SVU’s Latest Plot Line Flaunts Damaging Antibiblical Worldview
By Movieguide® Staff
While mainstream media revels in the latest episode of LAW & ORDER: SVU for its celebration of an 8-year-old boy coming out as bisexual, Christians worldwide expressed concern.
The long-running NBC show is not shy of pushing an agenda that flaunts sexual freedom without considering its adverse effects.
In the show, a boy named Noah is bullied at school, which leads to the following conversation with his mother, Capt. Olivia Benson:
“I said that I was bi, and there’s no shame in being true to yourself,” Noah tells his mother.
“That’s right, Noah,” Benson replied, saying that her son is “incredibly brave.”
While news stations like NBC applauded the show and its performances, Movieguide®’s founder Dr. Ted Baehr noted the dangers of non-biblical worldviews in TV shows and movies.
“The 8-year-old son is in a premature stage of cognitive development, which is not advanced enough to make this decision,” Baehr told The Christian Post. “The process of maturing involves moving beyond propensities such as violence, lying, stealing, etc., which the ‘Law and Order’ folks should understand. People of faith understand that there is a freedom and more abundant life in living their faith!”
Dr. Baehr, in his book “The Culture Wise Family,” expands on the evidence and research of how media affects the cognitive development in young children:
The entertainment industry doesn’t try to monitor the moral content of their productions the way Christian parents do. Since the mass media presents conflicting values, parents can use this platform to teach their children what is good and to refute the bad.
Since older children make more decisions, be prepared to discuss the values and worldviews of what is presented as acceptable behavior on mass media of entertainment productions. Movies and programs claim to have no particular agenda, but the characters must have personality and three-dimensionality to be a dynamic element of a sitcom, drama or made-for-streaming-movie.
As you view a favorite evening family show, watch what compels characters to make certain decisions. Do they want to help those around them or help themselves? Are they careful about what they say to another character or do they enjoy ridiculing others?
These two differences reveal two very different worldviews. Characters who are selfish and enjoy humiliating others are based on humanist principles. Characters who are selfless, watch what they say about others and seek to help people regardless of circumstances are based on Christian, biblical principles.
To counteract the media’s lies, Baehr suggests the following:
Before watching entertainment together, use a stop watch or a smart phone clock so your older children can write down the time if something occurs in the story they found interesting. Everyone should find at least one scene in the movie or program they thought was good or bad or scary, etc.
After the movie or program is over, the family will be able to review the plot and check the family’s understanding of the story by reviewing their point of interest. Everyone presents their point of view and why they choose this scene. This gives them a chance to share their opinions with the family, then other family members can add their impressions of what happened and how the scene was different. Various opinions are good for discussion.
It isn’t recommended that you stop the movie or program too often in the middle of the story, because this distracts some children from thinking about the storyline. …
The entertainment industry doesn’t try to monitor the moral content of their productions the way Christian parents do. Since the mass media presents conflicting values, parents can use this platform to teach their children what is good and to refute the bad.
Ask your child to recall values that are respected in their home, church, school, and community. … Write about the characters you have seen in movies and other entertainment who display these qualities.
- Can a character’s values get in the way of a character’s wants and desires?
- How did the character’s value system determine their actions?
- What values do you personally honor?
- Do you ever have a conflict between what you believe and what you want?
- What do you do? Give an example.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
Now more than ever we’re bombarded by darkness in media, movies, and TV. Movieguide® has fought back for almost 40 years, working within Hollywood to propel uplifting and positive content. We’re proud to say we’ve collaborated with some of the top industry players to influence and redeem entertainment for Jesus. Still, the most influential person in Hollywood is you. The viewer.
What you listen to, watch, and read has power. Movieguide® wants to give you the resources to empower the good and the beautiful. But we can’t do it alone. We need your support.
You can make a difference with as little as $7. It takes only a moment. If you can, consider supporting our ministry with a monthly gift. Thank you.
Movieguide® is a 501c3 and all donations are tax deductible.
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