Television: Satan's tool, harmless fun, both?

[medicalmatt]

Hello there! I have been contemplating quite a bit lately the role that television should play in my (or any Christian's) home. So, I thought I'd ask here and see what you all thought about it! I'll reserve my thoughts for now

For background information, I very rarely watch television myself. With my wife, however, the second she walks into the living room, on goes the TV. Usually when I come home from work, if my baby is awake I take him into the bedroom with me while I fold laundry, clean the room or something like that, so that we can have good time together without having to see or hear the TV, while my wife stays in the living room to watch. I try to keep my little guy away from the TV as much as possible. But I know when I'm not home, the boob tube is on unless they're asleep. Thoughts? Appreciated

 

[walking4him]

Well I watch alot of TV when I have time. There's lots of positive programs on. (If you have cable/satellite. There are about 5 Christian networks that I get though Verizon Cable. The Discovery channel, TLC, Food network and Travel channel have decent programs also. TV has it's place as long as it's not taking the place of family time, Bible study/worship and work.

 

[medicalmatt]

I appreciate your response. We're pretty low on the income bracket at the moment, and struggling under some pretty high mountains of debt, so we have the basic antenna channels at the moment.

 

[medicalmatt]

Although when I lived with my parents, who had satellite...man I was on the Discovery Health Channel all the time...and now look at me, the medical student, haha

 

[walking4him]

Yeah I like watching the History channel but now that I'm older I watch the food network alot. They give one some good idea.

 

[medicalmatt]

Haha I could definitely use some good cooking ideas! I really want to get into the heart of the television issue, though. All the sitcoms and stuff out there, to one degree or another flying in the face of what God approves of. Two and a Half Men? Family Guy? SouthPark? Grey's Anatomy? The various soap operas? What about things like CSI and House? Or all the cartoons on the "kid" networks these days? Thoughts?

 

[walking4him]

There were and still are some decent programs out there. but is also depends on what one calls decent. The Cosby Show was great, but how many shows like that were out there/ are out there? The children's show---- Doria and Diego are nice Veggie Tales I watch as an adult. The ones that I've see are neither positive nor negative . They are just mindless entertainment. Sure they by law have to have a story moral but that's a joke. There are very few sitcoms on basic TV. Last time I checked it was "reality" shows that ruled airwaves. While dancing with the stars may be benign by nature, the dialogs contained in them may not be wholesome. American Idol is the same also with it's underhanded message of you have to look a specific way and so on. The rest is one hour dramas that are in no way wholesome. Everyone is sleeping with someone and lying and keeping secrets. I've run into many who say that the depictions on the shows are "realistic" but here's the great joke that I've found. In most of these programs/shows if everyone was honest and moral there would be little to no drama. A good joke that I remember hearing was a child asking why they call TV shows programs. He asked are they trying to make us do something and if so, what?

 

[medicalmatt]

That is definitely a good point. And as far as "sitcom" versus dramas, reality shows, programs, I honestly don't know the difference. I've purposefully stayed away from most of it. I just find that this is the type of show that is constantly on at my house, and I'm being more and more repulsed by it. At first I watched and enjoyed and laughed, but the more I see the more I want to run away. It's insidious the way morals are scorned and mocked and laughed at. I agree with what you said...if everyone was honest and using good morals, there would be no drama. Do you think a Christian can really watch these shows without being seriously harmed?PS: I

 

[walking4him]

(medicalmatt;47435)
. Do you think a Christian can really watch these shows without being seriously harmed?
Even before my conversion I wasn't one for most of the shows and it was hard not to become part of the world. You find you self talking to others about the show and justifying the actions of this person. I know a very nice young lady that I'd like to get to know better but I can't b/c whenever I'm over the house all her and her sister watch are these "reality" shows. I try to be understanding and as what's the attracting interest in the show and they can give a fluff answer, but if I push they can't really explain their reason articulately. That's the boob tube. Every one of the shows that I see that follow a family have "issues" that wouldn't exist if the parents did their job when the children were young and/or were unyielding in their convictions. The problem that I've seen is that since they don't have a set of written moral codes that they follow they adjust the situation according to their feelings at the time.

 

[medicalmatt]

I wholeheartedly agree with you there. I personally never turn these shows on, though, as a very visual person, when the shows are on I find it very difficult not to watch it. This is why I usually go into a different room. I'm trying to figure out what I should do about this. These are the shows that my wife watches all day. Right now, my son is too small to be overly affected by them, especially since I don't let him watch any TV when I am home. But the time will come when he wants to watch these shows with mom. Not to mention that I don't think it's healthy for her to be watching them. Basically, I don't want that filth in my home. But I'm not sure what to do. She grew up with them, sees no problem with them (though respects my views and limits our babies exposure before I get home and take him), and has HUGE ADD/boredom issues when the TV isn't on. I'm not sure what I should do about all that. Right now I've just stated I'm not morally comfortable watching those shows, and I'm in another room most of the time when they're on. Do you have thoughts or suggestions? How devastating is the exposure to these programs?

 

[walking4him]

Well I'm no expert I'm just a 25 yo young man who grew up with TV/cable in the house. My parents had me reading a a young age and I'd still rather read than watch something on TV, but it's different when deciding what's going to entertain you. With TV it's there if you start watching and you don't like it you can flip the channel and keep it moving. With books you have to go to the store, read the teaser on the flap, that's designed to make you think it's good and then make a decision if your going to make the purchase. Not many libraries have a lager selection of everything that's new. I'm also interested in the topic and read pew research reports about it. I'll remember to give you some links to some good research on how TV affect people of different ages. imho no child under 8 should be watching anything on TV unless it educational. The amount of time spent watching should be very low as well . Especially in this era of overweight children.

 

[Mikey]

My family decided to get rid of cable a few years back. We didn't like what was on TV (sinful). Now we have an attena, but still most of what we get isn't appropriate. Once you stop watching it you just don't care about it, I think watching TV is more of a habit. We get CTS but a lot of the time I do see what is so Christian about it

Even shows that have a little bit of lying (most sitcoms) slowly desensitize you too sin. Even worst though, I find it basically impossible to watch movies. Even in PG movies there will be something sinful that disturbs me. And I can't remember the last time I saw a G movie

 

[medicalmatt]

Yeah, years ago I said when I had children, they wouldn't even know what a TV was for a long time. I could very happily live without TV. I do enjoy a lot of movies, to be honest, but maybe that's another area I need to start seriously considering with God in mind. I absolutely LOVE books, was reading at age 4, and have never stopped! I would far rather read a book than watch television. But my wife doesn't feel the same way (especially about reading...she's dyslexic and still doesn't read very well), and she loves the boob tube. Not sure how big of a deal to make this.

 

[True_to_the_endamp;#33;]

HI, I just joined. I enjoyed reading all the comments about TV, and how it is a tool of the devil, and it really is! It teaches us to be like the world, and God told us not to be a part of the world in 1 Peter 2:11-12; "Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us."Also Colossians 3:5 "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry."If we are watching TV, Movies, etc. we are still being exposed to these things and not putting them to death.I think the safest thing is to just not watch anything on TV, or not even movies. Because even the "good" shows still have the worldly commercials. If you never watch them will cut out a whole lot of the worldly desires. If you aren't tempted to watch anything think of all the more time you will have to do the things true Christians should be doing, reading and studying the word, praying, and helping others.I could keep going on and on.....but I'll stop for now.

 

[True_to_the_endamp;#33;]

Books can be basically the same as watching a show, so we have to be careful.Also, should entertainment even be apart of our lives as Christians, I don't think so!!

 

[walking4him]

(True_to_the_end!;47480)
Books can be basically the same as watching a show, so we have to be careful.Also, should entertainment even be apart of our lives as Christians, I don't think so!!
WHAT? Entertainment shouldn't be a part of our lives? Why not? Jesus didn't preach 24/7 he went to parties (water into wine?) He joked around with people. Laughter is one of the best things.

 

[medicalmatt]

I should write a more in depth comment, but the gist is I half agree with you, True to the End. I have considered getting rid of my TV entirely, as much as my wife would loathe me for it (and dig it out of the dumpster). And I see where you have a point about entertainment in the life of a Christian. We are made to be heavenly minded, and to be at work, at the harvest down here. But walking has a point as well...Proverbs says laughter is the best medicine, and remember that God made the world for us to enjoy. We are to enjoy the world he created, in the way he intended, and give him the glory for it. I'm just becoming more and more sure that a Christian can't be entertained by the filth of Hollywood, and call that enjoying the world God made in the way He intended and giving Him the glory for it.

 

[walking4him]

Ok I get what you are saying. There are some very nice Christian movies that you can find. For the most part the Hallmark Channel show some good programs.

 

[RaddSpencer]

I watch Dirty Jobs on the Discovery Channel and Modern Marvels on the History Channel. I don't watch many other TV programs.

 

[jtipton504]

Hi Medical Matt - The t.v. can be both a "lazy parenting tool" and a "useful tool." It's like the world we live in, there is alot out there that is destructive but we just need to watch out/protect and guide our children so they can make good informed decisions. Eventually they will leave our care.