Television and the Modern Family

Television and the Modern Family

In society, television can have a great influence on the way people understand and interact with the world around them. Gone are the days when television shows promoted positive family values and morals and has entered into the day and age where anything goes to produce ratings. One such show that falls into this new age category is the very popular show called Modern Family. From a Christian perspective, this sitcom about three families who are all related, promotes negative family values and morals.

One of the negative influences of this show is the portrayal of homosexual couple of two men. This couple lives together with a two-year-old girl that they adopted. They take on the traditional roles of a family with one of the men filling the role of a stay at home mom. Christian ethics cannot support this type of behavior as being acceptable in our society based on scripture. “God created the family, and He has divine purposes for it. Following His purposes for marriage and family life gives us the best opportunities for family fulfillment” ("The bible speaks," 2006).

Portraying God and faith as an important, integral part of family life is also something that is lacking in this television shows themes. During one episode, the father of one of the family’s excuses his attendance at church that day because he feels closer to God when he is out in nature rather than in a building. Therefore, he feels he should be out playing golf rather than attend church that day. His wife and son question him further about all the excuses he has been making lately about his inability to attend church services and he is finally pushed to the point of saying he is done with church. His wife gets frightened because of the possible implications of what he has just said and an earthquake ensues, end of scene. Christians understand the importance of setting a good example