Dana Bell

One of my favorite songs was written by one of my favorite musical groups, Poor Old Lu. The song, All Pretty for the TV, is a commentary on television and a society dominated by entertainment. While I have some comments to make on television, this song makes enough comments of its own. This may not be the author's thoughts, but they fit the script.

I see the wealthy guy
The world in his eyes
He need not contain no pain or shame
"And never will," I cry

At the center of television is the emphasis on wealth and the world, and with that obsession there is very little need to show any kind of remorse. Ironically, that obsession in real life does bring pain and in many cases shame. The world, our society, is one of the Christian's biggest obstacles to a successful Christian life.

And I'm a dirty word
You know I'm so absurd
If I write things off as meaningless
So I'm never heard

Obscenity is one of the hallmarks of much entertainment today. Even though there is some censoring in television, the bleeping or fading out of those obscenities does nothing to eliminate the intent. Just as obscenity rules on TV, the things that are good in life are just overlooked.

Stare and no care into nowhere
Round and round pounds the sound inside
We never give it up
Well, I can never live up and the box won't shut up
Ground me out without a doubt
We never give it up

On the other side of the tube is the viewer that is mesmerized by whatever comes on. From story to story, he sits there with nothing to do but look. He is in a gaze and the box just won't shut up.

And now I'm turning blue
Without a thing to do
Cause I'm wrapped, enthralled and my brain it stalls
I can't think it thru

Entertainment has that ability to not only hypnotize a person, but to choke him. He is so overwhelmed that he can't think. Every presumption that's made is accepted without argument and whatever conclusions the plot reaches are okay with him.

So make your senses soft
And never turn it off
Just step inside and join the ride
Here's our real God.

If you don't agree with all that, then you may be normal. Yep, normal. It's normal to sin, to serve self, to find whatever life they can in this world. It's normal to controlled by the powers of this world, and entertainment is at the center to that control.

It's not normal to be a Christian. Christians are not of this world. In essence, they're alien creatures, reborn by the Holy Spirit. They see more to life than what they see on TV.