I read recently about an exchange of views in the “Big Brother House” that has caused a bit of a stir in a number of places. For those not in the know, “Big Brother” is a reality-TV programme in which contestants are filmed all the time while they live together in a big house. The idea comes from George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” in which the authorities controlled everyone by observing them all the time with cameras.
Apparently, in one conversation, the housemates were talking about when they lost their virginity. In an answer that stunned others to the point of incredulity, Segun, a 25-year-old male contestant declared, “I’m a virgin. No sex before marriage, innit.” He confirmed his situation was in line with and resulting from his Christian faith. Another housemate, Hannah, confirmed she was abstaining until marriage, too – also in line with her faith (not Christian). One person posted on Twitter, “Half mad that Segun and Hannah, two people from different religions, still wait until marriage before they can have sex in 2024. Quite admirable.”
“Half mad.” What was once the norm was being questioned in the house and by the voyeurs viewers as extraordinary; and what was once the behaviour of [a very few] rebels was being treated as the expected norm. How times have changed! And yet, “Quite admirable.” Yes indeed – that someone should resist their own natural desires and significant peer pressure in our permissive society because of a higher devotion to Christ (or another religious teacher) does reveal admirable traits of character – courage, determination, integrity and the like.
We could ponder whether the sexual revolution of the 1960s has delivered the liberation and satisfaction that it promised. I think the evidence suggests otherwise, and that therefore Segun and Hannah are acting in a wise way, but there was another shock in the story, and it is to this I wish to turn. The shock is that which drove the “clickbait” headline: “Big Brother contestant unaware that Christianity is a religion.”
Emma is 53. It was she who had started the discussion. Hearing about Christianity from Segun, she said, “I didn’t know that was a religion. I thought that was just a way of life.” You can imagine people scoffing at how ignorant she must be – let’s face it, with over two billion adherents across the planet, Christianity is the world’s biggest religion. How she can not know this is truly remarkable (not just half mad, and certainly in no way admirable). And yet, by saying that Christianity is a way of life, she is actually onto something. Maybe she’d heard someone say that Christianity is a way of life. I’ve said it. In fact, I say it quite a lot – usually to people who say they are “spiritual not religious.” People who say this tend to be rejecting something that I also find problematic. A “religion” which relies on the practice of certain rituals and the observance of seemingly arbitrary rules whilst remaining detached from day-to-day life is of no value or interest to me. It’s arguably of no value or interest to God, either. Christianity may be called a religion, but it is also a way of life: Jesus calls us to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow him, and that means we are to live each day in a way which a confused world calls half mad, yet quite admirable.
May the wisdom of God be your guide and his love your refuge.
Image by Mario Ohibsky from Pixabay