TIME: TV Too Far

[Dr. Shane]

Loving brothers warn each other of danger. While we are not judged by each other, our deeds are recorded in the books of heaven. However the danger is greater than just having our deeds recorded in heaven. Watching the wrong programming on television warps our preception of reality and molds our charachters into something other than Christlike. By beholding we become transformed.

A loving brother cannot simply remain quiet about something as damaging to the spiritual life as television. "When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, and the righteous man doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul." (Ezek. 3:20, 21) "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isa. 58:1) "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14)

[Guest]

Rom 12

"2": And be not CONFORMED to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Rom 8

"29": For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be CONFORMED to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.

Those who do TV...are saying I want to be conformed to the world not to Jesus

[Gerr]

Ditch my 62" HDTV that I just got? Instead of ditching the TV, I'm calling for sanity, self-control, discipline, and back-bone instead. How else will thousands of SDAs watch 3ABN? I have never seen any of the "reality shows". If a person has none of those qualities, then perhaps it's best not to have that gadget around.

How else would I be able to watch my Dodgers, Lakers, Rams, & Trojans for free? My wife loves Home & Garden, and we both enjoy History Channel. CNN. And I get Sirius music through my satellite.

Gerry

[Dr. Shane]

Television has a great potential for good. I think there is little question about that. However like the Internet, there is a lot of bad that comes with the good.

Personally I have a problem paying for cable TV. I am not saying it is wrong for others. However for me I have issues with funding an industry that actively works against the gospel. Yes channels like A&E and H&G TV have some good programming. However there are so many bad channels and how can I ask God not to lead me into the paths of temptation but to deliver me from evil when I pay to bring those paths of temptation and evil into my home?

My wife and I have Sky Angel programing which consists of various Christian TV and radio stations. Two of the TV stations are Adventist. And really that is enough for us.

[K]

I grew up in a household where the tv was almost always on. (Yes a heathen household) I was allowed to watch anything I wanted. We did not have cable until I was a teenager, and then school activities took my time. Looking back, it really didn't hurt me; but because our minds are the best computers made, there are things you see that are never forgotten.

I raised my children with limited amounts of tv, and lots of books (Christian and Classics) They are now at the age where they are big enough to choose what they watch and when they watch it. We have never had cable in our home (in Texas I can get all the stuff I want without even an antenna.) I still love tv as much as the next person, but find little time to sit and watch it. Instead I hear it in the background (still like the noise I grew up with), and sit down only to watch my favorite shows.

The answer to me is self restraint. Yep there is some garbage, but there are a lot of good things on tv too!

K

[Dr. Shane]

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />

Yep there is some garbage, but there are a lot of good things on tv too!

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Honestly, in balance, there is a tremendous amount of garbage and a few good things. If one just switches on the set, chance are it will be garbage. Even commercials are offensive.

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it really didn't hurt me

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Interesting observation. Most of us think we can watch TV or movies and as long was we know what it right and wrong, viewing wrongful acts really won't hurt or affect us. However it is mental junk food. It is like eating junk food and telling ourselves it really won't hurt us. Do we really believe that?

[Gerr]

My satellite subscription probably includes over 60 channels, that way I have enough to choose from. I probably spend more time with the stereo (I love music) than the TV. And there are 20+ Sirius music channels to cover anyone's taste without out the frequent commercials.

I know the kind of programs I cannot & must not watch because of what they do to me, so I stay away from them.

Gerry

[Gail]

The message I get here is that some of us are using discretion when choosing what to watch, as one does when choosing reading material

I've always thought that what a person surrounds him/herself with becomes his/her culture

[Gerr]

Indeed!!! One thing I know for sure. There are some programs that take away the taste for prayer & Bible study. That is one of the tests I use to determine the propriety of the program.

Gerry

[Pockey]

I think that's a pretty good litmus test Gerry. One thing weird for me is that some shows have brought me closer to things above. For example, I love the show Scrubs. Probably my favorite show on tv. Almost every episode is like a funny and sentimental short film that generally has a positive message at the climax of its story arc. Good stuff!

[Amelia]

Yes, Scrubs is a good show. Kind of like Aesops Fables.

[Pockey]

First season coming out on dvd May 17th!

[Dr. Shane]

Scrubbs has way too much sexual content for me to be at peace with my Maker while watching it. Moreover it is far removed from reality. Its purpose seems to be pointless humor.

Do I enjoy it? Yes, the times I have watched it I have laughed and found it enjoyable. Does that make it right? No. It is way too sexual and has little if any charachter-building lessons.

[Gerr]

Quote:

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I think that's a pretty good litmus test Gerry. One thing weird for me is that some shows

have

brought me closer to things above. For example, I love the show Scrubs. Probably my favorite show on tv. Almost every episode is like a funny and sentimental short film that generally has a positive message at the climax of its story arc. Good stuff!

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[:"blue"]There have been a few movies that have moved me in a very positive way. In 1959 I left the church, joined the USN to see & explore the world. Seeing the last scene, the banner with the words, "There is still time brother," fluttering in an empty city street in the movie "On the Beach" got me thinking about my relationship with God & my own salvation.

Whenever I watch "Spartacus" or "Mississippi Burning", my hatred for oppression & all forms of discrimination is aroused, and long for the day when God will finally establish His righteous kingdom on this planet. [/]

Gerry