Television: A Blessing Or
Tool Of The Devil

Can there be any real doubt about this question? Can anyone who loves God and studies their Bible really deny that much harm has resulted from "watching" TV? But since we are living in a TV generation, many who profess to be Christians that are in their fifties or younger, seem to be oblivious to this since it has always been around in their lifetime and they have already spent so much time with it.

Profanity

Since the invention of the TV it has gradually become more vile and demonic over the years. It has been said that Clark Gable was the first person to use profanity in Gone With The Wind. In our day, this seems like kid’s stuff compared to what is heard and seen. In our cartoon, we have a person whose mind is in neutral as he watches and hears things that have often been produced from godless Hollywood. Such has become a habit for many, much like any other kind of addiction of the flesh, that one needs to turn from. Misusing God’s holy name on TV is semi-common, even though this is a very serious sin:

You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name (Exo 20:7).

Notice also Psa 139:20:

They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name.

If you call yourself a "Christian," how can you just sit back and allow these wicked people to blaspheme God’s holy name in your house and not be angered to the point of turning from it? Have you forsaken your first love (Rev 2:4)? Even using euphemisms are not proper for a Christian.

Loss Of Time

Also, from the cartoon it is apparent that this unclean habit of TV watching has a hypnotic, intoxicating effect even to the place of taking some or part of one's time away from personal Scripture study. (Note: Before the invention of this vile tool the Bible was not in competition with the TV in our raging spiritual battle. Television is one problem the Christians in the days of the Apostles never had to battle with.)

Ignorance Of God's Word

Perhaps TV is part of the reason why there is such general ignorance of the Bible and false doctrine in Christian circles. It is so bad that it seems the average professing Christian knows the TV stars and sports figures better than the characters in the Bible. They can’t remember where certain verses are in the Scriptures but they know the characters, times and channels of their favorite TV shows!

What Is He Watching?

Getting back to our cartoon picture, what is the man in the cartoon watching? Though we can’t be sure, several possibilities are:

He is watching one of the innumerable detailed, graphic sexual scenes shown in the course of a month.
He has tuned into one of the many talk shows where they are discussing one of the perverted but common things that is of interest to the sinful nature, but that also spiritually defiles the viewers.
He is watching a violent, brutal beating and murder take place that is real to life.

TV Is Sin Desensitizing

The TV viewer is certainly being slowly desensitized to the evils of the world as the world comes into his home and mind through the TV. (Note: He doesn’t have to go out into the world -- he allows the world with all of its evils to invade his precious home setting.) If others in his family, or even his friends, would see the same pictures and hear the same words they too could be spiritually defiled as well. Have you ever consider the seriousness of this?

Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. So watch yourselves" (Luke 17:1-3).

The aforementioned Scripture is especially indicting for parents who use TV as a babysitter. TV might hold children’s attention but it also exposes them to wicked words, sights and the world’s deadly values that can lead them into sin and away from God. Also, cartoons are filled with violence. See Gen 6:11-13 to learn how serious this is.

Subtle Sin Defilement

What are some of the subtle things that are happening to those who watch TV? They are being desensitized to the evils of divorce, sexual immorality, "living together," suicide, materialism, anger, violence, murder, rape, revenge, lying, cheating, stealing, hatred, homosexuality and much more.

In addition, chances are he is gradually becoming lukewarm, if he is still a Christian at all. Regarding this danger, Jesus taught:

So, because you are lukewarm -- neither hot nor cold -- I am about to spit you out of my mouth (Rev 3:16).

Note: The divorce and promiscuity rates in society have escalated, as TV portrays these evils as commonplace and normal. God hates divorce (Mal 2:16), and immorality will exclude one from the Kingdom (1 Cor 6:9,10; Eph 5:5-7). How God must hate TV!

TV, The Lust-Generator

All of that is serious enough but what about the lust that this tool from the devil is generating in viewers’ hearts? Regarding this the Lord taught:

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart (Mat 5:28).

It is our conviction that more adultery is being committed before the TV, as viewers watch it and lust in their hearts, than in all the brothels put together! After all, isn’t this the reason many dress immodestly on TV (and in society) as they do? Notice what the Bible says about modest apparel:

I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes (1 Tim 2:9).

Lusting in the heart will damn one’s soul and must be firmly resisted:

If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell (Mat 5:29).

Notice what righteous Job did about lust:

I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl (Job 31:1).

Often women on TV seemingly dress to try to get men to lust after them. Such are no better than prostitutes, as far as leading people into sexual sin.

Savage Wolves In Sheep’s Clothing On TV

Regarding religious TV, there are many savage wolves in sheep’s clothing openly teaching heretical things on TV like You cannot out sin the grace of God, as eternal security teacher Charles Stanley has taught in the past! Imagine the danger a savage wolf poses to a sheep (Christian)! This reflects the danger of a false prophet (Mat 7:15). Christians are to guard their hearts (Prov 4:23). Among other ways, this is done by protecting yourself from such Satanic teachings as eternal security and others. Scripture declares:

I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people (Rom 16:17,18).

False teachers and their lies cause divisions and deadly deceptions and must be avoided. False teachers are, therefore, very dangerous and this alone is cause enough to spend less time watching religious programs and more time directly in the Bible reading, rereading and pondering the precious eternal truths that God has given mankind, and then putting them into practice (Mat 7:24; Luke 8:21; James 1:22). Certainly some good has resulted from religious TV and Christian videos, but the harm far outweighs the good.

TV Wastes Precious Time

Friend, don’t deceive yourself: The truth is TV, among all of its other evils, is also a waste of precious time that could be used serving God. Since we are all going to account for our free time, among other things at the Judgment, we must take these spare time opportunities seriously and use them to bring forth good fruit. Remember, Jesus taught:

Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire (Mat 7:19).

God wants gain from his children. The servant of God who was given money (talent) was expected to bring forth gain but was lazy and failed. Notice, there was no eternal security for him:

His master replied, "You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Mat 25:26-30).

Entertainment And Sports

Furthermore, the Bible never shows general entertainment as part of the life of a Christian. Neither does it ever state viewing sports as being exemplary or even normal for a Christian. Dear friend, turn from your TV and stop allowing the devil to use it in your life to your own spiritual harm. Remember 2 Tim 2:4 and 2 Tim 2:16:

No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs -- he wants to please his commanding officer.

Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.

TV, The Enemy Of Holiness

Christians are called to live holy lives (2 Tim 1:9). In fact, it is imperative to live this way to enter the kingdom of God:

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:14).

Consider also the following:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Mat 5:8).

The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Gal 6:8,9).

We are also to come out from the world, be separate and keep ourselves from its spiritual pollutants:

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor 6:14-18).

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (James 1:27).

You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God (James 4:4).

Unscriptural Excuses
For Watching TV

I’m lonely.
I’m tired and just want to relax.
I watch only shows like Little House on the Prairie, Angels on Assignment, Family Matters, The Cosby Show, Family Ties, Leave it To Beaver, America's Most Wanted, nature programs, etc.
I watch only "Christian" stations and never the X-rated shows.
I watch only the educational channel.
Everyone watches TV.
We’re not under the law so it’s permissible.
What else am I supposed to do?
Watching TV helps to prepare me for bed time.
I worked all day; now it’s time for me to enjoy myself.
There’s more to life than just reading the Bible.

Commercials

If you say you watch only the "clean" shows and the news, what about the beer and all the flesh-exciting commercials that are shown in between the scenes with women scantily dressed in a provocative way?

Can We Live Without TV?

Is it possible to survive without watching TV in our day? Absolutely! Serious Christians have been doing this for a long time. You can too, but you must battle against the devil’s subtle temptations of TV viewing. Remember, we are battling for eternity! Your eternal soul and the souls of those around you hang in the balance. If you view the Christian life as anything less than this you have already been lulled to sleep by your enemy, the devil, who is trying to destroy your soul. One final question, now that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you as you read these truths (assuming you’re like many), what are you going to do about changing?

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Television: A Blessing Or Tool Of The Devil