I was scanning through radio stations on my way home from work today and somehow ended up on some religious talk channel – family life radio I think . I don’t know exactly what kept me from flipping right through as soon as I heard the god discussions… raw curiosity I suppose.
From what I could tell from only about 10 minutes of listening, this is basically how it works. Distraught, misguided, or confused Christians call the show seeking advice from “Doctor” Randy. The doc basically interjects that whatever it is is God’s will, and that the caller needs to exhibit “intentional living.”
The first caller was Carrie from Michigan. Her husband up and left about a year ago, citing a lack of love for her. She hopes that he will change his mind and come home. However, she’s come to the understanding that God knows what is right and that she must accept it as His will. The doc agreed that God has His plan and that Carrie must live intentionally, being a good mother and friend.
So… basically you just need to throw your hands up in the air, rejecting any notion of responsibility, influence, or blame for whatever situation you find yourself embroiled in. God wants what he wants, right? I’m not suggesting that Carrie could force her husband to come back because that’s absurd, but she could have attempted to work out the problems with him before it was too late by being proactive rather than just sitting back saying ‘oh woe is me *sigh* I guess God has his plan though…’
The next caller was Gary. He has a porno problem and views internet porno 3-4 times a year (I’m thinking he said year but really meant hour…), despite having placed parental controls on his computer. His wife is unhappy and he agrees that it is sinful, but hey, he’s a man and men are weak when it comes to nekked’ women! His words, not mine. The doc insisted that he seek the guidance of a trusted counselor in his church before it becomes a bigger issue. Gary explained that he’s tried, but can’t shake the habit. The conversation ended with the doc exclaiming that “God is bigger than Pornography!” and that Gary must work to overcome his indiscretions for his wife and marriage, but more importantly for God.
It was unreal, almost like a prank call. Gary was so… um, Southern, to be p.c. about it. The music from Deliverance popped into my head whenever he spoke. Ultimately though, this “problem” is such a non-issue that I can’t believe someone had to call a radio talk show to seek advice, especially if he really only views porn as infrequently as 3-4 times per year. So you look at some nude women on the computer screen or in a magazine…wow. That’s atrocious.
