to use them for other purposes. The petition was presented in December 1974 and defeated in August 1975, which means that in some form or other, Christians have been fighting a non-battle about a non-issue for about the same length of time that Christ is presumed to have walked the earth. I don’t want to even begin to interpret that… cynic that I am.
Still, maybe it is time for an all-out ban on religious programming… that way the other religions who broadcast better content at a lower cost with greater sincerity wouldn’t look as good by comparison. Or maybe I’m just being cynical again.
amen & amen. from your keyboard to God’s ear…
by the way, did you know that a cynic is just a disappointed idealist? it probably takes one to know one.
m
There’s a line in J. D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye (no doubt a book that would be banned by some so-called Christians) about a reaction to the Radio City Rockettes Christmas program to the effect that Jesus would have puked if he’d seen it. Just imagine how deep the puke would be if Jesus tuned in to some of this “stuff.”
I agree, most of the junk that passes for Christian TV should be banned as its as bad an advert for Jesus as Mad Cow disease is for Beef!
I didn’t sign it either.. even tho it was my sister who sent it to me… Its time for us to embrace our marginalization.. man, we are a fearful bunch.
to pastor m and the puking Jesus:
i was immediately reminded of rev. 3:
14 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Laodicea. This is the message from the one who is the Amen – the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation: 15 “I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were one or the other! 16 But since you are like lukewarm water, I will spit you out of my mouth!”
could it be that much of what passes for christianity, and not just tv preachers, makes the lord sick?
I do not watch religious programming that much, despite being a Born again Christian, but has no one heard of the first amendment. When I seen what is allowed in media programming on radio and TV, under the guise of free speech, it’s hard to believe that Religious programming could be supressed, but rather guaranteed under the first amendment. I’m not signing the petition either. I live in Edmonton, AB, and all non-U.S. petitioners should be disqualified.
If a simple petition was enough to get Osteen and Myer off the TV I would be the first to sign! Actually, I’d probably take the time to make up a hundred aliases and sign for them too.
Err… DJ… you might want to re-check what I said in the whole post above. ;^)
There’s more discussion on gullibility over this Lakeland thing now as well. I hadn’t even been thinking about that when I wrote this post.
*sigh*
The gullible we will always have with us.
Oh, okay. I see…you ALREADY know it’s a hoax. I actually got this in an email this morning and it just made me chuckle.
This thing has been around almost as long as I’ve been ALIVE!!! LOL.
-dj
Well if this does go through and takes Joel and Joyce off air, then I will be developing a petition
for Porn on computers (which some think is well deserved because it is a “free country”), and
some of the t.v shows that have nudity and profanity in them taken off the air. I have a right to
watch what I want ( being the “free country” thing) and no one is making you watch these shows
so why worry about them being on. And about the law in regards to no prayer in school, MY CHILDREN STILL PRAY IN SCHOOL!!! So quick picking on the religious shows and go back to your recliner with your remote in hand and flip it to another channel! Prayer might do you good!!!!
I’ve been watching and listening to Christian radio and TV for many years…..I also attend Sunday services most Sundays……I have to tell you that I get far more Sprituallity from Dr. Charles Stanley and Joyce Myers than I do in church……..
Now, you ask for a can of soup for a donation…….
Here’s a hat, fill it with cow manure and pull it down tightly over your head……..
CaptVitto
Joyce,
Review the post above — the point is that the supposed bill is a hoax: there is nothing in the works to ban religious programming.
Captain Vitto,
In the interest of free speech, I’ve published your comment without modification.
Just musing aloud…
I maintain my objection to the tripe that some of these televangelists spout off in the name of a Christ who is not at all reflected in their message. Then too, I wonder if the fruit of these televangelists’ ministries is people who would suggest things like piling shit on my head …you know, rather than exhibiting love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Just musing.
I knew it was a hoax like all others in all areas of patitions that have you sign the bottom and turn into somebody after so many signitures. Baeware these are more likely pfising exercises. think of it a little this recipeint has your name and your email and computer tracks. What more do they need? just enought to know that you will click onto anything…
It’s amazing if you read the Bible, you will see that REAL mighty men of God were of modest means, modest clothing, they had no money to speak of, the lived in modest accomodations, and walked from town to town preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.
NOW, compare them to these custom Elvis presley-like suit wearing, hair dye wearing, botox injected, gulfstream jet owning, multi-billionaires that con the stupid idiots in this country to fork over money to enrich these FRAUDS that Jesus Christ despises!