I often find myself sitting in the living room, watching—sometimes silently, sometimes with exasperation—as my family tune in to the latest reality show about relationships. Whether it’s The Bachelor, Love Island, Farmer Wants a Wife, Love on the Spectrum, or Sister Wives, the theme is almost always the same: romantic chaos, emotional drama, and the glorification of brokenness. It’s entertainment, yes—but it’s also something way more problematic.

Over time, I’ve watched this cultural obsession with dysfunctional relationships take root in my own home. My children have experienced toxic relationships, chasing pleasure over faith, gratification over purpose or commitment. I have close relatives struggling with sexuality wrestling with identity in a world that seems more confused than ever about love, truth, and family.

And I find myself asking: How did we get here?

Culture of Brokenness

Modern entertainment thrives on dysfunction. These shows glamorize infidelity, normalize emotional immaturity, and reward people for being manipulative, shallow, or selfish. Marriage is treated like a game. Commitment is fleeting. Sex is casual. Viewers—especially young people—begin to believe that this is what love (and maybe marriage) looks like: chaotic, impulsive, and ultimately unfulfilling.

But from a Biblical worldview, love is not disorder—it is covenant. It’s not a spotlight and a camera—it’s sacrifice. Love is not a social media reel—it is a balance between compromise and commitment. God’s design for relationships is rooted in truth, selflessness, and enduring commitment. Scripture reminds us that love is patient and kind. It doesn’t envy, it doesn’t boast, it’s not proud or self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13). Yet turn on the TV, and you’ll find the exact opposite being celebrated.

The Cost at Home

This isn’t just a media problem—it’s a problem of faith. When dysfunction becomes normalized in entertainment, it seeps into our expectations and behavior. Our children begin to mirror what they consume.

• Children no longer see their worth because the relationships on TV treat potential spouses like options, not treasures.
• Children no longer see the sanctity of sex because culture told them it’s just physical, not sacred.
• Children are searching for love and identity in a world where truth is constantly shifting—and our children are being told that any moral or ethical boundary is bigotry and hate-speech.

Reclaiming the Narrative

We can’t unplug the world, but we can reframe the conversation. We can teach our families that true love isn’t about butterflies and drama—it’s about faithfulness, commitment, honesty, and growth. We can model marriages that aren’t perfect, but are rooted in grace and anchored in the love of Jesus. We can guide our children through the noise of culture by giving them something real to hold onto.

That starts with prayer. It continues with presence. And it’s built through conversations that may be hard—but are necessary.

We need to ask our kids:

• What do you think love is?
• Do the shows you watch help you become the kind of person you want to be?
• What does God say about relationships, and why might His design matter?

These are not judgmental questions. They are invitations to deeper reflection—rooted in truth and motivated by love.

We are living in a broken world. But we serve a God who restores. Don’t lose heart. Keep showing up. Keep speaking truth. Keep loving, even when it’s not returned the way you hoped. That’s the kind of love Jesus showed us—and it’s the kind my family desperately needs.

Let me be the fathers who rise above the noise. Let me be the man who turns off the dysfunction and fights for the kind of love that heals, restores, and lasts.

Or is it too late?