In the secular, sometimes tasteless environment of American television, Touched by an Angel has often been a breath of fresh air. It's a drama designed not only to entertain but to uplift. It may not always fulfill these purposes, but its intentions are worthy.
At its best, the series speaks to our deepest feelings about what's ultimately true and right. It brings home vital Bible-based lessons, such as the need to understand God's love for us; the demand for and healing effect of forgiveness; the significance of having faith in what we know to be true, not in what we see with our eyes; the importance of trusting God and letting go of fear. At its most disappointing, it can be short on fresh insight and theologically inconsistent, sometimes suggesting that certain conditions are beyond God's help or that God may even allow or cause harm as part of an inscrutable plan. That may partly relate to the regular presence this past season of Andrew, the so-called "angel of death."
The stars of the show are two "angels"—Tess and Monica. While angels are really God's pure thoughts, not corporeal beings, within the context of the program these "angels" have taken on human form to convey God's messages to people in difficult situations. They usually engage in temporary employment that enables them to be near those needing help. (Apparently they have the ability to get hired on the spot, whatever the job!) Often, they don't reveal themselves as angels sent by God until later in the program, when those in need are apparently most receptive to divine help. At whatever point the assistance is given, it frequently includes an assurance of God's love and of His always present guidance.
