TV or not TV??

[Vic]

I think one of the issues, concerning Tv, computer and so on is that the many things of this world can be tools. They are not to control us. We need to be able to control the use. And they must be used wisely if used at all, because of the very issue of what is honoring to God, and what can cause someone else to stumble if we do something that could be viewed as being really ungodly. I think these verses, while the main focus is food and such, can be applied for considering all we do.

Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Rom 14:19 Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

Rom 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
Rom 14:22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
Rom 14:23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

For example, I know some individuals who watch the news on tv, watch historical or topical documentary's, and similar. But they wouldn't dream of watching some of the obviously demonic shows or things promoting witchcraft. Nor do they go to theaters. It's about choice. Others spend considerable time watching a variety of things which are filled with worldy attitudes and behaviors--which must affect one's thinking, I should think. It's not about making hard and fast rules, but rather considering what really is edifying for us, and what we want to think about.

Romans 6:12-18 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. 16. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17. But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

We were brought up in a non-Christian home until I was 14. The tv was available, although as kids we were sent outside after school and my parent's tended to control what was watched by what they wanted to watch. We did have our kids shows, but not that much. When we became Christians. I really don't recall it changing as far as availability. We were definitely doing other things, from work, church, bible studies, reading, playing games, youth group and just spending time with friends. So the focus wasn't on that so much.

With our children, we tried to limit it and use discretion over what could be watched and when. But at that time, we weren't as grounded in understanding as now, although our discernment was definitely growing. We encouraged our children to read, and they still are avid readers, as are our grandchildren learning to be.


I would do many things different now---compared to when our children were small and growing up, even over such things as tv..If I happen to watch something on tv, I am constantly analysing it scripturally--it has become such a 'habit' with me, that even to do something for pleasure-aka the flesh---it kind of takes it to a different level.

[Rose of Shushan]

I'm going to go against the grain since the TV is always on in the evenings in our house for background noise..usually on news or music channels. However we never watch movies and mainly use it for news,documentaries or other geeky things.
As a child my son loved educational TV programs and funnily enough hated cartoons and kid's stuff. As a homeschooler myself the TV played its biggest part during his first 7 years.
I do believe its a great tool when used wisely and can provide an alternative source of knowledge and stimulation when used in small doses.
The same goes for the internet which can be great blessing or a big snare. As with all things its how we use it that counts.

[heb13-13]

(07-28-2009 06:12 PM)Rose of Shushan Wrote:  I'm going to go against the grain since the TV is always on in the evenings in our house for background noise..usually on news or music channels. However we never watch movies and mainly use it for news,documentaries or other geeky things.
As a child my son loved educational TV programs and funnily enough hated cartoons and kid's stuff. As a homeschooler myself the TV played its biggest part during his first 7 years.
I do believe its a great tool when used wisely and can provide an alternative source of knowledge and stimulation when used in small doses.
The same goes for the internet which can be great blessing or a big snare. As with all things its how we use it that counts.

We control things, things don't control us.

1Cor 6:12 All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

[Scotchman]

You are right, The Internet is more dangerous than TV and for anyone to ban TV but have the ability to watch worse TV on their computer is very hypocritical.

To some degree, the internet frightens me. I have blocks and filters and still play catchup with the new trash that pops up.

We limit TV to a couple "old shows" OCCASIONALLY! And mostly DVDs which have been carefully selected. 95% Christian and Creation Based videos.

It is hard at first but after a while, everyone gets accustomed.

Music was/is the hardest, but we are changing there too.

We find gutenberg to be a tremendous source for entertainment. We can convert many old classics into quite tolerable Audio using programs like Textaloud to convert the text into synthesized voice. We found a great English Accent for old Christian Texts like those by G.A.Henty.

The kids dont really miss the TV anymore because these stories outlast any movie.

I think that America has beecome to "Bread and Circuses" oriented and we children which grew up into it have been leavened.

Part of our problem has been our attempt to remove the leaven and Praying to god to please cleanse us.

It took 40 hours to Get Israel out of Egypt but 40 YEARS to get Egypt out of Israel!


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Acts 17:11 Receive the word with readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, "You do Err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God."

[Mark]

Great input!

[YYZ Skinhead]

I "watch"--rather "listen to"--TV all the time, in addition to being online something like 14 hours a day. I am agoraphobic and, well, I CAN'T STAND OTHER PEOPLE (except people who have something in common with me, like at a hockey game, a fair, a concert etc) so I generally avoid them offline. Some shows I actually watch--meaning "look at the screen"--are documentaries, science and nature shows, some cartoons and Jeopardy. In addition I try to watch shows that will make me laugh.

It's funny that by watching anthropology shows on Nat Geo I discover why God forbade/forbids His people from doing things like tattooing themselves and consuming blood. They were Pagan practices and still are in many parts of the world. Nothing new under the sun.

I think Jeopardy has one or more Believers (Jewish or Christian) behind the scenes. There are always Biblical categories and clues that require above average knowledge of Scripture.

[a pilgrim]

Well, there are alot of varying opinions, and we have tried alot of them, i.e., some t.v., only videos, only Christian videos, etc. Then, finally, in 2000 we unplugged the t.v., vcr, and video games, chucked them out, cold turkey, and became t.v. free.

It has been a great decision. We quickly noticed the following (and more

1. The children became better artists
2. The children began to read more
3. They began to spend more time outside enjoying nature.
4. They became interested in the farm animals.
5. They quite squabling over what video gets watched or who gets to play the video game.
6. We spent more family time.

All positives. We have never turned back. There are still positive results these 10 years later.

Ben

[Princess of Heaven]

(07-28-2009 06:12 PM)Rose of Shushan Wrote:  I'm going to go against the grain since the TV is always on in the evenings in our house for background noise..usually on news or music channels. However we never watch movies and mainly use it for news,documentaries or other geeky things.
As a child my son loved educational TV programs and funnily enough hated cartoons and kid's stuff. As a homeschooler myself the TV played its biggest part during his first 7 years.
I do believe its a great tool when used wisely and can provide an alternative source of knowledge and stimulation when used in small doses.
The same goes for the internet which can be great blessing or a big snare. As with all things its how we use it that counts.

exactly we can use the tv for our knowledge base...

i have not watched a tv preacher in yrs, however, in light of some new info , i feel like i must see what they are saying these days, so i can be aware and warn others.. also some of the news can be enlightening .. discernment as to know what to watch and what to stay away form