Would Jesus watch TV?

[Joe_in_RP]

As many people here know I am a critic of TV.

What is the level of evil on TV? 40% 50%?

If I taught your children in school and only 10% of the material was evil, would that be okay?

So what is your opinion?

Not whether you like TV, no I know you like it. But would Jesus have a TV in His house? Would he watch TV?

[Stan]

Would Jesus read books?

What is the level of evilness in all the books?

[Gerr]

As many people here know I am a critic of TV.

What is the level of evil on TV? 40% 50%?

If I taught your children in school and only 10% of the material was evil, would that be okay?

So what is your opinion?

Not whether you like TV, no I know you like it. But would Jesus have a TV in His house? Would he watch TV?

Which 50% would you watch?

[Liz]

There is plenty of evilness in the Bible too, but it is what you get out of it that counts.

[phkrause]

Good post Liz, I think I have to agree with you.

pk

[Key Guy]

As many people here know I am a critic of TV.

What is the level of evil on TV? 40% 50%?

If I taught your children in school and only 10% of the material was evil, would that be okay?

So what is your opinion?

Not whether you like TV, no I know you like it. But would Jesus have a TV in His house? Would he watch TV?

That's pretty much the same question as "Would Mrs White have watched TV?" Would she or Jesus have used the TV while they were living on earth? Do you think perhaps James White would have added a broadcast ministry to his publishing work?

Is God blessing the TV efforts of organizations like 3ABN and Hope TV? Would he bless if all of TV is evil? Of course not all of TV is evil. Not all movies are evil. Not all drama plays in church are evil. What makes them dangerous is that they can used for good or evil and discerning the difference requires much wisdom and self-control.

If I knew you were teaching my kids 10% evil, I'd pull the kids. I think the example has flaws. If I were sitting in the classroom or had the ability to screen the teacher's agenda, then the 10% would be dealt with (like monitoring the TV).

There's a case to be made about the beauty of a hundred channels and the TiVo or DVR associated with cable or satellite. More programming choices and the ability to watch the tube when it suits YOUR schedule makes the TV less evil.

BTW, what percentage of the internet is evil. Not enough apparently as all of us are using it and being blessed by it in many ways.

[GreatLakesGramma]

I don't believe Jesus would have watched TV. He didn't have time. He had more important things to do. His work was so urgent, he stayed up entire nights in prayer. How could he ever do all he did and watch TV too? Impossible.

Even before his public ministry, it was so important that he not be corrupted by man's ideas that his parents didn't even send him to the religious schools. Probably they were convicted by God not to do that. TV would have definitely canceled out that decision.

[Gerr]

P.S.

IMHO, the problem for Christians, especially SDAs, is not so much the level of evil on TV as the amount of time spent watching even the good ones. It's a distraction. It takes away time from Bible study, prayer, and the sharing of the gospel. Would Jesus watch the news? Weather? History?

TV, I believe, is playing a good part in spreading the gospel.

[Gail]

Good comments, everyone! :)

[GreatLakesGramma]

TV, I believe, is playing a good part in spreading the gospel.

I agree. There is good on TV, if one is selective of what to watch.

[Robert]

...would Jesus have a TV in His house? Would he watch TV?

Jesus wouldn't have a house. Jesus lived only for others....So no, no house no TV!

[True-believer]

Originally Posted By: Joe Knapp

...would Jesus have a TV in His house? Would he watch TV?

Jesus wouldn't have a house. Jesus lived only for others....So no, no house no TV!

Yeah, I agree, Jesus would not have a house or TV...

but, if Jesus did have a TV... what network would He have on it... I guess it would be Christian TV... something like...

The Hope Channel-----SDA

3ABN---3 Angels Broadcasting Network-----SDA

TBN----Trinity Broadcasting Network----PENTECOSTAL

JCTV-----Jesus Christ Tele-Vision-----PENTE//YOUTH

The Church Channel----PENTE//NON-DENOMINATIONAL

The God Channel-----EXTREME PENTECOSTAL//CHRISTIAN CONCERTS

Inspiration Network-----VERY PENTECOSTAL

Smile Of A Child-------CHILDRENS ONLY TV

Apostolic Oneness Network------AGAINST GODHEAD/TRINITY--PENTE..

The Catholic Network------IT'S TOO CATHOLIC

A Buddist Network----TOO BUDDIST

Muslim TV-----VERY EXTREME

What TV Network do you think Jesus would watch???

Answer: ---- could be the Catholic Network???--I don't think so!

[phkrause]

I agree with Rob, I don't believe that Jesus would own a TV. As far as a place to live, I'm not sure. I believe he would live as simply as possible. Because you have to remember the reason that he would be here, and that would be to give his life for us. That would not have changed. We do know that until he started his ministry that he did live with his family, but I guess that that would be an assumption, after that there is no indication, but if we take his words that from the Bible that he had no were to lay his head, than you would have to guess that he was invited to stay at people's home's. But than that is also an assumption. My 2 cents. I wonder if EGW has anything to say about where he stay during the cold nights?

pk

[aldona]

I usually don't have much time to watch television, but over the past couple of weeks there has been some really fascinating stuff on TV. (On the commercial free-to-air stations, not the Christian cable which is down at our place at the moment).

One documentary was about the ancient kingdom of the Hittites, and all the archeological excavation that is discovering more of their relics and history.

There was a wildlife documentary about the Australian lyrebird, with some amazing footage about how it imitates the sounds of other birds and even man-made objects like mobile phones, trains, chainsaws and car alarms.

There was a show about a couple of guys travelling through the remote parts of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan etc, on their motorcycles, and meeting the locals and learning all about their way of life.

There were some medical shows about surgeons carrying out delicate procedures to save the lives of people suffering from rare diseases.

I think if Jesus was in our home, I would have had absolutely no problem inviting Him to sit down with us and watch these. (Of course, He is all-knowing, so none of it would have been news to Him.)

aldona

[Robert]

Originally Posted By: Robert

Jesus wouldn't have a house. Jesus lived only for others....So no' date=' no house no TV![/quote']

Yeah, I agree, Jesus would not have a house or TV...

but, if Jesus did have a TV... what network would He have on it... I guess it would be Christian TV... something like...

Only "JackSequeira.org" Nothing else!

[Woody]

I think Jesus would approve of us keeping up with the 'news'. Nothing wrong with watching a good news channel.

[GreatLakesGramma]

Nope. Just because he wouldn't have time for TV doesn't mean we should avoid it like the plague. There are many things we can learn from it, if we are selective of what we watch. But we must also make sure it doesn't take away time from more important things. Anyone who can't control their TV watching should not have one in the house.

[Joe_in_RP]

Interesting, I never though of it as a plague, but now that you mention it, maybe.

Robert, I did not understand your comment about Jack Sequeira.

Is he against TV?

I have seen his name mentioned here several times but I don't know why.

[Bravus]

I think I've said before that I think 'what would Jesus do?' is dangerous because it ends up just being a big screen on which we project our own prejudices and preferences, and I'd argue that this thread so far illustrates that to some extent as well.

I believe 'what *did* Jesus do?' is a much better guide to behaviour. Of course that's impossible to relate directly to the issue of TV watching.

One of the things he did was eat with the sinners, so presumably if he did that these days in the sports bars or wherever he'd be seeing TV peripherally...

Here's another question: does the TV you watch increase your love of other people and your desire for them to be saved? Or does it increase your contempt for other people and belief that they are worthless or malicious?

[Joe_in_RP]

Interesting questions.

Can I add?

Does TV contribute to apathy?

Does TV inspire you to make a difference?

Does 3abn teach YOU anything that will help prepare the lost sheep for Jesus 2nd Coming? Or is it entertainment.

By the way I think 3abn is a outstanding ministry because of the people they reach in the third world.

[aldona]

Quote:

Here's another question: does the TV you watch increase your love of other people and your desire for them to be saved? Or does it increase your contempt for other people and belief that they are worthless or malicious?

Very good point.

aldona

[lazarus]

Interesting questions.

Does TV contribute to apathy?

I'm sure for many people yes, but not me.

Quote:

Does TV inspire you to make a difference?

Yes

Quote:

Does 3abn teach YOU anything that will help prepare the lost sheep for Jesus 2nd Coming? Or is it entertainment.

It is both for a lot of people. It's not a channel I enjoy watching for all kinds of reasons.

Quote:

By the way I think 3abn is a outstanding ministry because of the people they reach in the third world.

It's a powerful ministry.

Would Jesus play basketball?

Would Jesus eat meat? (trick question)

Would Jesus have a hobby?

Would Jesus work out?

Would Jesus wear a suit?

Would Jesus eat candy?

Would Jesus go to see a movie?

Would Jesus pay taxes?

What would Jesus have on his Ipod?

Would Jesus have an Ipod?

Would Jesus have a Mac? (the answer is obvious)

I could go on. We would probably answer these questions based on our own personal preferences (tagging on to what Bravus said) since the Bible gives no specific answers in most cases. The Bible gives principles to live by and we have to apply those principles to our life and our choices.

No one can say with certainty whether Jesus would have a TV or not but you can say with confidence that he would abide by the principles set down in scripture as to how we should live our lives.

[Gerr]

Bravo! Bravus!

[Neil D]

Interesting questions.

Can I add?

Does TV contribute to apathy?

Does TV inspire you to make a difference?

Does 3abn teach YOU anything that will help prepare the lost sheep for Jesus 2nd Coming? Or is it entertainment.

By the way I think 3abn is a outstanding ministry because of the people they reach in the third world.

No one has said this, so I will....I think that there is a case where Jesus could have contributed to the television ministrys.....

Concider: Jesus tells of last day events..Matt 24...The History Channel would have benifited from His version of history....

He entertained when the main form of entertainment was story telling...He told stories with a point, concider the many parables that He told.

He told of health information- What goes into you comes out of you, in one form or another...[without getting too crude]

The point here is that it is NOT the tool that is evil....It is the individual who uses the tool...It is OUR responsiblity to curtail what we watch, learn and it is OUR responsibility to figure out where WE individually want to be, who we need to be, and what we learn along the way.....

.....just my take on this...poorly worded subject....

[Taylor]

I agree with you on this Neil. TV isn't evil, it's what's on it that has to be filtered. Jesus would use EVERY means he could to reach people, TV, Radio, podcasting, short-wave, internet, text-messaging etc.