The television, I believe, will go down in history as the single most distracting and harmful modern invention for Christians. For all the talk about using it for the gospel and for good, we must admit that many if not most of us use it for any reason but good. I speak from experience. As a Christian of nearly 21 years, I am ashamed to admit to the things I have seen and the time wasted on television. I have liked action (read: violent) and horror movies since my college years. Friday the 13th, Halloween and zombie flicks are just a few of my favorites.
But it’s just entertainment, right?? Wrong. I told myself that for years. These movies and the majority of others expose the believer to worldviews and lifestyles that are forbidden and condemned in Scripture. In your average R-rated horror movie, you will see violence (usually extreme), explicit sex, an inordinate amount of profanity, and a worldview that is void of regard for God or His creation. But wait, you see this things (in some degree or another) on T.V. too! The Bible is very specific regarding these things:
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may givegrace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29)
Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (Ephesians 5:4)
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. (Colossians 3:8)
Now the earth was corrupt in God’s sight, and the earth was filled with violence…And God said to Noah, “I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:11,13)
The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. (Psalm 11:5)
Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways… (Proverbs 3:31)
For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery…(Mark 7:21)
…abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. (Acts 15:29)
Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. (Romans 13:13)
I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— (1st Corinthians 5:9)
Or do you not know that the unrighteouswill not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality… Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.(1st Corinthians 6:9,18)
The list could go on and on. God hates the lifestyles depicted in most movies and television shows. Think shows that do not have this stuff in them are ok? Ask yourself what worldview is being presented. Are the people following the pattern of the world or are they trying to live by God’s principles in Scripture? The best example I can conceive of is John & Kate Plus 8 contrasted with the Dugger family. The former, living for themselves, the latter living for Christ and raising their children to do the same.
Some movies/shows are not necessarily compromising but still should be watched carefully. Commercials are ridiculous. Male enlargement, Viagra, fast food commercials using sexual innuendo and the like are all the product of a society obsessed with sex. When the commercials come on at my house, the mute or previous channel button gets pressed. Face it. For $60 a month, there are very very few channels a committed believer can watch.
What comes next then? For me it was getting rid of the junk I had in my movie collection. After coming to terms with the fact that as a disciple of Jesus Christ I had to clean up my entertainment habits, I made the decision and commitment to get rid of the movies that compromised my faith. I can’t say that watching violent movies made me want to kill or be violent, but they sure gave me a worldly mindset and I began to hate it. I can say that my heart and life is better off now. I have a renewed zeal for Scripture and a fierce hatred of the worldliness that once entangled me. Life is too short to spend filling our hearts with junk unfit for the kingdom of God.
23
Jul 09
Does What I Watch On T.V. Really Matter?
The television, I believe, will go down in history as the single most distracting and harmful modern invention for Christians. For all the talk about using it for the gospel and for good, we must admit that many if not most of us use it for any reason but good. I speak from experience. As a Christian of nearly 21 years, I am ashamed to admit to the things I have seen and the time wasted on television. I have liked action (read: violent) and horror movies since my college years. Friday the 13th, Halloween and zombie flicks are just a few of my favorites.
But it’s just entertainment, right?? Wrong. I told myself that for years. These movies and the majority of others expose the believer to worldviews and lifestyles that are forbidden and condemned in Scripture. In your average R-rated horror movie, you will see violence (usually extreme), explicit sex, an inordinate amount of profanity, and a worldview that is void of regard for God or His creation. But wait, you see this things (in some degree or another) on T.V. too! The Bible is very specific regarding these things:
The list could go on and on. God hates the lifestyles depicted in most movies and television shows. Think shows that do not have this stuff in them are ok? Ask yourself what worldview is being presented. Are the people following the pattern of the world or are they trying to live by God’s principles in Scripture? The best example I can conceive of is John & Kate Plus 8 contrasted with the Dugger family. The former, living for themselves, the latter living for Christ and raising their children to do the same.
Some movies/shows are not necessarily compromising but still should be watched carefully. Commercials are ridiculous. Male enlargement, Viagra, fast food commercials using sexual innuendo and the like are all the product of a society obsessed with sex. When the commercials come on at my house, the mute or previous channel button gets pressed. Face it. For $60 a month, there are very very few channels a committed believer can watch.
What comes next then? For me it was getting rid of the junk I had in my movie collection. After coming to terms with the fact that as a disciple of Jesus Christ I had to clean up my entertainment habits, I made the decision and commitment to get rid of the movies that compromised my faith. I can’t say that watching violent movies made me want to kill or be violent, but they sure gave me a worldly mindset and I began to hate it. I can say that my heart and life is better off now. I have a renewed zeal for Scripture and a fierce hatred of the worldliness that once entangled me. Life is too short to spend filling our hearts with junk unfit for the kingdom of God.