NBC’s "The New Normal"

 

If you have watched TV on NBC lately, then you have seen previews for their newest comedy called The New Normal.  This show debuted earlier this week and 7 million households tuned-in.  Take a look at the plot of this show:

“In NBC's comedy The New Normal, Bryan and David are a loving and committed gay couple with successful careers, a gorgeous house, and everything else a person could want, except one thing: a child.  But with plenty of money, the lack of an in-home womb is no problem, and Bryan and David soon rent the services of Goldie, a Midwestern mama who's just left her cheating husband and wants David and Bryan's cash to attend law school and make a better life for her precocious young daughter.  Crashing the party is Jane, Goldie's concerned grandma, who doesn't like the idea of her granddaughter serving as a surrogate for anyone, much less a gay couple, since she's a loud-mouthed and unabashed bigot.  But when sperm meets egg and a baby happens, all of these motley characters are stitched together into one big mostly happy decidedly non-traditional family” (Common Sense Media).

Judging from the title, it is pretty obvious that the goal of this show is to redefine what is “normal.”  One might think homosexuality is abnormal, but this show’s goal is to show it as an ordinary part of life.  It also seems worth noting that the creator of this show, Ryan Murphy, is openly gay.  Clearly there are some agendas he is trying to push through this show.  Murphy is also the creator of other questionable shows such as Glee, Nip/Tuck, and Popular.  Actor Justin Bartha, who plays the role of one of the gay men, said this about the show, “I actually do hope people are offended by it.  I think hopefully it will get conversations started in family homes and that families who love it will love it for what it is, a compassionate and loving family with many positive aspects.  And the ones who are offended by it or find that it strikes them as offensive, hopefully they will maybe realize that they’re bigots and they’re ignorant and possibly our show can usher in a little more acceptance” (WashingtonBlade.com).

Taking all of this into consideration, here is my take on this show.  It seems increasingly clear that NBC, Ryan Murphy, and other media avenues are pushing for widespread acceptance of homosexuality.  They also purposely put in a hardnosed and rude character, one that most people would naturally dislike, to represent those who do not accept homosexuality (aka Christians).  They are displaying the homosexual characters as nice, successful, likeable, and normal people.  All of this is included so that more people will accept the gay lifestyle as “the new normal.”

My take aside, and most importantly, what is God’s take on this show?  First, homosexuality is called unnatural (Romans 1:26-27).  This makes homosexuality anything but normal.  After all, it is impossible for two people of the same gender to produce a baby.  Their bodies are simply not compatible with each other.  Second, God only approves of the relationship between a man and a woman (Genesis 1-2; 2:18f; 2:24; Matthew 19:1f; 1 Corinthians 3:18f; etc).  This was the model He started life with and has commanded throughout Scripture.   Third, God clearly condemns homosexuality in Scripture (Genesis 19; Leviticus 18:22, 29; 20:13; Romans 1:26-28; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10; 2 Peter 2:6-8; Jude 5-7; etc).

So, does God approve of the TV show The New Normal?  If we are honest with the Scriptures, we have to answer “No.”  Therefore, I hope and pray that we will stand with God and chose not to watch or support NBC’s The New Normal.