Do you serve a 54 inch god?

[Mark Corbett]

“I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.” – Jeremiah, speaking the Word of the Lord (Jeremiah 1:16 NIV)

“And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.” – Paul Simon, The Sound of Silence

“And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.” – Demetrius (Acts 19:26 NIV)

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” – The Apostle John (1 John 5:21 NIV)

 

[left and forsaken]

Not sure if serious.

 

[RDKirk]

Sure it's serious.

Here is something else a pastor once said:

Your god is what you most want to talk to others about. Whatever your most desired subject of conversation is--that subject you drift to speak of whenever you are free to speak of what you want--is your god.

 

[Petros2015]

Oh it's serious. Turn it off for a time if you don't think so and you'll see.

You'll also notice they are in every restaurant. I was in Pizza Hut at a men's bible study called Waterboys that meets there. There were at least 4 of them. In the waiting room at my psychiatrists office, there are two. Always on, always taking the attention.

Count the TVs as you go about your day. See how much time and attention they are taking. How much they are always left on 'in the background'. They aren't the background, they make themselves the foreground.

I have one at home, don't watch it much, just have netflix and on order demand. No commericials. I keep it off most of the time. I don't trust the things anymore.

 

[Mark Corbett]

Not sure if serious.

Yes and no. Obviously the cartoon is not a realistic description of how people talk about TV. Nevertheless, it is meant to point to a real and serious problem.

For a more in depth, nuanced discussion of TV and whether Christians should watch it you might be interested in looking at this thread:

Should Christians Watch TV?

 

[ClementofA]

Is it ok to watch Benny Hinn on TV. Or must it be youtube:

 

[grasping the after wind]

When one considers how people spend their time and what they consume with their eyes and ears, it becomes much more easy to understand how we got where we are in our society. How does it reflect upon us that we spend so much of our time, effort and financial resources in pursuit of diversions from reality that open us up to being literally propagandized and figuratively lobotomized.

 

[Mark Corbett]

Not sure if serious.

By the way, I just noticed that you are new to Christian Forums. Welcome!

I pray that God will bless and encourage you.

And whoever has left you (l'm basing this on your user name), I pray that God will pour this truth deep into your heart until it is overflowing with faith and joy:

God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb. 13:5b NIV)

 

[Mark Corbett]

Is it ok to watch Benny Hinn on TV. Or must it be youtube:

Personally, I would not recommend watching Benny Hill anywhere.

 

[Mark Corbett]

. . . . How does it reflect upon us that we spend so much of our time, effort and financial resources in pursuit of diversions from reality that open us up to being literally propagandized and figuratively lobotomized.

So true!

 

[Saucy]

So, you're using a Paul Simon lyric to justify judging people for watching TV? What is wrong with watching TV? People need to pass the time somehow. If it wasn't TV, they would do something else. Listen to Paul Simon perhaps.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

Hmmm, isn't a computer like a television? Remember to self examine

 

[Antig]

I don't watch tv. I do use the internet, obviously though.

 

[AlexDTX]

“I will pronounce my judgments on my people because of their wickedness in forsaking me, in burning incense to other gods and in worshiping what their hands have made.” – Jeremiah, speaking the Word of the Lord (Jeremiah 1:16 NIV)

“And the people bowed and prayed, to the neon god they made.” – Paul Simon, The Sound of Silence

“And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.” – Demetrius (Acts 19:26 NIV)

“Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” – The Apostle John (1 John 5:21 NIV)

Clearly talking about TV, and no I don't.

 

[Mark Corbett]

So, you're using a Paul Simon lyric to justify judging people for watching TV? What is wrong with watching TV? People need to pass the time somehow. If it wasn't TV, they would do something else. Listen to Paul Simon perhaps.

Not judging. If the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it!

 

[Mark Corbett]

Hmmm, isn't a computer like a television? Remember to self examine

True, the computer and internet can also be like an idol, depending on how it is used.

 

[Gregory Thompson]

True, the computer and internet can also be like an idol, depending on how it is used.

Same with TV then.

 

[Mark Corbett]

Same with TV then.

I agree!

The OP is admittedly not nuanced.

For a more detailed discussion, you might want to see this thread I started on CF:

Should Christians Watch TV?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

I agree!

The OP is admittedly not nuanced.

For a more detailed discussion, you might want to see this thread I started on CF:

Should Christians Watch TV?

It's the same to me, both fall under the same category except the computer has an extra degree of control.

 

[Mark Corbett]

It's the same to me, both fall under the same category except the computer has an extra degree of control.

True, both computer use and TV use can be dangerous and lead us into sin. But the computer/internet does give us more control. Also, depending on how it is used, the computer and internet can be much more active where we are producing content. TV is almost 100% passive.