By Jack Glover

UPDATE, Jan. 31: It’s gone! NBC has announced that after three episodes, “The Book of Daniel has been cancelled. The main reason seems to be the rejection of the show by sponsors, as well as some NBC affiliates refusing to air it. Many letters of protest were received. When the networks, or others, who are trying to make the country another Corinth get hit in the pocketbook, it can make a difference.

Have you seen “The Book of Daniel”? Please notice that I asked if you had seen, not read, “The Book of Daniel.” I am speaking of the television show that began airing on NBC at 9 p.m., Jan. 6.

I will not go into all the details of the series except to say it seems to justify everything evil and ridicule things that are good. That might not be a surprise for a TV show, but it is another sign of the extent to which networks are going in the name of entertainment.

I realize that things have come to the place that almost all TV shows (and movies) have some things in them that we would rather not see, or hear, because that is what the world in general wants to see and hear. The networks, and movie studios, know this and continue to increase their sinful topics. Our nation that a few years ago would not allow any of this on TV, and little in movies, now justifies such under the guise of free speech.

How does the Christian deal with this avalanche of adultery, filthy speech, homosexuality and such like? Here is some Biblical advice:

• Learn to run. “Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body” (I Cor. 6:18).
• Recognize your weakness. “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart” (II Tim. 2:22).
• Realize that some things will keep you out of heaven. 1) “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21); and 2) “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God” (I Cor. 6:9-10).
• Don’t laugh at sin. “And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Rom. 1:32).
• Fight back against evil in our society. “Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (I Tim. 6:12).
• Be an example of righteousness. “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe” (I Tim. 4:12).
• Know that God will win the battle between good and evil. “But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God” (Acts 5:39).

This list is not exhaustive. Sin has been with man from the beginning, but that does not make it acceptable or funny. Christians must not encourage it by their acceptance of it. Sin must never become our entertainment.