Hallmark Channel Email

Date: December 20, 2019

Subject: “As many things as are of moral excellence”

Dear Hallmark Channel,

Many years ago, I stopped watching all TV shows, series, and movies except for news, sports and Christian programming. The main reason was the non-stop depiction and promotion of sexual sin, including fornication (premarital sex), adultery, homosexual sex, and transgenderism.

In addition to these sexual sins, there is also often depiction and promotion of various other sins, like disobedience to parents, disrespect for authority, senseless violence, foul language, and the like, along with deprecation of the Christian faith. Even when all of this is not occurring, there is still immodest dress being worn. With all these sins permeating most all modern-day TV and movies, there was way I could continue to watch any of it, as it is all contrary to my Christian faith and the Bible’s teaching:

⁸[As to] the rest [or, Finally], brothers [and sisters], as many [things] as are true, as many as [are] dignified [or, honorable], as many as [are] righteous, as many as are pure [or, innocent], as many as [are] lovely, as many as [are] commendable, if [there is] any moral excellence [or, virtue], and if any[thing] deserving to be praised, be meditating on [or, be thinking about] these things (Philippians 4:8).

Such is simply not a description of most all of today’s TV programming. But then last Christmas season, I came across your network and your feel-good Christmas movies. Those did fit this Biblical description and were not guilty of promoting the sins listed above. I was especially pleased to see you did not depict your falling in love couples as engaging in premarital sex, as is the norm on most any other TV station. Most of the time, your couples do not even kiss until the final scene, and that is after they have developed a relationship. That is as it should be. In fact, I would say if more couples today followed that pattern, we would have more happy marriages and fewer divorces.

I was also pleased there were no homosexual couples or even characters in your movies, as is now the norm on most all other TV shows.

As a bonus, you also call your movies “Christmas Movies” not “Holiday Movies” and consistently have your characters say, “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” That again is as it should be. Jesus Christ is after all the Reason for the Season.

Then after last year’s Christmas season, I was pleased to find out your network had similar movies throughout the rest of the year, with most of them geared to the season. Therefore, over the spring, summer, and fall, I continued to watch movies on your network.

A month ago, I even might have needed to turn in my “man card” when I spent a Saturday afternoon watching one your fall movies I had recorded rather than the Penn State/ Ohio State football game. But in my defense, as a Penn State grad, I just could not bear to watch Ohio State trounce Penn State, which I knew they would do and which they did. That would have left me feeling depressed, but watching your movies always leaves me feeling uplifted.

That then brought me full circle back to this year’s Chrisman season and your Christmas movies, which I once again began watching and recording.

However, all the while, I had the nagging fear it would not last. I say that as I tried many times years ago to start watching a TV series that seem to be wholesome, only to have it slowly but surely start to depict its characters engaging in premarital sex, to bring in a homosexual or transgender character, or to depict any of the other above sins. Each time, with some reluctance, I would stop watching that series. I finally just gave up trying, realizing no matter how wholesome a series might start, sin would eventually seep into it. The final straw was when ABC’s Once Upon a Time turned Little Red Riding Hood and Dorothy of Oz into lesbian lovers.

My fears were then realized in regard to your network the first time I saw the commercial depicting the lesbian wedding couple, kissing yet. I knew then you had gone woke, and a movie depicting a homosexual couple as the main love interests would not be far behind. I felt a bit encouraged when you pulled that commercial, but then completely disheartened when you caved to the rage mob and reinstated it.

With that caving on your part, it is clear your network will go the way of every other TV series or network I have tried to watch. Characters engaging in premarital sex, homosexual couples, and other sins I am sure will soon be depicted on your network. As such, I can no longer in faith to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christi continue to watch your network.

I am sure I am not they only Christian who feels this way. Therefore, let me predict that your network will go the way of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Boy Scouts. Both caved to the rage mob. As a result, the Circus went out of business and the Boy Scouts are fast on their way to bankruptcy, which, as a former Eagle Scout, is heartbreaking.

I predict it will now be a race between Hallmark Channel and Chick-fil-A as to which company loses their high reputation and customer support the fastest, after both of you caved to the rage mob. You might think this was a wise financial decision. But as with Chick-fil-A, it is the beginning of the end for your network, as most in the rage mob that you caved to don’t actually watch your network, just like they don’t actually eat at Chick-fil-A.

As for myself, I already deleted all the Hallmark Christmas movies from my DVR that I had recorded previously and recorded some Christmas specials off of TBN and Daystar instead. I will stick to those networks from now on, but I will no longer be recording and watching movies on your network.

I say all of this with a sad heart, as I truly did enjoy your movies. Again, they always left me with a good feeling. But knowing your network is in no way committed to Biblical morality, I can no longer support it.

⁹You* know that unrighteous [persons] will not inherit [the] kingdom of God, do you* not? Stop being led astray [fig., being deceived]; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor passive partners in male-male sex [or, effeminate men], nor active partners in male-male sex, ¹⁰nor covetous [persons], nor thieves, nor drunkards, nor slanderers [or, abusive persons], nor swindlers will inherit [the] kingdom of God. [cp. 1Tim 1:8-10]

¹¹And these some [of] you* were! [or, And such were some of you*!] But you* yourselves were washed [fig., purified], but you* were sanctified, but you* were justified [or, declared righteous] in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [or, by] the Spirit of our God! (1Corinthians 6:9-11).

²⁶Because of this, God gave them over to dishonorable, lustful passions, for even their females exchanged the natural use for the [use] against nature, ²⁷and likewise also the males having left the natural use of the female were inflamed in their craving for one another; males with males committing shameful behavior and receiving back in themselves the requital which was fitting [for] their deception [or, perversion].

²⁸And just as they did not think it was worthwhile to be having [or, keeping] God in [their] true knowledge [or, consciousness], God gave them over to a disapproved [fig. debased] mind to be doing the [things] not proper, ²⁹having been filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetous desire [or, greed], malice; full of envy, murder, bitter conflict, deceit [or, treachery], maliciousness; gossips, ³⁰back-biters, God-haters, insolent persons, arrogant boasters, schemers of evil [things]; disobedient to parents, ³¹senseless, untrustworthy, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; ³²who having known the regulation [or just judgment] of God, that the ones practicing such things are deserving of death, not only are doing them, but they are also approving of the ones practicing [them] (Romans 1:26-32).

Gary Z.

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Zeolla.org
Personal website of Gary F. Zeolla
Author of Christian, fitness, and politics books, websites, and newsletters
Translator of the Analytical-Literal Translation of the Complete Bible
All-time open (all ages) top ranked and master (over 50) record holding powerlifter
http://www.Zeolla.org

><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>

Note: I added the part about “immodest dress” after trying to watch A CMA Country Christmas. I thought it would be okay, as country musicians tend to be more conservative than other secular artists. But it ended up being a cleavage fest. The worst was a supposedly Christian female singer, who came out wearing skin-tight, black leather hot pants and a low-cut blouse. That is when I shut it off and added that part to my email.

For a follow-up to this email, see Viable Alternatives to Watching Sin for Entertainment.

Biography:

All Scripture verses from: Analytical-Literal Translation of the New Testament: Third Edition. Copyright © 2012 By Gary F. Zeolla (www.Zeolla.org). Previously copyrighted © 1999, 2001, 2005, 2007 By Gary F. Zeolla.

Hallmark Channel website.

Trib Live. Hallmark to reinstate same-sex marriage commercial it pulled.

Trib Live. Pop culture in 2010s marked gains in diversity, inclusion.

The above article was posted on this website December 20, 2019.

Ethics, Spirituality, Christian Life
General Sexual Issues TV and Movies

Text Search Alphabetical List of Pages Subject Index
General Information on Articles Contact Information

Darkness to Light Home Page
www.zeolla.org/christian

Click Here for Books and eBooks By Gary F. Zeolla