What's always bothered me about this show is not their (maybe misguided) altruism, though the point from Cosper is well taken. For me, it's the fact that the show helps only people who are (1) not responsible for their misfortune, (2) lovable, and (3) grateful. Of course these are the only people they could go to to make good TV. But when we watch it, our heart strings are pulled too. We too want to give our resources to people who deserve it. But is that not anti-gospel? Should we not serve the poor in the same way Jesus served us? Should we not go to all poor people, not just some of the poor? In other words, Jesus came to us a people totally responsible for our situation, totally unlovable, and totally ungrateful.
What's always bothered me about this show is not their (maybe misguided) altruism, though the point from Cosper is well taken. For me, it's the fact that the show helps only people who are (1) not responsible for their misfortune, (2) lovable, and (3) grateful. Of course these are the only people they could go to to make good TV. But when we watch it, our heart strings are pulled too. We too want to give our resources to people who deserve it. But is that not anti-gospel? Should we not serve the poor in the same way Jesus served us? Should we not go to all poor people, not just some of the poor? In other words, Jesus came to us a people totally responsible for our situation, totally unlovable, and totally ungrateful.
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