GUILTY PLEASURES

I admit that I have a few guilty pleasures, but today’s post will focus on one.

It’s ratchet TV, the likes of Love & Hiphop, Married to Medicine, WAGS and such. I mean I know it’s not reality, because how can? But the lengths at which they go to be over the top ridiculous is in itself entertaining. Every scene is postured to incite a reaction; a table toss here, a wig pull there, a few expletives and the works. Honestly, its all very laughable, but it makes for good TV.

Having said that, something stood out to me in the last episode of Love & Hiphop that got me thinking. Generally speaking, a lot of what is said in these shows go over my head, and is forgotten even before the credits roll. But this stood out. I understand that as part of the theatrics, there must be drama. As such, civilized conversations are not a norm. It always just goes from 0 to 100. In the heat of things, people talk, and words spew out without a second thought. In fact, the more out of pocket it is, the better. After all, it makes for good TV, and quotable quotes make for trending hashtags.

“I swear on God”.

This is the line that stood out to me, and it seemed to be the favourite line for this particular episode. But then again, it’s probably always been there, and I just never noticed.

So why now? 

God is a master at meeting you where you are, and where I was in that moment, was caught up in the world of ratchet reality TV. He highlighted that line to teach me a lesson, to further emphasize something I came across in His word.

I have been studying Jesus. His walk, his way, his style. In Matthew, amongst other things, he spoke about oaths. Here are His words —

but I tell you, do not swear an oath at all; either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. All you need to say is simply ‘yes’ or ‘no’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one

|5:33-37|

Which brings me to,

you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Exodus 20:7

God is very clear. He ain’t about His name being used as an ad lib to orchestrated ratchetry. His name is not to be misused for my entertainment.

I called watching this show a guilty pleasure because for me, it’s a mindless watch. But is it really? There are things that we unwillingly cosign or accept without realizing it, because we think we have control of it. There are also things that become normal because we are desensitized to it. But isn’t that in itself a mouse trap?

So ya ratchet TV got me thinking, and I had to ask myself questions. How much is too much? Is one hour of entertainment worth the garbage that I have to power wash out of my system afterwards? In this world of sin, can I really afford to be mindless?

What are your guilty pleasures?

Happy monyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

💚