I received a phone call at my office from an actor friend who wanted to know how would one go about starting a Christian game show? The game show he had envisioned would be much like Jeopardy or Who Wants To Be a Millionaire except that all the questions would come from the Bible. He also wanted to know just where did these game shows come up with the millions of dollars paid out to winning contestants. In truth, I believe he saw himself as a TV host for this program and wanted someone else to take his idea and run with it by doing all the leg work to produce it. I had to explain some of the problems with such an idea. #1 Christian TV viewers may have a hard time watching a Christian TV game show. If they have donated money to that station to continue on its good works, they may not be so pleased to see it being handed away to contestants appearing only for the money. They may see the appearance apparently tied to some level of greed. (IE.. I know the Bible so as to get paid to answer a few questions!)
#2 The millions of dollars that contestants win on shows like Who Wants to be a Millionaire or Deal or No Deal come from sponsors to the show or through an insurance company. These shows know that only a minuscule percentage of contestants will win the big money, so they pay high insurance premiums to cover themselves. The same insurance premiums that protect companies from half time wins of fans making full court baskets, or throwing a football through some hole for big money.
#3 Are people tuning in to glorify God, hear the Word of the Lord being spread to otherwise non believing TV game show fans, or just to watch people make money?
#4 Are games shows akin to gambling?
These were all questions he had to ponder before deciding if he had a really good idea or just wanted to find another niche way to get on TV as a TV personality. He obviously is a very strong believer. But I have long learned that there are believers, pretenders,the apathetic and the deniers. Though the show had merit in my eyes, maybe on a smaller scale than handing out millions (maybe a trophy or a medallion), I would believe that the TV pitch was a good explanation of the fine line between worshiping in good faith and worship the golden idol.
I have many friends who worship money and possessions. They scoff my faith, which I rarely hammer to express any point. I have also seen possessions disappear in an instant. A divorce, old age, even a bad debt can take away any and all a person may own. Worshiping money and wealth leads to shallow faith in my opinion.
Trying to explain worship is even harder. I will give an example of how convoluted it can become.
After a NFL football game, while the players are shaking hands and giving interviews, some players (from both teams) meet at the 50 yard line to pray. It is somewhat inspiring if you, as a believer, get the chance to see it. Men from different walks of life, playing in the same sport, meeting after the heat of (sports) battle, taking a knee all to praise God. Unfortunately, the NFL would never televise it for any period of time. Why? They don't want to disrupt their presentation by making players look pious, alienate non believing viewers or promoting religion. There's no money in it for their sponsors.
But let's say that I wanted to produce a TV show using a series of clips from these prayer meetings. After getting past the NFL, would some hometown fans show animosity to it all because their team's sports hero wasn't taking part in it or, better yet, was?
IE.. 'Hey! The after game prayer this week is featuring the Colts and Ravens. It is being led by Ray Lewis! Hey, wait! Where's Peyton Manning? Oh, he must be hurt, or doing an interview, or his knee is still bothering him or (1 million other excuses), etc...
Maybe Peyton Manning is such a devout man he doesn't need show it on this new TV show. Gatorade (who pays him millions, wants him immediately afterward at a press conference wearing their hat, or jacket, or logo. As you can see. It becomes convoluted.
We all worship in our own way. Our devotion sometimes is only as big as our heart, but unfortunately most of the time, it's only as big as our most dire need.
I am all for the idea of spreading the Word, if a game show is the way, so be it! It's just that as a test of faith I ask, who would be served by this kind of worship... God or money?
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