Discussing
The Cost of Fame: “Jon & Kate Plus 8”

I had a friend have a pretty swift rise to fame - making it onto opera and the today show - and it was incredible to watch how his demeanor changed as fame started to get into his head.

I've told my female friends over the past couple of years that this show would ruin their marriage/family, because I've grown to believe that fame corrupts. We see it in every celebrity and politician and reality show.

Also, we see Jesus running directly away from fame (heading to the dessert after being baptized, sneaking into a festival instead of traveling with and entourage). Maybe Christians ought to be people who are marked by avoiding fame and limelight.

Seems that our reputation may have a better standing in the world (bristol palin, miss california, jon & kate, ted haggard, etc.)

AMEN to this article - you just captured everything I was anticipating, hoping and feeling while I couldn't take my eyes off of the t.v. either. I came away with an overwhelming feeling of sadness - not for either Jon or Kate necessarily, but for their children and for the Christians who have supported them in their faith. Being on the outside looking in, we can never know everything that has gone on between the two of them, but I sure was hoping to find out that everything I heard were just rumors and that while they may have their struggles, they also had each other's backs for the rest of their lives the way they promised each other and promised God.

I truly hope and pray that their church gets involved w/ some form of disclepiship for them.. I pray for God's grace and I pray that Jon run's to Jesus during this time.

They keep saying that they want what is best for their kids. I pray for them that they will realize that what is TRULY BEST for their kids is to work on their marriage. A strong marriage is THE BEST gift any of us can give our kids. They won't remember million dollar houses and mall bought clothing, but they will remember the love of their mom and dad. I am praying daily for God to work in their hearts and open their eyes.

Seems to me that fame + fortune = being of the world.
What else is there to say?

I think the judgment laid on this family also suggests Christians are no different than the rest of the world. What happened to mercy and considering the fact that we don't know what's really going on inside their lives?

"Any hope I had about a Christian response to situation was killed with that single comment." Who are we to say that they aren't having a "Christian" response? That's between them and God. If one has been been cheated on, well, there's "Christian" justification for a divorce. We simply don't know what steps they're taking, what really happened, or how they've been trying to fix things.

Perhaps a more productive way to talk about this show is to offer practical advice to families going through similar things the Gosselins are rumored to--or appear to--be going through. Without laying judgment or presuming intimate knowledge, that could serve the purpose to help other people without tearing down a family that's already going through enough.

I don't think that we should be focusing on a particular religion when it comes the Gosselin's heartbreaking situation at hand. I am so sick of these religious freaks always blaming life's mishaps on not following a stupid religion. I feel terrible for these 8 children. The show has gone way too far. It's time to put the cameras away and give this family the privacy they need to either work through their differences or move on in different directions. Don't get me wrong... I love this show too. I watched the marathon this past weekend when I was home. I saw the differences in both Jon and Kate. I think that they are both wrong.

Jon and Kate deserve our mercy, not our condemnation. Well, no they don't--any more than we deserve God's.

I have never followed Jon and Kate plus 8 so I won't say what I think of the show itself since I haven't seen it.

However, I do have something to say about Christians and divorce. My father is currently with his 3rd wife. He is a former pastor. My mom has been divorced three times. I have been married to my husband for nearly 7 years but we almost ended our marriage within the first year. It was only by God's grace/wrecking ball and our willingness to follow him no matter what that changed our course of action.

The article was hoping for a Christian response from Jon and Kate. However, I don't really think that the blame lies in the fame of their situation. It's lack of knowledge. The church does not teach how to have a good healthy "christian" marriage. They might talk a lot about it, but rarely do you get serious tools to work with on how to make your marriage better. In my opinion, we are just as "stupid" or lazy as the world is when it comes to keeping marriages healthy. The statistics are the same when it comes to christians and non-christians divorcing. I don't really think that you can blame fame here because there are millions of Christians that just don't know how to have a christian marriage. You won't get a healthy christian response because most christians don't even know what a good marriage even looks like.

On a good note, one of the best books I have ever read on marriage is Love and Respect by Emerson Eggerichs. It is truly biblical knowlegde on how to take care of your spouse and follow Jesus.

Normally, I steer away from reading celebrity gossip/entertainment articles, but I find the Jon/Kate dilemma like a train wreck...terrible to watch, but you just can't seem to help yourself. At first I hoped it was just media hype and rumors, but now it's practically bordering on them making a public spectacle of themselves and their family. I'm disappointed that TLC decided to do the next season knowing that their marriage is so rocky, but it's pretty clear why the moved forward: viewer ratings. Now people will be watching to see the nastiness between Jon and Kate escalate. And what Jon and Kate, TLC, the media and the American people seem to be forgetting in all of this is that there are eight beautiful, wonderful little children who are suffering because of all of this. But to some people, ratings are all that matter...

In response to several of the above posts, in general:

"Fame" and "ratings" are not some mysterious entities. They are the aggregate of all of those who decided to tune in because they "love this show" or even because it's "like a train wreck...terrible to watch, but you just can't seem to help yourself." Instead of being disappointed in the Gosselins for their behavior and decisions, be disappointed that you were one of the many who, by fueling this madness, contributed to their troubles.

In my mind "christians" are no better then unreligious people. The Bible doesn't say that when we become "christian" we automatically become better then others but that we now have the Holy Spirit working in us and our hearts and minds should then be open to living a life that is sanctified and set apart. Just because I buy a gym membership doesn't make me thin and fit, I have to put it to use and work hard to get the results. The hopeful thing is that the story isn't over yet, they don't know what the future holds but none of us do anyway. BOTH of them need to desire to work on their marriage. To me it seems that Jon doesn't really care and isn't interested at working on anything. He bad mouths her on camera and she does the same thing. I do wish that Kate would lighten up a little but what I would really love to see is Jon to get some balls, to stand up and be a man instead of acting like a child. Watching him makes me thankful that I have a husband that steps up into the leader role and lets me know he is the man of the house but in a very loving and graceful way. I see similar tendencies in myself as Kate has - to want things done a specific way, to want rules for the children (because she is the parent and she's doing a good job of being that role to them but she might have forgotten to lighten up although I do think she's getting better at it) but when you have a husband that rolls over and plays dead and acts like nothing is ever his fault it's easy to forget that you're being overbearing and a little extreme. I hope they can work through their marriage and I hope Jon goes back to work full time so he can find a little (good) identity outside of "Jon and Kate plus 8"...

this is what happens when you put self before christ. money rember is the root of all evil and now satan has destroyed another family and marriage.if people would realize you cant love the world and christ they would prevent alot of heartache now we as a church need to pray for them to be restored

jon&kate,what happen to your christian faith? and jon you're worring adout your children google you one day what about one day they ask you why didn't you love them or there mother enough to stay with them you and kate alway said you were in it for the kids. please look to christ for directions god bless you with your children. i don't know you personally but i love your family please break the curse of divorcein your family.

Marriage is based on intimacy. Once you introduce cameras into your life 24/7, you lose that intimacy. You stop talking to each other about your issues and start talking to the cameras about them...or to tabloids... This couple is doing even more interviews to talk about the problems in their marriage. But what is done is done so what is left is for those of us who are outside of their lives to pray for healing & that they would hear & follow the voice of the Lord.

And why are we blaming TLC? This is what they do. You don't blame the world for being the world. I am not condoning TLC's ways but any network would have done it: they're in for the $. Unlike Jon & Kate, TLC has never made it a secret nor have they tried to appear to be the good guys. They'll tell you: it's just business for them. Its unfortunate & sad that they would use othr ppl to make money but we know what the world is like! Jesus warned us about that! It's up to Jon & Kate to stand up & be who God has called them to be and up to us to stand behind them with prayers.

The article above makes it sound like just because we're Christians, we're supposed to know how to handle problems. Has any of us (including the author) ever been in this situation? How can we say: they should have handled it better? It sounds like they've disapointed us or crushed this dream that the Gosselins could be the couple who would finally vindicate us to the world. We've pinned all of our hopes of showing how to be a Christian on 2 mortals prone to sin...And now they've let us down. I'm sorry but is that what the Lord Jesus has taught us?

I'm not saying that as Christians we're supposed to automatically know how to handle problems or can avoid sin. I am saying that we as Christians are held to a different standard. We shouldn't deal with tough situations the same way a non-Christian would. Where's the effort to reconcile? Why not take a break from a book signing tour to spend time together as a family? Where is there even a mention of prayer during these tough times?

I am disappointed at Jon and Kate because it appears they're selecting fame and money over God and family. For me it's not about vindicating Christians, it's about being an example of how a family can try to work things out instead of instantly getting mean, splitting up and continuously chasing the things that got them where they are in the first place.

My heart breaks for this family. It seems the devil will win again. I hope pray Jon and Kate will work this out. There is NOTHING God can't fix if we are willing. If we as christians will hold them up in prayer the devil will not win. If he (devil) can get the family he as got the church. Now is not the time to judge them but to pray for them. Not saying either of them have cheated, but i know several marriages that have survived that. GOD PLEASE, TOUCH AND HEAL THIS FAMILY, IN YOUR NAME I PRAY.

"Money, remember is the root of all evil" Sorry but that is not what the Bible says, it says "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil" Money in its self is not wrong, as long as we have it, it is when money has us that the problems begin. They need money to raise 8 children. We need to just continue to pray for this family. and step back and watch God work

Amen, JOn and Kate look to God he can heal all of your hurts and make your marriage better than its ever been. God Bless you and we love your family.

I am saddened to see that Jon & Kate are getting a divorce! I agree with you that when I found out that they were christians I was so excited b/c I thought they would be an example to the world. And God really gave them the opportunity be just that. I am a pastor and a wife. I understand the pressure of being in the spotlight. I am also in the Assemblies of God & I keep wondering where their church is in all of this . I wonder if they are being counseled or even allowing themselves to be counseled. I pray for them alot.

You stated it perfectly.