The year was 2017 and Pastor Mark Brown stood before 37,000 Pentecostals at the North American Youth Conference in Indianapolis, IN. The crowd he spoke to represented a varied gathering of Pentecostals from across the broad landscape of Pentecostal flavor. In attendance where those of the ALJC, the WPF, the UPCI, the PAW, and various other Pentecostal organizations, including those of the independent mindset. His appointment was not easy, but it was evident from his spirit that he had determined to obey the Holy Ghost and preach what, “thus saith the Lord.”

As one that has ministered before larger congregations, I cannot fathom the spiritual tension felt in the moment as he delivered his heart to 37,000 invididuals. I say tension because, as with any pulpit one fills beyond their own, there is always bound to be a complex atmosphere comprised of diverse ideologies and convictions. Couple this with the fact that–during his message–Mark Brown touched upon the sacred cow of entertainment. One can only imagine what rippled through the arena as subjects such as Netflix, Game of Thrones, Video Gaming, and the Office were dropped within the context of consecration.

As I posted in an article following his message, here are some of the statements made during the course of his message.

• What you watch affects how you pray
• You are outside of your mind if you think Lee Stoneking stays up all night playing video games to get where he is.
• No matter the level of talent, none of us are exempt from doing something with our talent
• Don’t seek fame; seek secrecy. God will exalt you in the right time
• Obedience is better than prominence
• Pride will either promote the flesh or it will protect the flesh
• Praise will help you gain ground, but only prayer will help you sustain ground
• We keep lowering the bar for fasting and the level of Bible reading that we are tripping over what we’ve created
• Lowering the bar to get more ministers through is a theological and practical nightmare
• Demonstration is never a recognition of dedication
• When you go to the Philistines for your weapons, you will always be at their mercy. The need for sermons, books, and songs from elsewhere is anathema to us. At it is because we set the bar so low.
• Do you think Jack Cunningham prepared for last night by binging on Game of Thrones?
• Do you think Vesta Mangun stayed up all night before preaching Because of the Times watching the Office, seems to be a cult classic among our movement hearing people reference that show…

I can’t even begin to address some of the points made amongst this list due to the powerful ideas each encapsulates. His statements on “lowering the bar” are both revelatory and spot-on within the context of organizational membership, church growth, and ministerial advancement. Yet, of all the things that really stood out to me was his reference to the hit show, the Office which, following his statement, I went into research mode.

The Office

How can mention of a television series be a stand-out point of Mark Brown’s message? Only because it has been one of the more obvious transgressions within Pentecostal communities. Frankly, I have been astounded by the following within Pentecost of what Mark Brown referred to as the “cult classic among our movement.” How can we justify a show that is laden with vulgar and perverse sketches that, instead of making us cringe, make us laugh? Again, let’s take a look at what the Office series provides:

• Occasional uses of B****, A**, He**, etc.
• Male character is shown to have erection through pants during one episode
• Promotion of sexual promiscuity (fornication)
• Crude use of private parts, masturbation, and etc.
• Post-it note drawings of body parts, male and female.
• Sexual misconduct and harrassment, cast in a “humoristic” way

From the IMDB’s parent guide, here are some other features of the cult classic amongst many Pentecostals:

• This show contains sexual jokes in every episode. The show contains nudity but it is always censored out and it is very infrequent
• The lead character and an employee go to a sex toy store
• In many episodes the lead character engages in sexually inappropriate jokes in the form of “that’s what she said.”
• Lots of sexual references including sex, gay, lesbian, 69, oral sex, anal sex, masturbation, circumcision, STDs, handjobs, and strip clubs
• Comments from lead character about the breasts of an employee
• In one episode, one character is at a bachelor party and a stripper in a skimpy outfit sits on his lap and writhes around, making suggestive comments to him.
• A couple is heard having sex in a closet
• A lot of gay humor
• In one episode, a stripper is hired in a warehouse. Fully clothed, she sits on a man’s lap, starts dancing a little bit, and then rips off her shirt to reveal her bra and midriff.
• Lead character fondles another character’s (Jan) clothed breats for about 10 seconds, mentioning his desire to squeeze and “motorboat” them
• One episode has conversations about one of the characters being unable to sexually perform and explicit reference to satisfaction and ejaculation is discussed.
• Cryptic references to anal and oral sex, but in one episode the lead character talks about oral sex as having a “***** in your mouth.”
• B**tch, *ss, and other words are used sporadically, whereas R-rated profanities are bleeped out

The Elephant is OUT of the Room

Unfortunately, there are those who will read this article and write this off as fundamentalist overreaction. I will be labeled as judgmental and prudish and those who glamorize this show will continue to defend it as merely a “funny” show. It isn’t as though this is a closeted show amongst many Pentecostals. I have seen several Pentecostal men and women sporting shirts bearing clothing associated with the show (the comments associated with the pictures indicating this and further establishing how others view this as a favorite show of their own).

Not only are we paving the way for children to adopt the watching habits of parents, but we are trivially introducing sinful things into our homes and somehow justifying shows like this as “not a big deal.” I fear what the answer would be should Sunday School teachers question their students, “what do mommy and daddy like to watch?” Oh, I have been in some pretty awkward situations where parents–with a mortified look come across their face–tried to redirect what their child was saying regarding a movie or show they had been watching. And, trust me, it wasn’t the early disney classic of Cinderella. Simply put, there is NO WAY anyone who professes to pursue a lifestyle of holiness can justify their watching of the office. Further, how anyone could justify ministry of any fashion with these entertainment practices in their life is beyond my understanding.

Can one say they are adhering, to the best of their ability, to the following scripture?

Philippians 4:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Of course not! But, as the elders forewarned, entertainment would open our homes to things we never thought possible. Homosexuality, adultery, drug use, vulgarity, fornication, cursing, and so much more. I fear though, even as men warn of these dangers, the next generation may continue to march down paths well-worn by parents who have justified aggregious things we never thought would be part of the “new norm.”

Indeed, too many have lowered the bar and, as Mark Brown stated, are now tripping over the bar they have lowered. It is affecting the culture of our churches, the liberty and freedom we ought to enjoy, and we are observing an outbreak of worldliness that is destroying, not necessary the generation that has lowered the bar, but the generation who has had to follow those who have lowered the bar.