Buddy Dobbs is “a hard-core gambling addict who, in order to go on the run from a loan shark, ends up stealing the identity of a gay pastor in a local small-town community.” Such is the plot for Impastor, a new “comedy” that started July 15 on TV Land. This is the same network that brought us reruns of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, I Love Lucy and The Andy Griffith Show. I wonder what Andy would think of his network now.
According to OneMillionMoms, “This show not only depicts pastors in a negative light, but the entire program will also be based on lies about Christianity.” The website also notes that “TV Land is not ridiculing any other religion currently and wouldn’t dream of mocking Muhammad or Muslims.”
Clearly, the enemy is attacking the church by attacking pastors. He knows that the best way to attack the sheep is to attack their shepherd. And he knows that immorality and discouragement feed each other. Private sin inevitably becomes public failure, and the cause of Christ is harmed as a result.
It’s no wonder that Paul repeatedly asked Christians to pray that he would be delivered from his enemies (2 Thess. 3:1-2; Rom. 15:30-31) and that he would be bold and effective in proclaiming the gospel (Eph. 6:19-20; Col. 4:3-4). When Charles Spurgeon was asked the secret to his ministry, he always replied, “My people pray for me.”