The Simpsons

Before Bible Study last night I manged to see 3/4 of a Simpsons episode. It's a new series for me and the last 3 episodes all have been focused around, at least in part, Christian stuff. for example;

Last night Springfield lost their tourism rating and so need to lure people back to their town. The solution (suggested by the little activist Lisa) is to legalise same sex marriages. They do, and soon the town is filled with gay couples looking to wed. But Rev. Lovejoy nails shut the church becuase marrying 2 gay people is like, "putting a hamburger paddy on a hot dog bun." So Homer gets himself ordained over the internet and marries them all . . . for a price. Before long Homer (in dog collar) and Rev. Lovejoy and facing off on Kent Brockman's night time news show. The conversation goes something like this:

Kent: But Homer, if we legalise same sex marriages aren't we on a slippery slop? What is there to stop us marrying anything?

Homer: Don't be silly Kent, they have to exist . . . (thinking and hatching a plan) Or do they?

Rev LJ: Call me old fashioned Homer, but the Bible says . . .

Homer: The Bible! You love the bible so much maybe you should marry it! (Waves his arms in the air) I now pronounce you husband and wife . . . and your the wife! (giggles to himself)

Now maybe some of it is lost in the translation but I thought it was fascinating. The Christians certianly get made the butt of many of the jokes but at the same time Kent voices a real concern that when you redefine marriage you open the door for people to marry their cats, cars and siblings. And once this begins to happen, we won't have a leg to stand on because we've already shot marriage dead long ago. Homer's obvious inability to engage with this very serious issue shoots another round at the same sex marriage lobby. As a Christian I'm OK with taking a few hits as long as it goes both ways. As it did last night.

And all from just 30 seconds of a cartoon, I'm very impressed. But we all know, it's more than just a cartoon isn't it?

Scott