Posted on 02/04/2011 9:39:23 AM PST by MintyHippo1980
s FOX Network puts the finishing touches on its advertisement lineup for the February 6th Super Bowl — arguably as popular a part of the evening as the game itself — one thing is certain: just about any thing will be permissible in the way of sex, sleaze, and crude humor. Apparently, however, one type of ad will not be permitted: those promoting positive values and faith in God.
Following last year’s media furor over a Focus on the Family-sponsored pro-life spot during the Super Bowl featuring Christian football phenomenon Tim Tebow (left) and his mother, FOX has put the kibosh on wholesome advocacy ads with the potential of offending any viewer with an opposing viewpoint.
Specifically, the network has rejected a 30-second spot from the Christian apologetics group Fixed Point Foundation advertising its website, lookup316.com. The goal of the site, as its main page communicates, is to offer a “message of hope” base on the well-known New Testament scripture John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
The ad itself features a group of men and women viewing a televised football game in a living room. As the crowd cheers a play on the field, the camera focuses in on a player with the Scripture reference “John 3:16” written over the black under his eyes. When one of the group asks his buddy what the phrase means, someone reaches for a cell phone and says, “I’ll look it up,” as the ad fades to the website Lookup3:16.com, and the phrase, “A Message of Hope.”
Larry Taunton, executive director of Fixed Point, explained his group’s reasoning in producing the ad for the big game. “If I had 30 seconds to say anything I wanted to an audience of millions, what would I say?” He wrote on the organization’s site. “I put this question to my friends. As we considered the question thoughtfully, we concluded that we would want to deliver a message of hope.”
Taunton emphasized that the spot “advertises no products, asks for no money, promotes no political platform and doesn’t even mention the sponsoring organization. It has a simple, yet direct message: Hope . . . ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only son.’”
But after Fixed Point had worked for months to shoot the spot and raise the millions needed to air it, FOX pulled the plug, explaining in a prepared statement: “As a matter of company policy, Fox Broadcasting Company does not accept advertising from religious organizations for the purpose of advancing particular beliefs or practices. The Fixed Point Foundation was provided with our guidelines prior to their submission of storyboards for our review. Upon examination, the advertising submitted clearly delivers a religious message and as a result has been rejected.”
Taunton commented on FOX’s decision, noting that “it seems one can advertise just about anything else. Few movie trailers are deemed too violent or beer commercials too sexual for primetime. But religious messages, particularly Christian ones, well, that’s just too controversial.”
While the Alabama-based group won’t be able to air the ad nationally, it is planning to run it locally on Birmingham’s Alabama’s FOX affiliate, during the time the network reserves for local advertising. “We believe that Super Bowl XLV is an opportunity to encourage football fans to look up John 3:16,” Fixed Point said on its website. “After all, John 3:16 is part of the culture of football,” referring to the number of football players, such as Tim Tebow, who have taken to wearing the scripture reference on their eye black, as well as the longtime tradition of fans in the seats holding large signs bearing the phrase “John 3:16.”
Said Taunton, “We want to generate a conversation about what this verse means and does it offer authentic hope — which I think it does.”
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" - Isaiah 5:20
That is one verse that comes to my mind daily, I can’t believe how applicable it is today.
Shame on you, Fox.
the depths have not been reached, but its not far now. There is no reason to ask why any current event is happening.
I guess it would be too much to ask people to boycott the super bowl!?!
Yes, a boycott would be too much to ask but if all Christians would contact FOX and let them know that WE are offended and there are more of us than there are Muslims and Liberals. Giving in to political correctness, simply a tactic to silence the conservative opposition, must no longer be tolerated in silence.
I will send an e-mail to them. The more the merrier.
It should be lookup316.com not lookup3:16.com (colon’s are used for indicating a port number at the end of a URL).
I expect many rejected ads get a lot of free publicity for the fact that they are rejected. Some ad producers probably hope for rejection for that reason.
I’ve been boycotting the Stupid Bowl since 2002 and I love football. It’s always on when I’m at church and the game takes a back seat to the hype.
If it was something out of the Koran or Talmud, they would run it.
My thought is that the TV mostly belongs to Satan anyway. Why should we expect him to allow God’s message of salvation on his medium.
Fox Rejects “John 3:16” Super Bowl Ad
It would be more fun to do Isaiah 48:22.
I will go out on a limb here, and will undoubtedly be flamed by many of the sports loving freepers here.
But I feel sports viewing is just over the top in this country — and has been on the upswing since the 60’s. I feel it’s a lot of the reason why decent men do nothing about the sorry state of our nation, our society, our families, etc.
Yes, it’s fun, it’s social, it’s stress relieving, but it has also made many a man soft, disengaged, dumber, fatter, drunker, poorer. We can fill stadiums with millions, but can’t get people to march in the streets about the sorry state of affairs we have today.
I just don’t buy into it myself.
I’ll boycott the superbowl.
What do we expect? FOX is partly Saudi owned.
This reminds me of the deciples grumbling about Jesus spending time in the taverns drinking wine with the regulars there. They asked why he did that and he replied, "That is where the sinners are." In other words, he was going where there are those who needed to hear his message.
Are you of the mind that God should be discussed only with the Godly? That God should be worshipped only in the churches? That God's message should be shared only in church bulletins? We both know that although Satan has an easier time of it, God can invade his territory anytime he wants. I was suggesting that we should remind the media we are still out here and they should be aware of it.
The Left uses political correctness to shut up their opposition. It only works if we cooperate and allow it. I am suggesting we mouth back at them.
"Dumb, fat, drunk, and poor is no way to go through life son..."
Seriously, though, I agree with you.
Is Fox accepting ads with plenty of scantly clad females and rutting innuendo?
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