Heed The Watchmen

Television Decision

            It is a great challenge for each believer to bring all under the Lordship of Christ. Nothing hinders us more than TV; both by its content, and by taking away productive time.

            As my wife and I walk in the evenings, we see that blue glow of the “boob tube” emanating from nearly every home. Most of those viewing claim to be Christian, or pray, or believe in God. I believe that TV is a major part of the conditioning (by the devil) for the arrival of the new world order, and the leading of antichrist.

            This has been a great struggle for me, as well. I have been conditioned to relax or “wind down” by watching television. It is a difficult bond to break! After all, isn’t some TV alright to watch? Isn’t some informative and educational? In reality, it becomes like “straining at a gnat, and swallowing a camel” (Matthew 23:24). Many of us are so desensitized that we really do not see (Matthew 24:12) the evil taking place before our eyes. TV viewing is really a mild form of hypnosis, and your mind becomes very compliant.

            Just think of all the blasphemy you see on television. You see constant lying, adultery, murder, and homosexuality. Animated sitcoms are some of the most evil! They attempt to give you a “cartoon” feel, all the while constantly railing against God and His values!

            Evolution is constantly pushed in shows about aliens, “educational” programs, almost every sitcom and even the news. Evangelical Christians are portrayed as crazy, while Catholicism is promoted and respected.

            Looking back, we can see the subtle indoctrination of evil coming over time. My wife and I had purchased some MASH seasons on DVD, to have some more “innocent” TV viewing alternatives. Was it more innocent? Yes, when compared to most shows of today. Was it innocent? No way! We easily see in them the indoctrination which 30 years ago paved the way for many of the blatant evils that we see on TV today. Drunkenness; lying; rampant adultery and a verbal berating of marriage; homosexual leaning and favor; even the bad guy, Frank Burns, was touted to be a “Bible thumper.” Catholic favoritism is displayed all throughout the show, with the transvestite Klinger being laughed at as normal and innocent. God said it is an abomination (Deuteronomy 22:5)!

            As I continue to grow in the Lord, my TV watching continues to decline. My heart is heavily convicted as I view murder after murder, homosexuals embraced, tremendous lying to even your spouse, evolution pushed, adultery flaunted. Are we really children of God, who view these things with a smile or laugh? Pray that we may live as children of the Most High God, reflecting Jesus Christ at all times.

            The wasted time is the worst. What could we have done while sitting there? God needs laborers to send out for the harvest—let’s go! At least we could be reading God’s Word and discussing it with family and friends.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates. Deuteronomy 6:5-9

            This directive is repeated in Deuteronomy 11:18-20 as well. Why? Our carnal natures make us susceptible to sin; by replacing those inclinations with Godly conversation, the values of our Lord Jesus will more and more replace that sinful nature.

            There could be times of value for TV; such as watching your local news for weather, traffic, school closings. Please pray and think about what you are bringing into your home and life by the programs you watch. Time is short, and we must be about our Heavenly Father’s business!

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Matthew 5:6

For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; II Corinthians 10:3-5

Post Script: The American government has mandated the conversion of all television signals into digital. To most who are asleep, this may just seem like progress…

            More and more, every aspect of our lives is being monitored. We had also purchased a converter box for the transition to digital. The serial number was carefully recorded, and each converter purchased required extensive information about the buyer (the user). Identification was needed just to make the purchase…

            Why? Surveillance. New TV’s, computers, cell phones, all can be tracked. I believe these converter boxes hold cameras and possibly listening devices within them. It was strange, after we hooked ours up; the converter box would turn on by itself at times! The manual claims that these are “updates;” but why not wait for those updates until the boxes are deliberately turned on, like with our computers? We are being monitored, brethren! Yet my wife and I have now decided to give up TV altogether, rather than have this further invasion of our privacy. Please pray about this fervently, and be careful.

       “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.” –I John 2:15

       “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” –II Corinthians 6:17