A few weeks ago a new show called Fuller House hit Netflix. After hearing mixed reports about the new show from many Christians, I decided to sit down and watch a couple of episodes myself.
Let me preface this by saying first that, yes, our family did watch Full House. And yes, even so long ago, there were some things in that show that shouldn’t have been there. They were subtle and vague but they were there. And we Christians–myself included–overlooked them. The show was cute. It was mostly wholesome and family-friendly. We still watch the show occasionally.
I really had high hopes that this spin-off would carry on its predecessor’s traditions and believed it would since–
a) It was advertised as a family show.
b) Candace Cameron, an actress who has declared she is a Christian very openly, is on the show.
c) The original show was pretty clean and family-friendly, overall.
But times have changed. A lot. And I should not have had such high expectations.
As I watched a grown-up Stephanie make a crude joke about her barely covered breasts on this series advertised for “families”, my heart sank. This was not for Christian families. It was for a culture that has become totally obsessed with sex.
My heart sank further as I watched. After watching two episodes, I made the choice not to continue watching the series. However, others who continued watching shared with me that future episodes have D.J., played by Candace Cameron, getting drunk, using bad language, and dressing inappropriately. The fact that Candace does these things and also claims to be a believer should be rather disturbing.
Now before you start rationalizing why she may or may not have chosen to do these things as an actress, please don’t. I don’t care why she did them. The fact is she shouldn’t have done them. She shouldn’t even be on a show that contains them.
Why not?
Because the Bible says–
Ephesians 5:8-11: For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
It also says–
James 1:27: Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.
These are just two verses. There are so many more verses that not only encourage but command Christians to live a sanctified and holy life that is separate from the world. What do we Christians think “the world” means exactly, if not its sexual crudeness, its bad language, and its lusting after wealth, power, and a good time?
I have no idea why Candace Cameron made the decision to be part of such a show. She may have really good motives. We all make mistakes and she is in the lime light, with hers for everyone to see. I am not judging her personally, but this does not change the fact that she has made a poor choice to participate in a show that is inappropriate for families. And the plain fact is that she will drag a bunch of well-meaning, undiscerning Christians with her into believing this kind of entertainment is okay.
It’s not okay.
It is not okay.
What have we come to that this is accepted for family viewing by Christian families? I know this show is mild compared to many on TV. And probably some of you are rolling your eyes about now. I can almost hear your muttering and grumbling as some of you reflect on how ridiculous you think I am being.
And, honestly, I can understand why. It is because most of us Christians are like the proverbial frog in boiling water, accepting more and more and more worldliness, until we are up to our eyeballs in the filth of this culture, right along with everyone else.
But when do we say enough is enough? What will be disgusting enough to make us turn the TV off? When will we value pleasing our heavenly Father more than we value our own desires?
Look, life is about choices. And this includes what we allow in our homes on that box. The TV in and of itself isn’t evil. But we have a grave responsibility regarding what is played on that screen.
I’ve made many bad choices when it comes to that box. More than I can count. In fact, I almost made another one yesterday.
I sat down to watch a movie I’ve seen many times before. It’s one of my favorites from the 90s. As I started watching, they used my Lord’s name in vain time after time in the worst way possible. And that’s when I realized–I couldn’t keep watching this.
I turned it off. The temptation was to rationalize as to why I could keep watching and I did spend a few seconds doing so, but then–
I turned it off.
And guess what? It wasn’t really that painful. Once the decision was made, I didn’t give it another thought. We can turn it off. When a show gets offensive, we can turn the TV off. We don’t have to keep watching. Our kids don’t have to keep watching.
I hope that this post will give at least some of you a reason to stop and think for just a moment about the TV shows you allow in your home. I hope that at least some of you–even one of you–will rise up and say enough is enough and stop the influx of worldly values and unrighteousness streaming into your home through that box.
Let’s stop joining this pagan culture and enjoying its fruit, but instead be the ones that stand against it, striving to live holy and righteous lives in this perverse generation.
I didn’t watch it and appreciate your perspective on it. I won’t be viewing it.
Thank you!
I watched the first three or so episodes with my girls who watched the original. We were all disappointed. We turned it off and made the choice to not support the show by watching any further episodes. I checked Candace’s Facebook page to see if she might be discussing this issue with her fans. I was again disappointed to find that so many Christian fans were praising the show and encouraging here to continue in this role. Some were respectfully and lovingly voicing their concerns to her but she was either ignoring them or rationalizing her decision. I love a lot of what Candace Cameron does but sadly, this changed my opinion of her. I’m hoping she thinks long and hard about this and the the Lord speaks to her heart about it. Thank you for your review.
Yes, one of my daughters was checking her fb page, as well, and she said that anyone who dared to speak against the show was blasted. So sad.
Thank You! I watched a few episodes of it myself and I also had a problem with the drinking and few other things. Its nice to know there are still Christians that will take a stand like you have. God Bless you!
Thank you, Marla!
I watched up until the two sisters were getting ready to go to the party and realized the direction of the show and decided it wasn’t for our family. I appreciate your honesty and your insight and straightforward-ness on this topic. We need to be more discerning on what we allow in our homes for entertaining. The enemy is out to kill, steal and destroy.
Amen, Heidi!!
Thank you for taking the time to write this review. I hope someone in CC’s life will speak Biblical truths to her…like her brother Kirk..unless he has already and she rejects it. She is accountable to God for her walk that is taking her off the Narrow Path. May she repent soon.
It’s certainly a sad situation.
Thank you for taking the time to address the issues that our families are being bombarded with daily. We need to stop becoming so complacent on what comes into our homes, they affect our families greater than what we realize. There are very few programs we can watch that expose us to the evils of this world. We’re standing with you.
It is so encouraging to know there are like-minded Christian brothers and sisters also standing for Truth! Thank you for taking the time to comment :)
I agree. I watched the first episode and was SHOCKED at Stephanie’s dress and character. The one outfit especially was very skimpy. I will not be watching any more. I’ve been convicted a lot lately on shows I’ve watched. While I’ve never watched really terrible ones, even the ones that are aimed at families are just not appropriate a lot of times. My philosophy is that if I can’t give a straight up “yes” as to whether or not the show is appropriate for myself to watch, then it’s most likely NOT appropriate. If I have to wrestle with myself for days on how to answer that question, then the answer is “no”. The show is not appropriate. Thank you for this post! I’m glad I wasn’t the only one shocked!
I, too, have started to be very convicted. I am starting to believe that living without a TV is the best choice. But that isn’t always practical or desired, so somehow we have to pick our way through this mine field. We watch mostly old shows around here–shows my daughter’s friends never even heard of –like Andy Griffith :)
Hi Leslie,
Thank you so much for taking the time to bring this up. I too perused a couple episodes out of sentimental hope, but quickly dismissed it as my spirit was greived with the riske content. I was saddened to see Candace, a professing Christian condone such behavior through her character. My children asked if it was okay to watch, I previewed it in advance, and I sadly had to say no.
I, too, had sentimental hope, but there are just some things that take priority over sentiment, as we both found out! :)
Thank you, Leslie! As far as I know, any “family” show/sitcom made these days is not for a Christian family to watch. Sadly, many will form their philosophies based on what is the norm on TV rather than the Scriptures. We enjoy Andy Griffith too! :)
Thank you! Couldn’t agree with you more!!
Thank you. So refreshing!
:)
No, you are not alone. We only got through episode 1 before hubby and I just knew we couldn’t continue watching it with our kids. It’s been an opportunity for us to teach our children about having discernment and listening to the Holy Spirit. We grieve the potential this show had to bring back a fun, clean, entertaining walk down memory lane. Sadly, there wasn’t anything redeeming about this reboot and we have decided to sit out of the participation on this one.
God bless your humble but honest review and blog post — praying for you as you minister through your blog.
— Mrs. Gina Weeks
Thank you! And saying that you are praying for me is quite possibly the nicest thing you could tell me. I appreciate that so much! I need it!
When I watched an episode with my grandsons that centered around wrestling and Candace burst out with a line something like “I’m a d—proud wrestling mom!” or something like it — forgive me, but it’s been a couple of months since I’ve seen it — I was so, so very disappointed in her. So very, very. In my life before Christ entered my heart I had one of the filthiest mouths ever heard on a woman. But the day He transformed my heart He transformed my mouth completely. The old things passed away and I became a child of God. In my mind, even the SLANG of profanity pinches my heart everytime I hear it, from a Christian or a non-Christian. I KNOW what those words fill in for. It grieves me. This show grieves me. A lot grieves me. So many of today’s churches grieve me. The Gospel in its wholeness, its sweetness, its purity…what a gift from the Heavenly Father. I pray daily that God keeps my light shining in this dark and dying world.
You are a bright and shining testimony of how God changes us when we are saved. Salvation has become a prayer or decision–with transformation just an option, but we can’t find this modern-day definition of salvation ANYWHERE in scripture. I have no idea where Candace is spiritually, but I believe our heavenly Father is deeply grieved that she is saying she follows Him and yet acts completely contrary to her profession of faith.