Social Laughter

Last night we were watching some old “Carol Burnett Show” reruns. Now, this was not my favorite TV show by far when I was growing up, but last night I was struck by how different such programs are from today’s fare. Of course there is no dirty talk or profanity on the old reruns. But it dawned on me that perhaps the biggest difference was the fact that Carol wasn’t trying to change my thinking about gay marriage or abortion. No one was coming out of the closet or making an anti-war statement. No, Carol, Harvie, and Tim were there solely to make me laugh–and they did. Perhaps today’s more “enlightened” performers–who attempt to sneak some article of faith from the liberal social agenda into every show–need to start taking some cues from the classic and classy veterans. If they want to improve society, they can start by keeping their politics to themselves. Just make us laugh.

About Stan Guthrie

Stan Guthrie is an editor at large for Christianity Today magazine and for the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview. His latest book is God's Story in 66 Verses. He also is author of All that Jesus Asks: How His Questions Can Teach and Transform Us, Missions in the Third Millennium: 21 Key Trends for the 21st Century, and A Concise Guide to Bible Prophecy. He is co-author of The Sacrament of Evangelism. Besides authoring, writing, and editing books, Stan is a literary agent, bringing together good authors, good books, and good publishers. Stan writes the monthly Priorities colum for BreakPoint.org. He has appeared on National Public Radio's €œTell Me More,€ WGN's Milt Rosenberg program, and many Christian shows, including The Eric Metaxas Show and Moody Radio'€™s €œNew Day Florida.€ A licensed minister and an inspirational speaker, he served as moderator for the Christian Book Expo panel discussion, Does the God of Christianity Exist, and What Difference Does It Make?
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