“Where did Jesus get the $7 million for a Super Bowl commercial?” Did he turn water into silver ()? asked late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel as he attempted to ridicule Super Bowl ads for the Catholic prayer app Hallow and the nondenominational “He Gets Us” campaign.
The comedian then mocked the Lent-centric collaboration with Hollywood actor Mark Wahlberg, saying: “If I sign up for the app, will (Wahlberg) know that I Did you skip Ash Wednesday? If I don’t come back with a Marky Mark on my forehead, will he report me to God?
All joking aside, the nominally Catholic The comedian’s monologue reiterates the culture’s pervasive anti-Christian prejudices.
Unless it bends over backwards to adapt to the whims of the times, Christianity is mercilessly denigrated. Each major cultural institution treats him with disdain and disgustand consider it as a threat to its legitimacythe federal government armed himself against believers.
But even if we put aside theology and logical proofs of the existence of God, Christianity has an extremely positive influence on the world and on the lives of its followers. We could measure its effect in terms of civilizations, hospitals and schools built in its name, or simply observe how it improves the lives of its followers.
Children raised in godly homes not only pray and attend church more often than their peers; evidence suggests that they do better at school And “complete further college studies”, thus preparing them for greater success as adults. Likewise, research published in the American Journal of Epidemiology noted Religious adolescents and young adults are more likely to refrain from destructive behaviors like promiscuity and habitual drug use.
Mayo Clinic Research concluded that “religious engagement and spirituality are associated with better health outcomes, including greater longevity, coping skills, and health-related quality of life (even terminally ill) and fewer anxiety, depression and suicide”, and that “meeting the spiritual needs” of the patient can improve recovery from the illness.
Additionally, individuals involved in religious communities are more likely to be civically engaged and more likely to be married, and people who regularly attend religious services are much less likely divorce.
It is clear that religious involvement is good for people and could remedy many of our cultural woes. Considering our nation’s Christian heritage – and that a qualified majority of Americans have at least some identity association with Christianity, even if many don’t know Jesus or actually follow him—one might reasonably conclude that a revival, so to speak, should be encouraged.
That’s precisely what the Super Bowl ads Kimmel mocked are trying to inspire, although some may be missing the forest for the trees when trying to appeal to the masses.
(Read: This ‘He Saves Us’ Ad Makes Up Everything That’s Wrong With the ‘He Gets Us’ Super Bowl Spot)
Despite offering personally manageable solutions to the problems tearing our civilization apart, Christianity remains public enemy #1. Unless Christians are willing to abandon their beliefs, they are not accepted in society. This is not new. The world has long hated Christ and his disciples and sought to restrict the truth – even discussed in the Gospel.
A growing number of Americans not to join with any religion, and a alarming amount (just under 50 percent) stopped going to church altogether. Reintroducing people to Christianity through services like Hallow could change their lives for the better and benefit future generations of Americans.
However, cultural figures like Kimmel will continue to profess their commitment to the faith while blaspheme And lead people astray. For people like them, Christianity is nothing more than a label invoked to condescend to others and something used to justify a hedonistic lifestyle.
Samuel Mangold-Lenett is an editor at The Federalist. His writing has been featured in the Daily Wire, Townhall, The American Spectator and other media outlets. He is a 2022 Claremont Institute Publius Fellow. Follow him on Twitter @smlenett.
