It is difficult to find anything positive about NBC’s “The Book of Daniel.” After all, it portrays Christ’s church – including the minister’s family and church leaders – as hopeless hypocrites. If a TV show treated any other belief with such disrespect, accusations of “hate mongering” would be vociferous.

While the rest of my family drifted off to bed – noting that the “Book of Daniel” was boring and silly – I forced myself to sit through it. Since the show was so well publicized and already controversial, I wanted to decide for myself.

Actually, there were a few positives. It is the gospel truth that every human is a sinner. (That is why they need a Savior.) It is true that Christians aren’t anywhere near perfect. They sin and often backslide. It is true that Jesus loves everybody and wants a personal relationship with them. It is true that life is difficult and that Christ will “walk beside you” if you let Him. It is true that Christians will receive their reward in the afterlife.

The show did not present the reality of faithful Christian living. But it did present (to the maximum possible extent) the influence of popular culture on some of today’s churches. Even the disciples had to reprimand some of the early churches about pagan practices and instruct them in the ways of the Lord. The big difference here is that the Episcopal priest, while being the only character even attempting to follow Jesus (and a different Jesus this was!), accepts the popular culture views (plus some) of his liberal, mainline denomination. For example, he accepts that homosexuality is genetic and “normal.” The Bible calls it an abomination. He also accepts premarital sex as “normal.” The Bible says God created marriage for the sexual relationship.

It is a painful reality that Christians who allow popular culture to dominate their beliefs have lifestyles that are no different from those of the World. Some church members are “Sunday Christians” only. They attend services but have never actually repented and trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord. For them, church is nothing more than a social club. That appears to be the case in “The Book of Daniel.” It is basically a “dead church,” and even the church leaders are more concerned with outward appearance than inward change.

Should the show make the cut, it might be interesting to find out if anyone in Daniel’s family or congregation ever experiences a change of heart. Otherwise, I can’t see how overt degeneracy with no godly solutions can be entertaining or credible.