GUEST ARTICLE

TELEVISION: CHRISTIANS' PET SIN

What is the pet sin of Christians?  Gambling?  Liquor, white-collar crime, sexual immorality? No.  It is the use of television.

What began as a scientific breakthrough in the late 40's with the promise of much good for mankind, has now been used of Satan as an insidious purveyor of filth, obscenity, perversion, violence, and liberal left-wing ideology.

The proliferation of television sets in America has become widespread.  Now one could pass by even the poorest of welfare recipients any night of the week, and see the flickering of the TV through the window.  He would be undoubtedly watching his favorite filth in living color in the same way as the wealthy.  One may do without a telephone or an automobile, but to be without a television would be unthinkable!  Many homes have several sets to have more convenient access to their favorite sin.

TIME AS A MEASURE

How can it be called a favorite or pet sin?  The average television watcher now sits entranced for 7.2 hours per day enjoying his lust, violence, or perversion of all that is right and decent. If one's favorite activity would be measured by what he does voluntarily, by choice, and by length of time involved; watching television is the clear winner.

DISTINCTIVES OF CHRISTIANS

Bible Christianity has distinctives Bible Christians are commanded by Scripture to not love the world, or the things in the world (1 John 2:15), to be uncontaminated by the world around us(2 Peter 3:14),to live holy lives(1 Peter 1:15), to abstain from fleshly lusts (1 Peter 2:11), to abstain from even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).  Believers are to jealously guard their thought life to ensure it is approved of God (Philippians 4:8), bringing captive every thought into obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).

DISTINCTIVES OF TELEVISION

Television also has distinctives and they are vigorously contrary to the above Producers and sponsors attempt to outdo competitors shows with profanity blasphemy obscenity violence, loose low-life living, nudity, perversion and so on.  This should not be surprising.  As a group, the moguls of the television industry are among the most unbelieving, unchurched, blasphemous, anti-God infidels of professional groups.  If they want to live this way, well and good.

However, you and I both know that their life-style and ideas will creep into and become a part of their TV productions.  Our Savior has said whatever is in our heart will come out in our life-style (Matthew 7:15-20).  These actors, producers, directors and sponsors are regularly spewing out filthy productions that are wholly consistent with their evil hearts.  To put it another way, we will not get clean, decent, moral, character-building television programming from bad people.

CHRISTIANS DO THIS?

Christians do not indulge in Hollywood cesspool movies, rock music, drug parties, wife-swapping, sodomite steam baths, mixed swimming, nude shows, prostitutes, etc.  They shun these wicked pleasures of the world, nor would they allow their children to participate in this wickedness.  Yet in the privacy of Christian homes all of the above evil practices are on TV in full color, extolled; held up as proper and acceptable behavior and encouraged Bible Christianity on the other hand is mocked, scorned and made an object of derision.  Even the so-called good shows attack Bible values.  The news programming has a palpable leftist, liberal slant to the point one could wonder if Moscow sometimes prepares the newscasts.  The time-wasting sports keep countless Christians out of church on the Lord's Day and many others from Bible reading, family altar and prayer.  One looks in vain to discover redeeming features of this medium of mass media that has become so wicked that it is so thoroughly enjoyed by the world and now has become the pet sin of Christians

LET US FACE FACTS

Honestly now, after having watched your favorite TV show.  Did you rise, stretch and remark this has made me a better Christian or I am closer to God after having watched that.  Have you noticed your children developing more of an interest in the Bible, witnessing and standing alone for Christ after the steady diet of television you have permitted them to watch?  What would Christ say if He were to watch TV over your shoulder as you enjoy your favorite broadcasts?  What's your son thinking as he watches naked [or half-naked] women?  What are you thinking?  What Bible values and moral character are being taught and reinforced in your family as you watch?  Has it stimulated you to join those who go calling at your church?  Honest answers to these questions ought to convince you of the utter failure on your part of controlling and censoring your pet sin!

WHAT IS IT REALLY?

Television is a modern-day river of filth with several tributaries (channels).  I look after a home for troubled teen-aged girls.  These girls tell me they have formed their values, made life decisions and goals based on this river of filth.  Ever wonder about its lasting effects?  Our girls do not have access to TV; yet a year later they discuss shows they have seen, as if they saw them yesterday!  We would not fill our stomachs from a sewer, yet we are filling our mind, heart and soul from one, and giving our children a hearty appetite for more.

WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY?

Dad, all of the terrible moral and spiritual devastation from TV occurring in your life and in your family is your fault!  You see, you are God s prophet, priest, and king in your home.  He will hold you responsible as the head of the family.  You are the protector of your family against evil influences; and how, in God's name, and based on the Bible, can you say you are protecting them from evil influences when you allow the TV sewer to freely run in your home?

Some men say, if I get rid of my set, there would be World War III with my wife, I know.  Since you have allowed this evil in your home, she is probably hooked on the soaps and other choice tidbits of moral sewage.  You will also face a battle with the kids, since they are similarly hooked on the violence-filled, immoral cartoons.  This is not to mention your friends and relatives who would believe you to be a weirdo, a kook, and who believe that you would be depriving your family.  Why, in order for you to get rid of your set, you would have to be a man!

If you keep the TV sewer in your home, do not expect a pleasant time at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).  Tolerating this sin and even enjoying it calls into serious question your faithfulness to Christ and your stewardship to Him.

SOURCE OF CONFUSION

You are introducing confusion in the hearts and minds of your children by having TV in your home.  TV does not agree with the authority and truth to which a child ought to be exposed in a Bible-believing home.  In fact, the basic message of TV is hostile to the truths conveyed by faithful Bible preachers, Sunday School teachers, Christian Day School teachers, and which ought to be conveyed by believing parents.

Every teaching model (TV characters are strong, polished and compelling models) your child has, ought to be in basic moral agreement on values.  To have the home, school and church proclaiming one set of values to the child while your TV set vigorously and effectively teaches another is to cause confusion of the first order.  This is not only unwise, it is foolhardy.  Ask yourself, do your children emulate and venerate the stars on TV, or their preacher and Sunday School teacher?  Are they accepting and learning the barnyard morality of TV or the morality of Scripture?  Are they praising a longhaired sports hero who desecrates the Lord's Day every Sunday he plays, or are they avidly sharing the details of a 19th century missionary about whom they have just read?  Who is winning the battle for your child's heart?  Why should you even allow this battle for their soul and confusion in their minds by using a TV set?

WHAT INFLUENCES?

A parent must never allow influences in the life of his child that do not reinforce and strengthen his Bible-based convictions.  In fact, to allow such influences in his own.  He is presumptuous sin on the part of the parent.

If you are one of the many carnal believers using a TV set in your home, I must warn you about the consequences of your sin.  God has told us whatever we sow, we will reap (Galatians 6:7-8).  A crop takes time to grow, but reaping time (judgment) will always come.  You will pay for your sin in your own life and the life of your children and grandchildren.  This is not to mention what you will face at the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10).

PhD. IN FILTH

A PhD. candidate may concentrate 2,000 hours to earn his doctorate in a particular field of study.  Count up your family s average viewing time to see how long it took you to obtain your PhD. in filth.  I dare say, many carnal Christians have earned several doctorates in filth!

THE FACTS OF THE MATTER

Anyone owning and watching TV is not seriously interested in personal revival.  Such an individual, though he be called a Christian, is not actively seeking holiness of life.  The facts are, he is a dirty compromiser like Lot: wanting to be called a Pilgrim, trying to act like one, yet pitching his tent toward Sodom, and then actually moving into town.  He has a pet sin and is not willing to give it up!

Remember this, my friend, your controversy is not with me, it is with a Holy God.  A thrice-Holy God still calls sin, SIN!  While you (through your pet sin of TV), are saying in effect a little bit of sin is OK.  We expect the unbelieving world to sit enthralled at the fleshpots of the TV sewer, but for Christians it is especially wicked and evil.  It is not helping you to grow in grace and if you are honest, you will admit it.

I pray some Christians who read this will be willing to give up their pet sin.  What will you do?

Ronald E. Williams
Hephzibah House
508 School St., Winona Lake, IN 46590