The question of the OP is a categorical error from the start. It presupposes an argument from ACTIONS that are condemned in Romans 1 regarding homosexuality, to what one WATCHES.
I don't see how you draw the conclusion that this is referring
specifically to homosexuality:
Romans 1, NASB
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, 27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
I see a list of sins, and I don't see homosexuality in this immediate list. I suppose that it might be a plausible interpretation to include homosexuality from the preceding section of scripture though.
Thus it forces the argument into, do I approve of ACTIONS of those that I WATCH, and that is not the context of Romans 1, and such a premise does not permit a Biblical explanation of, does God care about what I watch?
I'm sure you would see the following on T.V.:
Romans 1, NASB
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
The argument that
I am countering in this thread is, that to watch such evil actions would mean that I am approving of the evil actions that I see.
The question of does God care about what I watch does not have to be contingent upon approval of the actions of actors in order to be deemed sinful in the watching of it. The question is is God ever concerned about what I put before my eyes, and I believe the Scriptures are clear on this:
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." Psalm 101:3
This is a messianic Psalm and is referring to the second Advent of the Lord and the millennium following. Unless you intend to also follow the end of the Psalm, and "destroy all the wicked of the land":
Psalm 101:8, NASB
Every morning I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
So as to cut off from the city of the Lord all those who do iniquity.
Job made a covenant with his EYES not to think upon someone other than his wife. Job 31:1. Jesus made it clear that to LOOK upon a woman with lust in ones heart was just as adulterous as the act itself. Matthew 5:28.
"The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matthew 6:22-23
Did you read the rest of my posts following?
Post #3
Here's what I said:
I do believe that 1Cor. 10:23 should play a role in selection of what media is watched though (pornography certainly does not edify the Christian, for example).
NASB
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
I think that a logical conclusion is that I am against watching media that would cause adultery with the eye.
Comparing God's ability to see evil and not be tempted to our ability to see evil and not be tempted is not wise. God seeing evil because He is omnipresent and omniscient is completely different then deliberately going out of our way to put something sinful in front of our eyes.
Do you not "go to a city"?
Eccles. 10:15, NASB
The toil of a fool so wearies him that he does not even know how to go to a city.
Reading this, as well as Paul's statement below would cause incentive for "going out of [your] way to put something sinful in front of [your] eyes", wouldn't it?
1 Corinthians 5, NASB
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
Although television can be a useful educational tool, it is not a replacement for the educational tools that God has provided in the Bible and the preacher. Most television is based upon fantasy which the Scripture tells us such imaginations are to be cast down. 2 Cor 10:4-5.
So if I were to go out to lunch with some immoral folk, and obey the scripture (1Cor. 5:9-10; 10:27), I
must think evil thoughts?
I don't think that Paul would've gave permission to associate with immoral folk if he thought that this would cause evil thoughts.
To say that watching something can not be harmful or lead to sinful actions is dangerous ground.
So dangerous as to have permission from Paul (1Cor. 5:9-10; 10:27)?
One of the first contemplations of Eve that led to our sin in Adam was that she SAW that the fruit was good for food. Gen 3:6. When David committed adultery with Bathsheba, it began by him SEEING her naked and bathing,
"And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon." 2 Samuel 11:2
I am against watching something that would cause adultery with the eye.
So it is clear in the Bible that God is concerned with what we put before our eyes regardless of whether or not one INTENDS to allow it to lead to sinful actions or not.
Again,
I do believe that 1Cor. 10:23 should play a role in selection of what media is watched though (pornography certainly does not edify the Christian, for example).
NASB
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.
I think that selection should be made by the Christian about what he watches. "All things are lawful, but not all things edify".
Edification is key.
T.V. shows like
The Mentalist do include evil in them, but the show is
against the evil that it portrays (it's a detective show).
The Bible tells us to be on guard against an attitude that THINKS we can "handle it". 1 Cor 10:12, Galations 6:1.
Watching fictional evil is different than real life evil. Telling someone on the T.V. screen to stop doing their evil is not going to stop it.
James 1 shows that sin is a process that begins in part with contemplation. The sin begins before the action even takes place, and to use the excuse that television that is based in fantasy and glorifies sinful behavior can be justified on the basis of education or harmless entertainment is playing with fire, not to mention it is not being a good steward of God's time. Eph 5:16.
But going out to lunch with immoral folk
is being a good steward of God's time?
James 1 doesn't contradict Paul's statement of associating with immoral folk (1Cor. 5:9-10).
But to answer the OP, YES you are condoning their actions by watching them because the entire purpose of the media industry is to GET YOU TO WATCH IT. WHY?? There are marketing concerns of course, the entertainment industry makes money off of commercials and they promote shows that will draw attention to them and then give air-time to the highest bidders to market their product. And most entertainers are idealists that inject their brands of idealism into their shows. To think that the media does not have a liberal agenda in influencing desires and behaviors that are purposely contrary to Christianity is very naive.
I can't see why someone like Zenas the Lawyer (Titus 3:13) wouldn't be watching a T.V. show like
The Mentalist.
Sure, you can find something decent in a television show, just as you can find a diamond in a garbage can; but you wouldn't advertise garbage cans as banks anymore than promoting television as fountains of useful tools for gleaning Godly wisdom.
You can find moral folk among the immoral folk, that's just the way the world is. Trying to lock yourself away from the world to stay away from evil isn't biblical.
