Pretty much everyone knows I am a Survivor fan. Not that it is a “perfect” or even a wholesome program, by any measure. I simply like watching how the show brings out true human nature. It shows the depths to which people will sink in the name of the almighty dollar.
I’ve come to expect a steady diet of religious “fruit salad” on Survivor. But I think this latest edition, filmed in China, will top them all.
The opening scene involved what host Jeff Probst called a “welcome ceremony” in a Buddhist temple. But that “welcome ceremony” included a plethora of religious symbols and movements … prayerful hands, bowing, and reverence. It was, quite obviously, a Buddhist religious observance.
My hat goes off to contestant Leslie Nease. This 38-year-old follower of Christ from South Carolina got up and walked out of the building. When confronted by the host about her actions, she said (paraphrasing … as best I can remember) “I’m not a religious person, but I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the commands of the Bible is to not bow down to any other gods. If I’m going to put my face on the floor, it will only be for Jesus. I’m sorry, but that felt like worship to me.”
Kudos to this courageous wife and mother of four. She has, most likely, put a huge “religious freak” target on her back, and it may hurt her standing in the game. But what an awesome stand for Christ in front of, literally, millions of people worldwide!
If only all believers could have that type of courage!
September 20, 2007 at 8:06 pm
Geoff,
Just a quick note on Leslie – she is a morning co-host on New Life 91.9 (Christian radio)in Charlotte, NC. She had been off the air for some time and they explained recently her participation on Survivor. I didn’t get to see tonight’s show so I am glad to hear about her stand. I will defintely tune in next week!
God Bless, Sam.
September 20, 2007 at 8:08 pm
Brother Geoff,
This is a great stand for Christ.
Blessings,
Tim
September 21, 2007 at 8:22 am
Geoff:
My oldest daughter got us hooked on the second season (Outback)and we have watched it ever since. We even took a trip to Katy, Texas to meet Coby.
I saw the Buddhist temple and just knew Jeff would have them do something inside it. I told my family that a believer cannot participate in such a ceremony. A few minutes later Lesley walked out and made her statement. Jeff was wrong to phrase it as “not worship.” I hope he was not being disingenuous, but, after all, it is entertainment.
It will be interesting to see Lesley continues with this assorted mix of characters.
Paul
September 21, 2007 at 11:40 am
[...] 21st, 2007 by excogitatingengineer A Courageous Stand of Faith on Survivor China (HT: Along the [...]
September 21, 2007 at 10:43 pm
I watched the first Survivor. I chose not to “get hooked” on it again and that meant never watching it. I hate reality TV and the control it has over us when we think we can’t miss it.
I am very proud that she made that stand and that they didn’t cut it off the program. Children are being introduced to similar experiments in some schools and their parents aren’t there to tell them it is an act of worship to imitate the rituals of other religions. I hope her stand was discussed in homes around America.
September 22, 2007 at 7:23 am
I am not a Christian. I can’t even begin to tell you how many Christian funerals I’ve gone to that seemed to be an hour of “Nyah, nyah, nyah, we’re going to heaven and you’re not.” Exclusionary as all getout. But did I walk out in a huff? No. I stayed out of respect for someone else’s beliefs and their house of worship.
If Leslie Nease’s faith is so tenuous that being exposed to someone else’s spiritual symbols is somehow “corrupting”, then it can’t be that strong. If you want to live in a world where nothing that isn’t Christian doesn’t touch your delicate eyes, then DON’T GO TO CHINA. Or is her greed for the million bucks so strong that she forgot that China doesn’t exactly have a huge Christian population?
I thought it was disrespectful and appalling.
September 22, 2007 at 7:43 am
Liz,
I understand your reluctance to participate.
NoPatience,
I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree with it.
The issue is not a lack of respect or even being “exposed” to the religious symbols of others. I am quite sure that she had no qualms about visiting a Buddhist temple or observing a service. Indeed, I have visited such a place before. I was curious, and a bit enlightened to the practices of others. The issue is actual participation in rites of worship. That is where people who actually have deep convictions regarding their own faith have to draw the line.
In our faith, God forbids the worship of other (false) gods. Indeed, it is that important that the Ten Commandments address the issues of “other gods” and “idol worship.” Indeed, they are so important to God that He included them in His “top ten.” Serious stuff…
If you paid any attention at all to what was happening on that program you saw people bowing on mats, folded hands, and Buddhist monks enforcing the right and proper way to hold hands, bow, etc… There were, undoubtedly, many aspects of the event that were not televised.
This woman detected, within her spirit, an overwhelming darkness that comes from being in the presence of forces and symbols that are contrary to the Bible and the standards of Jesus Christ. She had to walk away to remain true to her faith. It wasn’t that her faith was “tenuous.” She simply refused to worship anyone or anything other than her Lord.
And … by the way … you are also wrong about your understanding of the faith atmosphere in China. There is a HUGE population of Christians there … one of the largest populations of Jesus-followers in the entire world. Buddhism is simply more historically associated with China and its environs.
BTW … welcome to my blog. I always enjoy when people who disagree with me stop by for dialog. I hope you’ll come back sometime.
October 3, 2007 at 2:03 pm
i’m glad to see people commenting on this! i was so proud to see her get up and leave and she even seemed teary at first! how nice to see someone taking their faith seriously and not willing to “go through the motions” of the world. anyone else thinking that leslie is an awesome example of a modern-day shadrach, meeshach and abnego?
also, kudos to you, geoff for how you handled the NoPatience comment… Not that i’m going to attack the comment or the person who made it, but i thought it was a good reply that you gave.