The Fate of Jon and Kate?

They had become wildly popular and seemed invincible – until, that is, the pressures of stardom turned their precious reality show into a prime-time nightmare.

Jon & Kate Gosselin have been sharing their personal lives in the TLC network ever since the birth of their now 5-year old sextuplets. Along with their 8-year old twin daughters, the couple has lived with lights and cameras nearly non-stop, in order to ‘document’ the joys and struggles of raising two sets of multiples.

The couple have become cultural icons and celebrated as models of wholesome family values. They have been pro-life, pro-family, and pro-marriage. The have from day one bickered back and forth some on air, but who wouldn’t under the pressure of their day to day lives. Despite that, the outspoken Christian couple said publicly that they would ‘stay together for the long haul’. They even renewed their marriage vows last season on a beach in Hawaii. So all seemed well and fairly stable in Gosselinville – until now.

Today America’s second first family stand on the brink of a total meltdown, as widely documented. Everything has changed. They live in a new sprawling estate in the country. They’ve had plastic surgery, hair repairs, and full dental overhauls. They dress differently, talk differently, and live the life more akin to jet setters than a normal, middle-class family. Kate has been transformed from a normal mom of eight in sweatpants to resemble more of a supermodel. In short, they have become media superstars, complete with all of the typical prime-time perks. And for scores of confused average Americans, all of the things that first endeared them to the TV couple's slice of ‘reality’ have been abruptly replaced by something ‘unreal’ – if not downright hypocritical.

The Gosselin’s marriage appears on the verge of total collapse. Their former regular church attendance has become less and less while their time apart from each other is more and more. They often take turns watching the kids. Extended family members are out of the loop and some are speaking out about the family they consider to be “out of control”. To make matters even worse, constant rumors fly about extra-marital affairs on both sides. There may even be an investigation over the possible violation of child labor laws by both the parents and the show’s producer. And then there is the timing of the scandal. The drama was played out while Kate was on tour promoting her new book ‘Multiple Blessings’– one that clearly shares their deep commitment to Jesus Christ. There is little wonder today why the family once looked up to by Christians, pro-life supporters, and everyday decent moral Americans has begun a steady ‘fall from grace’ - one that may not be recoverable.

Julie Vermeer Elliott, is a faculty member at Eastern University in St. Davids, PA. She holds a master of theological studies degree from Duke Divinity School and is a professor of Christian ethics. And in an article in Christianity Today she offered some rather harsh, but honest and accurate words about the Gosselin’s demise.

“As fellow Christians, we should have reminded the Gosselins that life is a gift to be received in gratitude, not something to be grasped, purchased, or sold. In many ways, the last four seasons of Jon & Kate Plus Eight is the story of a family that seemed to progressively lose sight of this truth. When the network and the couple were not satisfied with the money generated through high ratings and book sales, the Gosselin home was filled with product placements and the children were filmed for long hours each week. All the while many (though not all) evangelicals watched with undiscerning eyes. Somewhere along the line we, like Jon and Kate, seemed to forget the warnings of 1 Timothy 6:9-10. "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Professor Elliot then adds, “As such, the breakdown of Jon and Kate's marriage is but a symptom of the larger weaknesses of ethics in the evangelical community. We are easily seduced by wealth and fame. We are easily contented by the shallow rhetoric of hot-button issues. In short, we are easily deceived by cultural values painted in Christian veneers.”

When approaching the fragile and tragic scene that has become the new reality for the Gosselin family, there are a few things that are certain. While no longer in economic trouble, it seems that most everything else in their lives is. What is certain is that they may have lost their “first love’. (Revelation 2:4) It appears certain that financial gain has impacted family and marital stability. And it is certain that, apart from repentance and especially divine intervention from the Lord they claim to know and love, there is little real hope.

In light of all that has gone on, loyal fans of ‘Jon and Kate Plus 8’ should do at least three things:

First, they should stop watching and supporting the show until the couple awakens and attempts to repair their broken relationship to each other and perhaps to their Lord as well. To continue viewing keeps sponsor’s money flowing, thus enabling the tragedy to go on.

Secondly, Christian fans should pray for this couple and their children, They should pray that their eyes might be opened to real ‘reality’. Pray they might re-consider the marriage vows renewed just a year ago – vows made to each other and more importantly, to God.

Lastly, followers of Christ should use this whole sad scene to become freshly aware of the warning of Paul in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13. “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

Bill Breckenridge