Or "religious shows" that have 1 who is supporting the bible, others liberal or other religions!
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Should Christians Watch TV?
- Thread starter Mark Corbett
- Start date
I enjoyed your post and appreciate your experience. We would probably be better off without TV if only for the time wasted watching shows. I suppose this is a question we all should ask and answers would vary. For me, I waste more time watching than I should....sometimes watching what I should not.
“I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless” (Psalm 101:3a ESV)
Should Christians watch R rated moves or MA rated TV? How much TV should we watch? What should Christians look at on our computers, smart phones, and TVs?
My Testimony Regarding Watching TV
As a young married couple we owned a small TV set. This was a quarter century ago. Although the content on TV was nowhere near as graphic as it is now, as a young man I still found that the pervasive sexy images which filled television had a bad effect on my thought life. So I asked my wonderful wife if it would be ok with her if we threw our TV away. She graciously agreed to this. I was young and enthusiastic. I didn’t want our TV to cause anyone else to stumble. So I opened up the back, cut a key wire, and then threw our TV in the garbage can. We have not owned a television since that day.
Honestly, throwing away our TV was one of the best decisions I have made in life. It was around that same time that the Lord called us to go overseas to share the gospel among unreached people groups. We never regretted not having a TV. Our daughter, Joy, never missed not having TV. We did carefully choose and watch children’s videos with her on our computer. Not having TV was good for her and good for us.
TV eventually crept back into my life. It was probably about fifteen years after we threw away our TV set. We began to rent TV shows on something called VCDs (an old version of DVDs which were popular for a time in Indonesia). We never watched anything R rated. But we started to watch more often, and to be honest, the content was not spiritually healthy. Then we moved back to the US in 2010 and discovered that our internet now had enough bandwidth to watch TV shows on our computers. We chose what we watched and stayed away from MA content. Eventually, I was probably watching 10 to 12 hours of TV content a week. I knew in my heart that watching TV was not helping me spiritually.
Several times I tried to “cut back”. But it didn’t stick. Several months ago, I decided to “go cold turkey”. I’m glad I did! Since then I have felt more spiritual energy, and have seen the Lord open some doors for new ministry opportunities. I pray that I will not backslide!
I am not committed to never watching any TV or movies in any setting. If I’m visiting with someone, I feel free to watch some TV with them if they have it on. Also, I still occasionally rent movies on DVD to watch with Hope. But honestly, I am thankful that God led me to stop watching TV again.
Do I Think All Christians Should Stop Watching All, or Almost All, TV?
No, not necessarily. I think that each believer should seek God’s will based on Biblical principles, honest evaluation of how TV effects their thought life, and their home situation. While this is an area where different families may make different decisions, my feeling is that most Christians would experience significant spiritual blessing if they watched less TV.
Here are some reasons to consider watching less TV:
1. What you watch DOES influence how you think and what you desire. Why do you think companies spend billions of dollar on advertising?
2. TV is full of bad examples. I liked police shows and actions shows and superhero shows. But one thing I noticed is that even the good guys were not good examples. Sure, they were brave and generally good at outshooting or out-kickboxing the bad guys. But in their private lives they were not examples that I would want Joy to follow. They drank alcohol, often to the point of being drunk, to celebrate victories and to deal with frustrations. They slept around. In real life those actions bring painful consequences.
3. Then there is the sexual content. TV is full of immodestly dressed women (and men, too). Even in “PG” rated material, actresses are often shown to be naked, or partly naked, from behind. These actresses are paid to take off their clothes in these scenes, and indirectly we support this by watching the advertisements during these shows. It is an indirect form of prostitution. That may sound harsh, but it is true. And seeing this content causes many people to lust, which is a form of adultery (see Matthew 5:28). In addition, TV promotes many types of sexual immorality.
4. TV massively promotes materialism and greed, which is one of the major idols in American culture.
5. Most TV shows are godless. I don’t mean merely that the content is evil (although, sometimes, it is). I mean that they almost totally leave God out of everything. A serious Christian character is extremely rare. If Christians are shown at all, they are often put in a bad light. Even thinking about God during dangerous situations, when most people do think about God and pray, is rare on TV. God is rarely mentioned in the news or in sports or anywhere. Godless. TV trains us to think about the world and life in godless ways.
6. TV’s graphic images tend to capture our imaginations and draw our thoughts away from God.
7. Even the news is problematic. Watching the news causes us to focus too much on politics and world events. We usually can do very little to change those things. TV distracts us from serving our neighbors and serving in our local churches and other ministries where our small efforts can actually make a big difference in people’s lives.
This list is not complete. I’m sure you could think of some more bad things about TV. Is there anything good about TV? Sure, a tiny bit here and there. But would you go to a restaurant where most of the time they served you rotten food and often had bugs and dog poop mixed into your meal just because every now and then you found a bite of something that was actually good and healthy on your plate?
Practical Suggestions
I want to close with some practical suggestions.
If you decide to cut back on TV or even go cold turkey, think about positive things you can do in place of TV. Many people watch TV when they are tired. It’s legitimate to have some rest time. Choose something good for your spirit that is relaxing for you and invest in it. Buy some of your favorite style of Christian music or order some good Christian books to read. I am not suggesting that you should try to replace TV with more work when you are already exhausted. Find ways to rest in God and rest with God, but never rest from God. While we shouldn’t usually try to replace watching TV with more work, for some reason that I can’t clearly explain, I have felt like I have more energy since I stopped watching TV again.
For me, going “cold turkey” worked. But the Lord might work in you differently. Here are a list of specific actions the Spirit might lead you to take after reading this (I stopped and prayed for you, if no one actually takes any of these actions then this post is pretty much a waste of my time and yours):
1. Some who are reading this may be watching pornography on your TV and/or computer. With God’s help and grace, stop! You might be able to stop on your own with God’s help. If you try to stop and can’t, get help from other Christians. Do whatever it takes to stop. Act like your spiritual and emotional health depend on it, because they do.
2. Some of you need to stop watching MA and R rated content. With very rare exceptions (The Passion of the Christ and Hacksaw Ridge, for example) MA and R rated material is damaging to your soul and mind. Often, it is a “mild” (by the world’s standards) form of pornography.
3. Perhaps you need to reduce how many hours you watch TV.
4. The Holy Spirit is likely going to cause some of you to think of a specific show you should stop watching. Listen to and obey the Spirit’s guidance.
5. Perhaps a few of you will be called to go “cold turkey”, like me. Be encouraged! Getting rid of TV is a lot easier than plucking out your eye!
May God strengthen, bless, and guide you!
This is a lightly edited version of a post which originally appeared on my blog.
I watch TV or youtube videos quite a bit...mostly as background noise while I'm working. The trick is to be very selective over what you watch. My taste runs towards documentaries...overwhelmingly dealing with engineering and/or the space program. I haven't watched a "popular" TV show in years and years. Giving a blanket condemnation of TV is a little harsh. For every trashy program on certain networks there are two or three on other networks that are historical, educational and not full of commercials.
Regarding the commercials...if you are so easily influenced...then I pray you develop discernment and the ability to stand against the hype.
Regarding the commercials...if you are so easily influenced...then I pray you develop discernment and the ability to stand against the hype.
Mark Corbett
Active Member
Alcott, thanks for adding a little humor to a serious topic. Not to distract from the humor, but on a serious note, we LITERALLY threw our TV away. I'm not saying all Christians should do that, but I'm glad we did.
The TV, same as radio or any other electronic medium, can be used for good or for evil, same as a knife, or even the Bible itself.
Everyone here is using the internet, and the internet contains far more porn & evil than radio & TV together. So, let's be careful about trying to impose some man-made rule of faith & worship upon our brethren, in the manner of cults and sects.
Everyone here is using the internet, and the internet contains far more porn & evil than radio & TV together. So, let's be careful about trying to impose some man-made rule of faith & worship upon our brethren, in the manner of cults and sects.
Mark Corbett
Active Member
Roby, Does anything in my post seem like I'm imposing a "man-made rule of faith & worship upon our brethren"? Or anything in the comments? I'm not sure where this is coming from. How is a post discussing the dangers and possible misuse of TV different in principle than a post which discussed, for example, the dangers and possible misuse of alcohol or opioids?
Mark Corbett
Active Member
I wish more people shared your viewing habits! The very fact that none of the shows you like are "popular" shows reveals that most don't share your habits. Be blessed and enjoy watching engineering and space documentaries. (I'm not being sarcastic, I sincerely mean that.)
thank you! Youtube has an amazing selection of documentaries...I was completely thrilled when I came across one that was Werner Von Braun talking about the Saturn V rocket...another favorite is called "Failure is Not an Option" and has interviews with many of my heroes in it. I had the immense honor to meet some of the Apollo astronauts some years ago. I grew up near where the original Space Task Group started.
The godless left is pouring corrosive on American Christian culture 24/7 via the media including TV. Fake news indoctrinates rather than illuminates. We are supposed to set our minds on spiritual things rather than worldly things. We are to turn away from fleshly desires. I spend a lot of time, perhaps too much, doing bible study.
Years ago I visited Meteor Crater in Arizona. In the gift shop, near the back was a photograph of the Mercury Astronauts. Beneath each one was a hand-signed signature, all except one. Under Grissom was his wife's signature. Project Apollo came with a price.
That's an awful big blanket you've got there. I've managed to get my news from multiple sources, both national and international for many years...and have developed the discernment to not blindly agree with anything. There's a lot of really good stuff out there to watch if one is willing to look for it. There's a channel that runs pretty much nothing but historical documentaries, another that runs many good science shows...and then there's the wonderfully bad sci-fi movies available on the syfy channel. TV itself isn't the problem, it's the crummy stuff that's on. If more folks stopped watching the crummy, stupid shows and used the medium for better purposes like self-educating oneself then maybe the lousy stuff would no longer be on TV.
I'll freely admit I'm an oddball when it comes to TV watching...I've yet to see an episode of most of the "popular" TV shows on these days and it's not like I'd bother tuning them in.
As one who's against virtually all man-made rules of faith & worship, someone's gonna hafta convince me that TV itself is evil and is used for nothing but evil. before I get ridda mine. I own several machetes, which, lately, has been an instrument used to commit evils, but I find one quite useful when traipsing in wilderness.
Then, there are these computers. The internet contains more porn than ten Larry Flynt warehouses. BUT EVERY ONE OF US HERE IS USING THE INTERNET !
Again, ANYTHING can be used for either good or evil.There aren't too many man-made objects whose sole purpose is evil. But again, one should follow his/her own conscience about anything that could at least have the appearance of evil, is not being outright evil already.
Then, there are these computers. The internet contains more porn than ten Larry Flynt warehouses. BUT EVERY ONE OF US HERE IS USING THE INTERNET !
Again, ANYTHING can be used for either good or evil.There aren't too many man-made objects whose sole purpose is evil. But again, one should follow his/her own conscience about anything that could at least have the appearance of evil, is not being outright evil already.
I do not see very much "really good stuff" on TV. The science shows push modern mythology, and many history shows offer revisionist history. If you watch much TV, you are being brain washed, IMO.
How old does the earth appear? Much more than 6 or 7 thousand years but much less than 5 billion years. You will not find that nugget on TV. Man-made global warming is a leftist myth created to make war on Capitalism. How about your Ancient Aliens.
Mark Corbett
Active Member
As a result of your comment I watched "Failure in Not an Option". First, I just enjoyed the science and technical side of it. Before being called to serve the Lord in other ways, I worked as a nuclear engineer for the Navy on submarines for 5 years. That was a long time ago, but I still like engineering and science stuff. At a deeper level, I thought of some analogies with the Christian life. We have a mission more important than going to the moon, namely completing the Great Commission. And like the moon mission, our mission requires team work and a high level of commitment. It also requires sacrifice. For us, even more than for NASA, "Failure is Not an Option". Thanks for pointing out this YouTube documentary:
Mark Corbett
Active Member
I pray the Lord will use me to influence others as He has used others to influence me for good. Here's an example relevant to this thread:
I'm glad you enjoyed it. There's a second part of it that goes from Skylab to the Columbia accident. That's also really good.
Well, that's your opinion. I watch TV to be entertained (XFiles anyone?), I watch to learn things, I even watch things I don't agree with. I DO disagree with you on a couple of things you've said...but again, opinions.
Philippians 4:8. 'Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-- meditate on these things.' How much stuff like that do we see on the telly?
[N.B. Hypocrisy alert. This poster does not always live up to the standard being advocated here ]
[N.B. Hypocrisy alert. This poster does not always live up to the standard being advocated here
]