2005-06-13 - The Osbournes

Originally Published 2002-03-19

Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.

Ozzy Osbourne, former lead singer of the dark hard rock band Black Sabbath, and family have gone mainstream. I suppose this could mean that the Apocalypse really is upon us. On Monday, March 18, 2002, he and his wife Sharon rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange. They also currently have one of the most popular shows on television which is shown on MTV and called "The Osbournes." In it, they allow MTV to come into their home and film them going through life with their two children Jack and Kelly. I don't have a TV in my home, but I have one at work, and so this weekend I watched reruns of the two episodes that have been shown.

I will admit two things here. One, if you have not figured it out yet, is that I am a lover of the Puritans. I may be the only 21st century Puritan alive, but I don't mind that. I love their writings and the practical piety that they exemplified in their lives. So it might surprise you when I also admit that I think "The Osbournes" is probably the most hilarious show I have seen on TV in years. I don't watch much TV, and when I do it is usually news, but I wanted to watch this show so that I was more informed about "pop" culture. I laughed for an hour. The show gives a window into a dysfunctional family that functions.

I don't like cursing, and there is a lot of cursing on the show. I often think that those who curse show themselves to lack sophistication. I feel like telling someone with a filthy mouth that they ought to get themselves a can of spray paint and put all their wisdom on a freeway overpass, like all the other people who are as wise as them. But you can't say such things. However cursing does not bother me as much as hearing someone take the name of the Lord in vain. MTV has to bleep out the curses, but sadly, they can allow God's name to be taken in vain freely and not bleep it out. It violates the third commandment and it shows utter disrespect for the holiness of God. We should never presume to use His name without reverence or as an oath.

I still believe in the ten commandments. You can argue with me if you like, but you are not likely to get anywhere with me. I think that at least the ten commandments provide us with a wise manner of conduct. and I would submit that to you for thought. A great passage to work through is the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119. It will take some time to get through it, but if you try, you will find that David places a great amount of emphasis on God's law. Christ sums up the commandments in Matthew 22:34-40, but notice that He does not tell us not to keep the commandments. But this is not really a hobby horse of mine. I leave you to your conscience. and if your conscience is clear, be thankful. I will be the first to say that we are not a faith of law. We are a faith of love in Christ. The law will bring no one to faith and repentance. In fact, the law condemns. It is the gospel that offers forgiveness. So in love, we don't preach the law to ourselves or others. We emphasize the love and mercy that is found in Christ. through His death for sin and resurrection from the dead. We find that love fulfills the law in Romans 13:8-10, and I will close with those verses:

"Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. For this, 'You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,' and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in the saying, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law."

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

tim@cfdevotionals.org

http://www.cfdevotionals.org
http://www.papercutpress.com