My both grandfathers and grandmothers rejected TV from the first time it appeared
in several houses, even from believers. My grandmother said sometime: 'it is the
box of the devil with his tail on the roof (antenna).' The slogan for the introducing
campaign of TV was: 'it brings the world in your house!'
My grandfathers- and mothers did not like to have the world in their houses. My
father and mother followed/obeyed them in that rejecting.
So we (my sister, brother and I) grew up in a childhood without TV. That
did not mean we grew up stupid (an argument for TV is often that children can
learn from TV too). Once a teacher said to my mother that he could see that
we did not have TV at home because of the results of our learning on school. There
was a difference.
But,
sadly, from both sides, believers and non-believers, we were seen as a rare species.
Some did even see it as were our parents hiding such a nice gift for us,
the children. Like if it was some kind of rudeness. Also there
were some believers thinking that we did think that we were better than the rest,
or that we judged people with our actions.
So some day, in a vacation, one of them delivered a small b/w TV at our home,
it would be nice for the children and for the spare time. The use would
be only for the week of vacation. The 'gift' was accepted, so we watched
some movie, I remember it was 'Sissy' the princess of Austria. Further I
do not remember what I saw.
Many years later, we had our second time, having TV in the house. A colleague
of my father made it technically possible to watch TV with a VCR and the screen
of a home-computer. When I remember that, I see how hypocritical it was.
We watched a lot of TV during a time. All of our family had our special favorite
things to watch. Sometimes we had a fight about the 'TV-time'. Our family
life became a mess. The 'favorite things on TV' mostly absorbed our free time.
From soccer till soaps and late-night movies, we saw it. At the end we became
unhappy. We came to the conclusion that TV influenced our thinking and acts.
During watching TV we became more tolerant to evil things. And that
was also said in an interview with a soap-star: our series has the purpose to
get rid of many 'little holy houses', to get rid of taboo.
We came to the conclusion that having TV was a waste of time and a waste of standards.
I wrote the above with mentioning 'we'. I know that it is a personal choice, we
did not come all at the same time to that conclusion. So for me it became also
a personal choice.
The arguments we heard also were 'do you not have a power-off button on the TV'
and 'I am in control, so if there is anything wrong, I switch to another channel'.
We found out that both arguments were wrong. It is denying of human
weaknesses.
We got rid of TV.
And as we experienced it, such a roommate is not wanted anymore.
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE
Note:
Below are some verses concerning the way we can use our eyes. The lesson
of that part of the Bible will be shortly noted and a short application
in relation to TV.
What we see can have a large impact on our mind, soul and actions.
A few examples:
Genesis 3:6. And when the woman saw that the tree
was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired
to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto
her husband with her; and he did eat.
Lesson:
We see it all happen: disobedience, consuming, and deceiving of someone else.
Sin.
Application:
'Good for food'. What we watch can become food for the mind too.
'Pleasant to the eyes'. A nice program can be so pleasant for the eyes.
'Desire to make one wise'. The desire to watch that program on Friday-evening,
'if I miss it, I sure missed something!'
Genesis 13:10-11 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of
Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom
and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou
comest unto Zoar. Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed
east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
Lesson:
Lot chose the things of the earth. He made the wrong choice. To choose
what is well-looking on this earth is to put your head down instead of what Abraham
did: to choose/expect the things from above (Hebrew 11:10, Revelations 21:9-27)
What is beautiful on this earth is ugly in the light of the things of God.
Application:
TV can offer many bright horizons, often the world of mankind looks beautiful
but it is all fake and nothing worth for him who wants to obey God (Abraham).
Numbers 13:27-33 And
they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely
it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the
people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great:
and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land
of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in
the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan.
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and
possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with
him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than
we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto
the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search
it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and al the people that we
saw in it are men of a great stature. And there we saw the giants, the sons
of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight grasshoppers,
and so we were in their sight.
Lesson:
This part shows the human mind: focus on the sight and forget the power of God.
Looking at the earthly forms, thinking they are too great to conquer while
above there is an Almighty.
Application:
The news on TV can shock us, we can lose hope if we see all the terrible things
on TV happen, we can forget at that moment that God is above all things.
Mark
6:21-29 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made
a supper to his lord, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; And when
the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them
that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt,
and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask
of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth,
and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the
Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked,
saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their
sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately the king
sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and be-headed
him in the prison, And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the
damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.
Lesson:
This shows when we follow our desire, it will take a sacrifice. Herod in his desire
promised something to the girl that was dancing so nice. It was a big sacrafice,
the head and life of John the Baptist. Following our desires can lead to tragedy.
Application:
Not only TV offers some kind of see and order system by phone and creditcard (that
leads to materialism), but TV offers also 'new' moral standards and thinking when
we accept that as being beautiful, we are lost.
Conclusion:
Only a few verses of the Bible make clear that what we see, we can accept it,
follow it and face the consequences of it.
The
question is:
What do we HAVE to see, what do we HAVE to accept, and what do we HAVE to follow,
and what WILL the consequences be for a believer, following the words of the Bible,
being Word of God.
TV is one of the many things that can seduce us to 'forget' better standards.
It is one of the things that can be on our retina.
WHAT
DOES THE BIBLE TELL US THAT WE SHOULD SEE?
Psalm
25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the
net. O there are so many nets around, let us look toward the LORD.
Psalm 121:1-3 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.
My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer
thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.
We will not have to fear, we do not need the 'shows' of people of this earth,
shocking many. We have to look above, not down on the things of the earth. We
are strangers in this world. Our help is from above, from the LORD.
Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed;
for he giveth of his bread to the poor.
If we want to see something, let us watch on our neighbors, let us have love to
our neighbors, showing the love of Jesus Christ by our acts to them, let us look
on the proper things to watch for.
Mattheus 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they
saw no man, save Jesus only.
Jesus Christ has to be the one that we see, we have to look at Him. Do we see
him with the eye of belief? A major truth, He is the center of our belief, let
us look at Him.
1 Joh. 2:16-17 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. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he
that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
This one exposes what we
in our human thinking and acts do. But it is all temporarily, it is not worth
it. To be with God forever, that should be our point of view, what we are looking
for. Our short time on this earth should be a time of obeying and following Him,
instead of our flesh to serve the world and its deceiving.
WHAT
ARE THE ENEMY'S TACTICS TO TEMPT US TO BOW TO TELEVISION?
Luke
4:1-13 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led
by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And
in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone
that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That
man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms
of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power
will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to
whomsoever I will I give it. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall
be thine. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan:
for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou
serve.
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and
said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence: For
it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee: And
in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against
a stone. And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt
the Lord thy God. And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed
from him for a season.
Jesus
answered with the Word of God.
That should be a big lesson for us. We should not only follow this example of
Jesus Christ, as following Him, but we have to LIVE the Bible in our life's also.
We see in the verses above that the devil tries to use weaknesses to become a
trap in failing our faith to God. How beautiful and with Honour to God are the
answers of Jesus.
We should know what our weaknesses are, everyone has different weaknesses, we
have to deal with them in the light of the Word of God, and we have to answer
the temptations of the devil with the Word of God.
We should use the Word of God as our defense (Eph. 6:11-20).
CONCLUSION:
TV is worth nothing. There are many other visual media, but TV is top of
the list for all the deceiving and temptations it can offer. We have to make the
proper decision how to deal with them. We have to learn the Words of the Bible.
That is much better 'food'.
Seeing
with eyes of flesh:
Job 10:4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?
We should see only clear:
Hebrew 2:9-18 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower
than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that
he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him,
for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto
glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified
are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying,
I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing
praise unto thee. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold
I and the children which God hath given me.
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself
likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had
the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear
of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on
him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that
he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to
make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath
suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
What we should
do in this desert called earth:
Hebrew 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest,
that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling
of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may
obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
O, that we
should follow His path.
Psalm 139:23-24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try
me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and
lead me in the way everlasting.
THIS
LAST SECTION IS MADE UP OF LINKS AND VIDEOS
You
will see that television is a tool of change, and never for good, and never to
Christ and holiness. You will also see that you have been hypnotized if you have
watched TV for any amount of time.
I
recall my Dad complaining about TV long ago when I was a kid. That was in the
1950s. He would, as a pastor, visit the homes of the church members. I suppose
half of them had TVs in those early days of the medium. When he was invited into
the home, ALL of those there would be watching TV. The father would cordially
ask Dad to sit down and visit. Once my Dad was seated EVERY ONE IN THE ROOM would
turn back to the TV and keep watching.
Dad
had a trick he used. He would talk as if the TV were not there. The father would
turn and say something like, "That's right preacher," or, "You
don't say," or, "I was thinking that too preacher." My Dad would
gradually talk quieter and quieter which caused the father in charge to start
saying, "What," and "Huh?" Finally, the old man would yell
at one of the kids telling him to turn off the TV. Then everyone came out of trance
and visited with Dad as if he had just walked in the door. They never knew that
Dad had done his one mind altering tricks. Hmmmmm
TV
Equals Mind Control Beware
of language, but DO watch. You will probably panic. Solution- Turn off the computer
(I am not THE source please), and go open your Bible and read Genesis chapters
1 through 3. What you read there is 1000% antagonistic to the whole world of media,
and Genesis tells you where everything here began. And, Genesis will lead you
on to "the whole truth and nothing but the truth." Modern media will
lead you to mindless obedience to wicked God hating suggestions. The best way
to send you kids to hell is to set them in front of a TV.
VIDEOS:
Television
- Mass Hypnotic Indoctrination
TELEVISION-
THE DRUG OF THE NATION (Caution: Some rough spots in this one)
These
ungodly boys can figure it out-- can YOU?
Now,
watch this video, and do not read the text below the video until you watched
it please:
Now,
tell me, did watching this video change anything you believe about eternity, hell,
and who goes to heaven of hell? Did the Bible verses validate the message
of the video for you? If you said "Yes" to either of these questions,
you were hypnotized. You are mind addicted to TV and online videos. You
need to find a Bible believing pastor at once and seek deliverance from devils.
