Should Christians Watch TV?

[Shimokita]

I started gettin into that as well. I gradually got away from tv and now i don't think about it. I watch youtube but my playlist is all about God.

Maybe it's just moderation.I think sports can be good. You can learn valuable life lessons from sports, and it can be a good way to bond with friends and family. I think it becomes problematic when taken to excess, when you are neglecting your duties in other life areas.

 

[Neostarwcc]

Ask yourself this. Does it glorify God? How can one gain wisdom from it? Does it bring you closer to Christ?

These are the questions i had to ask myself.

It does not but Christian's do plenty of other stuff that brings them closer to christ. Like go to church or read the bible every day or pray every day. Not every single thing that a person does has to be for Christ you know. TV can be okay if it's done in moderation and you stay the heck away from the inappropriate content and violent TV shows. Like I said I like to watch game shows. Nothing wrong with that if it's done in moderatio but I do miss when TV was different. Now there's so much sex on TV that it's not even funny. Luckily I can block those things out.

 

[BrotherD]

Maybe it's just moderation.I think sports can be good. You can learn valuable life lessons from sports, and it can be a good way to bond with friends and family. I think it becomes problematic when taken to excess, when you are neglecting your duties in other life areas.

It is only entertainment. The enemy is okay with anything that takes time away from our Lord. Think about it, a little can easily turn into alot. Then you have beer commercials and whatever else they want you to buy in between time. 3 hours for one game is a long time, and it could be spent with the Lord. Friends and family will be okay to fellowship in other ways.

 

[Shimokita]

It is only entertainment. The enemy is okay with anything that takes time away from our Lord. Think about it, a little can easily turn into alot. Then you have beer commercials and whatever else they want you to buy in between time. 3 hours for one game is a long time, and it could be spent with the Lord. Friends and family will be okay to fellowship in other ways.

I don't think you really have to split up your day into "time for the Lord" "entertainment time" "family time" and so forth. You can itegrate them.

Our Lord Jesus was fully human in every way except sin. That means that he also enjoys entertainment, just like everyone else. If Jesus wanted to go see a sports game with you, would you have gone? I think we can do that even now, in a sense. When St. Paul talks about praying ceaselessly I think is what he has in mind, keeping the Lord in mind during all of your life activities.

 

[BrotherD]

It does not but Christian's do plenty of other stuff that brings them closer to christ. Like go to church or read the bible every day or pray every day. Not every single thing that a person does has to be for Christ you know. TV can be okay if it's done in moderation and you stay the heck away from the inappropriate content and violent TV shows. Like I said I like to watch game shows. Nothing wrong with that if it's done in moderatio but I do miss when TV was different. Now there's so much sex on TV that it's not even funny. Luckily I can block those things out.

Christ is life, so every breath should be all about him.I now look at life this way, everything i do, i should be getting ready for Christs return. Seeing how many championships one has or what record their favorite player broke means nothing, because when he destroys the earth, all of those accolades go with it.

I do not judge you though, we all have the freedom to do as we wish. I just want people to love him as much as i do, and i always feel i can do better.

With love, in Christ

 

[aiki]

I have a t.v. set in my home, but I don't have cable or access to any local t.v. stations. All my viewing happens online. My wife and I watch maybe a half-hour of t.v. a day. Many days we watch no t.v. at all. I much prefer the 'net to t.v. It allows me to watch exactly what I want to watch when I want to watch it. Usually, commercial free.

I think the OP is right on in most of what it had to say about t.v. I know for myself that the longer I walk with God, the less interest I have in things that don't revolve around Him. The more God fills my life, the weaker and emptier seem the things of the World that once occupied my attention. I used to be a massive movie buff. Not anymore. And I don't pine for movies. These days, they seem an enormous waste of the finite amount of time I have on this planet. Certainly, the philosophies, and values, and morality spewing out of Hollywood, I find increasingly intolerable.

I always find it...telling when professing believers respond to exhortations to live holier lives by flaunting their "freedom" to do as they like (a freedom they don't really have as disciples of Christ). As far as I'm concerned, this is just an indicator of the immaturity of their life in Christ. One who is seeking to be holy as God is holy will always take very seriously injunctions to righteous living and warnings about potential paths to compromise with the World, the Flesh and the devil.

 

[timewerx]

By the time I got quite knowledgeable with Christ's and Apostle's teachings in the Bible, I realized most of the stuff being shown in TV contradicts many of Biblical teachings.

The Bible says do not love the world, do not love your life, do not run after the things of this world, "pride of life" is bad, being loved by everyone is bad.

Yet, TV teaches the opposite of all those!

If TV teaches the contrary of Gospel what it is? antiChrist?

 

[BrotherD]

I don't think you really have to split up your day into "time for the Lord" "entertainment time" "family time" and so forth. You can itegrate them.

Our Lord Jesus was fully human in every way except sin. That means that he also enjoys entertainment, just like everyone else. If Jesus wanted to go see a sports game with you, would you have gone? I think we can do that even now, in a sense. When St. Paul talks about praying ceaselessly I think is what he has in mind, keeping the Lord in mind during all of your life activities.

Jesus was all about his Father's business so i doubt a ball game would be on his to do list. What does scripture say:

1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Its not about what we can do, but is it the right thing to do? As i separate from the pleasures of this world, i know see that i am starting to live.

 

[Archivist]

Nothing wrong with watching television in moderation. I watch the local news daily. Is it somehow wrong to check out the weather forecast? Does God not want me to know that there are severe thunderstorms moving in? I don’t think so.

 

[Willing-heart]

As silly as it sounds, one of the hardest thing for me to do was to give up my love for the television programme “charmed,” which is based on witchcraft and witches fighting other witches for the greater good of saving humanity. There are sadly so many of occult and satanic power promoted in the media (for examples in films such as X-Men, Black Panther, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, etc.), and they have a great impact on our lives more than we know, even though they are often based on fiction. Unless we open our spiritual eyes to see them for what they really are, we will remain blind. I think that is where the saying, ‘ignorance is bliss’ comes from. But in all truth, nothing comes from indifference. Hitler believed that ignorance goes hand in hand with gullibility, and that is why Satan is working so hard to keep God’s people in ignorance from the word of God.

The bible tells us very clearly that there are only two supernatural powers in the world – one is a little supernatural power and the other is a mighty supernatural power, there is Satan’s power and there is God’s power. The question you just have to ask yourself is this, “which power are you dealing with? Which power is being displayed or being promoted as good in the movie?” Although many will point to some good things that are performed by the characters and try and justify it. We need to remember that Satan is very subtle, he is clever enough at disguising evil as good, right as wrong, which he succeeded at right from the beginning when he tempted Adam and Eve to give in to sin.

Harry Potter is a fictitious character based on a fictitious writing, nevertheless, Harry Potter has managed to bring respectability to occult and witchcraft. It singularly managed to lead millions of children into the world of black magic and satanic power. It has been able to do for Satan what Satan could not do for himself for 100 of years. What is that you might ask? Acceptance of his power, recognition of his strength, the legitimacy of his operation.

We spend a great deal of money on amusement. The word ‘muse‘ actually means to think about something carefully and for a long time. The letter “a” added to it redefines it to mean that we are spending a great deal of money not to think. When we draw our pleasure from ungodly things we make God jealous because He is totally committed to us while we put one step in the world and the other with God. It is fine to watch TV, but we should strive more to watch whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, watch and reflect such things.

 

[RaymondG]

Ask yourself this. Does it glorify God? How can one gain wisdom from it? Does it bring you closer to Christ?

These are the questions i had to ask myself.

After you stopped watching TV......Did it make you feel that you are holier or closer to God than those who continued to watch?

 

[Shimokita]

Jesus was all about his Father's business so i doubt a ball game would be on his to do list. What does scripture say:

1 John 2:15-17
15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Its not about what we can do, but is it the right thing to do? As i separate from the pleasures of this world, i know see that i am starting to live.

Alright, lets get you a hair shirt then.

 

[BrotherD]

Nothing wrong with watching television in moderation. I watch the local news daily. Is it somehow wrong to check out the weather forecast? Does God not want me to know that there are severe thunderstorms moving in? I don’t think so.

Nothing wrong with the weather. You can check that on your phone. You can also do whatever you please. The news is a tool to manipulate and divide. It does nothing for the growth of the Kingdom of God.

 

[Hammster]

I don't watch it, i love the Lord to much to fill my thoughts with anymore of the filth the world has to offer. But you my friend have a good rest of the day.

How do you think you’d fare if your thought life was projected on a screen for all to see?

 

[dqhall]

I got this from this website
Jesus-is-Lord.com
I agree with everything written

Christian, do you have a television in your home?

You do? Why?

If Jesus came back tonight, do you think He would be happy to find His army staring glassy-eyed at some flesh-pleasing trash being pumped out of Hollywood into the minds of His soldiers?

Have you ever stopped to think about that thing that you stare at night after night, day after day, year after year?

Did you spend more time on your television today than you did on your knees or reading your Bible?

You did? Why?

Do you allow your children to sit hour after hour, day after day, year after year in front of a boob tube?

Why?

Would you invite Satan to come into your home, sit down in your living room, talk, tell jokes, show evil pictures for hour after hour to your wife and children? Would you invite a sex pervert into your living room to brag to your family about his or her "alternate lifestyle"? Would you let a drug-pusher come into your home and give everyone in your household a drug that would dull their mind, make you forget God, make you feel nice and happy and stupid, day after day, year after year?

Isn't that what many Christians do [by watching mindless television]? Are you one of them?

If statistics are true (and every one knows they lie), then 97% of American homes have a television in them. Have you wondered why that is so? Does your preacher ever mention it?

I wonder why not.

What does God say about it?

In the second epistle of John, verses 9-11, we read:

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The Word of God tells us to not invite someone into our house who abideth not in the doctrine of Christ.

Do the people on your tv screen abide in the doctrine of Christ?

Do you think that those actors and producers out in Hollywood love the Lord and abide in His doctrines? Maybe you think so. I don't. Friend, you don't have to be in Hollywood long to realize what kind of a place it is. I lived there once years ago, and I don't think it has probably changed much. It's not the kind of environment you want to bring into your living room everyday. In fact, those Hollywood people who pump out their programs into your household hate the Lord and despise His doctrines and blasphemously mock Him. Should ANYONE give ear to their programs? Millions do -- Christians among them! Why is this?

Do you think that the sponsors of television programs tell you the truth in their advertising? You don't? Then why do you sit there listening to LIES?

The Law of God tells us that we should not covet. Now what do you suppose is the purpose of ALL advertising you see on tv? Is it to encourage you to a simpler lifestyle? Is it to make you content with the things that God has blessed you with? Does it make you want to sell ALL and follow the Lord with a whole heart?

Remember the sin of Achan. He brought destruction on his entire household by coveting a goodly Babylonish garment (Joshua 7:21).

Psalm 101:3 says:
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Is your tv a "good thing"? Do you think that if the Lord Jesus were here on earth today, He would sit and watch the things you watch?

In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you...

Friend, are you being separate when you sit in front of your tv? Do you think that the shows you watch on tv are "clean" by any Biblical definition?

Walk down your street sometime at twilight. Look at the houses you see along the way. What is that glowing thing in the living room of house after house of Christian and non-Christian alike? Who are these zombies transfixed by staring into its flickering glare?

"Well, what about Christian programming?" I hear you say.

Well, what about it? Is it really Christian? Is it necessary? Is it for you?

"Well, I know someone who was saved by watching a Christian program." Well, fine. Now that they're saved, there's no reason to go on watching it, right? The Lord has better things for them to do from that point on than to sit and gape stupidly at their television set any more.

"Well, what about the news? How am I supposed to know what's going on in the world if I don't watch the 6 o'clock news?" you say.

Friend, do you really think that the 20 minutes of non-advertisement time in the 6 o'clock news is pure and objective? Are the values of CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC YOUR values? Do they honor God? It seems to me that these networks, in their news presentations, are among those who call evil good, and good, evil. They are very powerful in shaping people's attitudes, Christians and non-Christians alike. You need to be very wise to withstand them. There have been dramatic changes in people's attitudes toward sin in the past few decades. A lot of this has come from constantly breathing the poisonous atmosphere of television.

Friend, God tells us in His Book, that we should "redeem the time." I think that has a special application to this time in which we live and our television watching. Get into your King James Bible, get down on your knees in prayer, lift up your hands in Holy praise, don't waste your time and the Lord's time glued hour after hour to your tv.

...Television is like any addiction -- once you go for a few weeks without watching it, you'll soon forget all about it -- it's really the easiest of all addictions to break, which is all the more remarkable considering how many people are snared by it.

Friend, I ask you to examine your attitude toward tv watching. Go to the Lord and ask Him what you should do about it. Listen carefully to His answer, and then if He tells you to unplug it and hide it in your closet, then DO IT! If He tells you to take it out to the dumpster, then DO IT! If He tells you to warn your friends and co-workers and fellow-church members about it, then DO IT, but not until you have resolved this important issue in your own life first.

God wants us to lead pure and holy lives. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (I Timothy 6:11.)

And may the Lord richly bless you

I had kidney stones, a bladder stone and high blood pressure. I had been [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ing blood, suffered extreme pain and was days away from bladder stone surgery. I prayed to God for salvation. A while later the spirit directed me to turn on the TV. It was on PBS. A doctor was talking about a miraculous plant based diet. I bought one of his books and was soon on a no salt added primarily plant based diet. My uric acid kidney stones stopped. My blood pressure lowered and I lost 14 lbs. I can be thankful God leads people to goodness.

Another time I turned the channel to a Sunday morning sermon. The pastor told me the first church in Europe was started at Philippi.

Another pastor reminded me Paul was led to preach the Gospel on the island of Malta where he was shipwrecked. There are churches on Malta.

 

[carrico]

I do watch TV. But I don't subscribe to HBO or anything inappropriate contentographic. Maingly I just like to watch game shows on Amazon and stuff. But the OP is right TV has gone way downhill since the 60s and 70s. I miss when you couldn't say hell or damn on TV.

I agree.

I watch game shows, news, Hallmark, and select TV shows on TLC (usually ones about large families, people with multiples or birth stories). Nothing but trash on TV anymore.

 

[BrotherD]

After you stopped watching TV......Did it make you feel that you are holier or closer to God than those who continued to watch?

No sir, it made me feel free. I didn't feel the need to keep up with whats happening. I don't care about the things i once did. I don't judge you at all. I believe we as Christians have gotten too comfortable with the world. Its time to seperate ourselves as the Lord commands.

 

[Kenny'sID]

I don't watch what used to be conventional TV anyway or even a lot of the junk they have today. Mostly just movies, and as long as we're mature enough to know they won't cause us to sin, I think a bit of inexpensive entertainment is just fine with Christ.

There are stories in the bible with a lot worse content than on TV, and much of TV, is, after all, no more than a story.

 

[BrotherD]

I had kidney stones, a bladder stone and high blood pressure. I had been [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ing blood, suffered extreme pain and was days away from bladder stone surgery. I prayed to God for salvation. A while later the spirit directed me to turn on the TV. It was on PBS. A doctor was talking about a miraculous plant based diet. I bought one of his books and was soon on a no salt added primarily plant based diet. My uric acid kidney stones stopped. My blood pressure lowered and I lost 14 lbs. I can be thankful God leads people to goodness.

Another time I turned the channel to a Sunday morning sermon. The pastor told me the first church in Europe was started at Philippi.

Another pastor reminded me Paul was led to preach the Gospel on the island of Malta where he was shipwrecked. There are churches on Malta.

If God led you to healing then that is great. He can use any and everything for his will. The overall message is the TV is a device the enemy uses to disrespect and blaspheme our Lord. We shouldn't invite the enemy into our home. I use YouTube for only Christian programming.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I got this from this website
Jesus-is-Lord.com
I agree with everything written

Christian, do you have a television in your home?

You do? Why?

If Jesus came back tonight, do you think He would be happy to find His army staring glassy-eyed at some flesh-pleasing trash being pumped out of Hollywood into the minds of His soldiers?

Have you ever stopped to think about that thing that you stare at night after night, day after day, year after year?

Did you spend more time on your television today than you did on your knees or reading your Bible?

You did? Why?

Do you allow your children to sit hour after hour, day after day, year after year in front of a boob tube?

Why?

Would you invite Satan to come into your home, sit down in your living room, talk, tell jokes, show evil pictures for hour after hour to your wife and children? Would you invite a sex pervert into your living room to brag to your family about his or her "alternate lifestyle"? Would you let a drug-pusher come into your home and give everyone in your household a drug that would dull their mind, make you forget God, make you feel nice and happy and stupid, day after day, year after year?

Isn't that what many Christians do [by watching mindless television]? Are you one of them?

If statistics are true (and every one knows they lie), then 97% of American homes have a television in them. Have you wondered why that is so? Does your preacher ever mention it?

I wonder why not.

What does God say about it?

In the second epistle of John, verses 9-11, we read:

9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

The Word of God tells us to not invite someone into our house who abideth not in the doctrine of Christ.

Do the people on your tv screen abide in the doctrine of Christ?

Do you think that those actors and producers out in Hollywood love the Lord and abide in His doctrines? Maybe you think so. I don't. Friend, you don't have to be in Hollywood long to realize what kind of a place it is. I lived there once years ago, and I don't think it has probably changed much. It's not the kind of environment you want to bring into your living room everyday. In fact, those Hollywood people who pump out their programs into your household hate the Lord and despise His doctrines and blasphemously mock Him. Should ANYONE give ear to their programs? Millions do -- Christians among them! Why is this?

Do you think that the sponsors of television programs tell you the truth in their advertising? You don't? Then why do you sit there listening to LIES?

The Law of God tells us that we should not covet. Now what do you suppose is the purpose of ALL advertising you see on tv? Is it to encourage you to a simpler lifestyle? Is it to make you content with the things that God has blessed you with? Does it make you want to sell ALL and follow the Lord with a whole heart?

Remember the sin of Achan. He brought destruction on his entire household by coveting a goodly Babylonish garment (Joshua 7:21).

Psalm 101:3 says:
I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.

Is your tv a "good thing"? Do you think that if the Lord Jesus were here on earth today, He would sit and watch the things you watch?

In 2 Corinthians 6:17, the Bible says:
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you...

Friend, are you being separate when you sit in front of your tv? Do you think that the shows you watch on tv are "clean" by any Biblical definition?

Walk down your street sometime at twilight. Look at the houses you see along the way. What is that glowing thing in the living room of house after house of Christian and non-Christian alike? Who are these zombies transfixed by staring into its flickering glare?

"Well, what about Christian programming?" I hear you say.

Well, what about it? Is it really Christian? Is it necessary? Is it for you?

"Well, I know someone who was saved by watching a Christian program." Well, fine. Now that they're saved, there's no reason to go on watching it, right? The Lord has better things for them to do from that point on than to sit and gape stupidly at their television set any more.

"Well, what about the news? How am I supposed to know what's going on in the world if I don't watch the 6 o'clock news?" you say.

Friend, do you really think that the 20 minutes of non-advertisement time in the 6 o'clock news is pure and objective? Are the values of CBS, NBC, CNN, ABC YOUR values? Do they honor God? It seems to me that these networks, in their news presentations, are among those who call evil good, and good, evil. They are very powerful in shaping people's attitudes, Christians and non-Christians alike. You need to be very wise to withstand them. There have been dramatic changes in people's attitudes toward sin in the past few decades. A lot of this has come from constantly breathing the poisonous atmosphere of television.

Friend, God tells us in His Book, that we should "redeem the time." I think that has a special application to this time in which we live and our television watching. Get into your King James Bible, get down on your knees in prayer, lift up your hands in Holy praise, don't waste your time and the Lord's time glued hour after hour to your tv.

...Television is like any addiction -- once you go for a few weeks without watching it, you'll soon forget all about it -- it's really the easiest of all addictions to break, which is all the more remarkable considering how many people are snared by it.

Friend, I ask you to examine your attitude toward tv watching. Go to the Lord and ask Him what you should do about it. Listen carefully to His answer, and then if He tells you to unplug it and hide it in your closet, then DO IT! If He tells you to take it out to the dumpster, then DO IT! If He tells you to warn your friends and co-workers and fellow-church members about it, then DO IT, but not until you have resolved this important issue in your own life first.

God wants us to lead pure and holy lives. "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (I Timothy 6:11.)

And may the Lord richly bless you

I do not plan to add watching TV to my sin list anytime soon. So for now, its not a sin for me.