Like many Christians, I have looked forward to each new episode of the “Blue Bloods” television show. It is in its fifth season and attracts more viewers than any other prime-time drama on Friday night.
It follows the Reagan family of police officers with the New York City Police Department. Frank Reagan, played by Tom Selleck, is the police commissioner. The show has been refreshing in that the Reagan family’s Catholic faith has been front and center in every episode, with no apologies.
Though each family member is presented as flawed, as we all are, they all try to do the right thing. When they stray, they get back on track as they live out their faith – until recently.
Last week’s episode was a big disappointment, not just to members of the Catholic Church but to all Christians who are faithful fans.
In this episode, an off-duty detective intervened to stop an attack on a young man outside a gay bar. At a press conference, reporters quizzed the commissioner about the rumor that the heroic cop was a closeted homosexual.
Reporter: The Catholic Church condemns homosexuality as a sin and the commissioner is famously Catholic. How do you line up your anti-gay faith with your role as an equal-opportunity employer?
Reagan: What my men and women do in private is their own business.
So far, so good.
Reporter: So you only condemn homosexuality on a Sunday?
Reagan: Well, I do believe that the Church is a little behind the times on this, but then I still miss the Latin Mass.
No one has to become a Christian. In this country people are free to live as they please and should be protected from harm. Christians are called to love and show compassion to all people. There was no conflict for Frank Reagan here, but the writers created one in such a way that was offensive to people of faith.
Our human nature causes all of us to have immoral thoughts, but it is the dwelling on them or acting on them that is the sin. In this episode, Frank Reagan showed himself to be like so many who want to design their own God.
God is not interested in our keeping up with the times or doing what society deems socially acceptable.
There are those who seek to explain away the biblical pronouncements against homosexuality by bringing up Old Testament ritual law or passages that clearly deal with local customs, such as women covering their heads. However, the prohibitions on homosexual activity are consistent in the Old and New Testaments. Their arguments simply don’t hold up.
Christ’s death did away with the need for the ritual law in the Old Testament. However, there is a big difference between moral law and ritual law. There is no ambiguity on the moral law anywhere in scripture.
In fact, in Matthew 5:17-18, Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets: I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the law until all is accomplished.”
“Blue Bloods” ran off the rails last year when Jamie Reagan hopped in bed with a casual girlfriend from out of town. Now, the divorced Erin Reagan is also involved in a casual sexual relationship. Hebrews 13:4 has this warning: “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled: for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”
There was no remorse from either Reagan character over this. No indication that they knew they did something wrong. When Jesus saved the woman who was caught in adultery, he didn’t say, “Keep doing what you are doing.” He said, “Go and sin no more.”
It is one thing to see characters hopping into bed on other shows. It is a sad reflection of the times. However, it is quite another to present members of a Christian family trying to live out its faith doing this with no remorse.
The producers and writers should seek guidance from a group like the Christian Film and Television Commission before they finalize a script, not someone in their midst who is simply playing church.
People of faith need to call and write the CBS television network and the program’s producers, Paw In Your Face Productions (150 Great Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021, 516-466-3388) to let them know that this is unacceptable. If this continues, Christians should scratch this show from their viewing list.
Media wishing to interview Jane Chastain, please contact [email protected].
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