Yesterday (May 14th), we were saddened by the
news that a beloved actor and comedian, Tim Conway, had passed away at the age
of 85 in Los Angeles. He truly gave us a gift of comedy and acting that demonstrated
wholesome, side-splitting, pant-wetting entertainment for all ages. In direct
contrast to today’s foul and obscene comedians and sit-com actors, Tim Conway pursued
true laughter without the shock of filthy language and sex/drugs/violence
themes. In his interview with Bob Fishbach World-Herald’s GO in 2010, he shared why
he doesn’t use profanity
“I came from a small town where you didn’t do that. I was a big fan of Don Knotts and Steve Allen. And I became good friends with Don. We used to discuss a lot what you owe an audience when they come see you. I’d never do anything to offend an audience. They come to see what they saw on TV. If I lay language on them, they’ll be disappointed. It’s so much more gratifying when people come up after a show with their kids, and everybody loved it. But even the movies now are so gross. I sound like an old prude, which I’m not. But everybody goes for the joke that ends with profanity. We didn’t do that. We tried to get people to laugh rather than just be in shock.”
I remember, sitting cross-legged on my living room floor
with our black and white tv watching the Apple Dumpling Gang with Amos (Tim)
and Theodore (Don Knotts) trying to strike it rich in their bumbling adventure.
Our whole family would anticipate and gather around my grandparents tv after
dinner and laugh all throughout the Carol Burnett Show as Tim’s characters as
Mr. Tubball, a Dentist, Fireman and oldest man would be the highlight sketch of
the show. Fellow actors Harvey Korman and Carol Burnett would often struggle to
stay in character as Tim’s improvised antics would crack them up. One of my
favorite characters was Derk Dorf as the short-legged athlete with a Scandinavian
accent, and few know he was also the voice of Barnacle Boy on SpongeBob SquarePants.
He is an Emmy Award winning actor and was inducted into the Academy of
Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame and his life and work is being honored
this week as a comedic genius with a high moral standard.
Tim’s life and work makes me think about the challenges we
face as men living in a profane and obscene culture where a man’s “manliness”
is often defined by that same culture. Young men (12-18) casually use the
F-Bomb and other cuss words as masculine speech. They listen to music full of
obscene, violent and sexualized lyrics and their masculine screen heroes treat
women as objects to be lusted after, kill & brutalize all, and live an
immoral life to the fullest. No wonder we men have an identity crisis, because
masculinity is defined by an immoral culture and our young men are being entrapped
and bound by pornography, violence, profanity and obscenity.
Men of God are called to have a much higher moral standard in
their words and actions. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be imitators of God
and walk in love.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” – Ephesians 5:1-4 ESV
The timeless wisdom of Proverbs states:
A fool's mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul. – Proverbs 18:7
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. – Proverbs 13:3
James Chapter 3 gives instruction on the power of the tongue:
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life,[a] and set on fire by hell. – James 3:5-6
My Brother, Tim Conway is more than a slapstick sketch comedian,
he demonstrated that you could be a highly successful man in a profane and obscene
vocation and maintain a high moral professional standard. He did it to respect
his fans of all ages and to honor his comedy profession. We can demonstrate a
high moral standard in our language and speech at home, at work, in the
community and with friends as worship honoring our Lord and Savior. We can be a
living masculine role model for our boys and young men in our speech and
conduct. We are men of the Spirit full of love, wisdom and self-control and our
world needs us now more than ever.
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