Should we, as Christians, watch television (TV)?

Characteristics that should mark a Christian family

Firstly, a Christian family should be a home. Are our families homes for the parents and the children? Do we look forward to going home? Do we like being there? There are some people who never seem to be at home. Is it because it is characterised by trouble and strife and they cannot wait to get away? The Lord said in John 14:1–3: ‘Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me. In my Father’s house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be.’ We are strangers and pilgrims in this world — we have no ‘abiding city’ here (Heb. 13:14) — but once we get to heaven we shall be at home. Why? Because the Father and the Lord Jesus are there. That is what will make it home for us. Are you looking forward to that? This shows us what our families should be now: a home. But if the parents are hardly ever there, will it be home to the children? This is a serious matter to consider.

Secondly, a Christian family should be a place of security and shelter from the world. Or are our homes open to let everything in? It is so easy for the world to come right inside, into our living rooms through the TV and the internet. And if we allow our children to do whatever they like with their mobile phones and other devices we should not be surprised if they take the whole world into their rooms. Young people, you know what is out there. That is why your parents are responsible to provide you a place of security and shelter. You are exposed enough to all sorts of things in the world, but when you come home you should be secure and sheltered from it. Satan and his world have no access to the Father’s house — it is eternally secure.

Beware! The communication media of the day form the mind and character. Immoral and violent TV, radio, movies and literature wreck morals.

What do we see? There are so many things we can see today – too many things I would say. We must admit this and bow before God because of that, and humble ourselves, because we see too many things to the detriment of the eyes of our hearts. Consequently we do not find the time to see Jesus. This is a very real problem today. We think we have to see all kinds of things, but really we do not have to. Our judgment is marred and deteriorating, we cannot distinguish between good and evil any more, because these images criss-cross our minds, and we are drawn away from the Lord Jesus. The Hebrews did not have these problems, but we do. It would be a lie to say that we do not like these images, and not only the young ones. Children, what a danger it is to be all the time occupied with these big and little screens. Young people, it is the same for you and the older ones.

Let me further press the last part of this theme. What a new state would begin for us if we would find that between our necessary work in the world and our still more necessary and fruitful occupation with Scripture, our time was so fully taken up that we would have little or none remaining for anything that was not absolutely productive and profitable; if all that was idle, vain and frivolous, disappeared out of our lives; if the newspaper (radio, TV, etc.) were supplanted by fresh discoveries in the things of God. Peter exhorts us that "laying aside all malice and all guile and hypocrisies and envies and all evil speaking, [we should] as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the Word that we should grow thereby" (1 Pet. 2: 1)

In these words the Holy Spirit has uncovered for us the root of much failure and weakness amongst the children of God. The idolized thing becomes like a film over the eye, dimming its vision of the brighter things above. Here I feel very sympathetic with my younger brothers and sisters, for I am now sufficiently old to look back to youthful days when there were not nearly the number of clever things invented, calculated to fascinate and fill the mind to the exclusion of far better things. In my young days there were no motor-cars, no aeroplanes, no radio, no television, no cinemas, enticing you to spend time on them rather than on the service of the Lord and things of eternal value.

Character is formed, to a great extent, by what we read and hear and see. The artificial culture of the day destroys depth and force of character. Today's entertainment and light literature are forming a superficial race of men and women. The present is a rare opportunity for individual character to shine and leave its mark. Indiscriminate reading, listening and viewing to while away free time are ruinous to the mind. Thoughts pour in and run out, at best leaving no lasting impression — what a waste of time and of mind!

With the eye it is possible to look either at what is good or at what is evil, and the heart is affected accordingly. Therefore avoid looking at improper sights. The psalmist prayed, "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity." He feared the effect. The righteous person deliberately shuts his eyes that he may not see what is evil (Isa. 33:15). If the evil enters eye-gate, it has a clear passage to the heart. Eve having looked at the forbidden tree, first desired it in her heart, and then took and ate the fruit. The young men in the family of God are warned against the lust of the eyes (1 John 2:16). A large portion of the pleasures of the world today consists of attractive pictures for the delectation of the eye.

Our thoughts form us; and it is out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. And let us not forget that our thoughts are formed by what we read, and look at, and hear. How much about us is superficial, or false. Our newspapers, the radio, the magazines about the house: do these help us to meditate on whatsoever things are true? Do we realize what a terrific influence these things have on our children, as well as on ourselves? And how much of all this is not true, but utterly false, as we very well know. Little wonder the Spirit of God exhorts us to think on, to meditate on, to calculate, whatsoever things are true.

We can make no rule about entertainment. The buoyancy of youth demands a certain amount of liberty which, if kept under godly limits and controlled by godly principles, is all right. For my own part, I have no desire to visit exhibitions and other shows, not on the ground that these amusements are sinful, but simply because I am satisfied without them. Christ and His interests are enough. Besides, souls are perishing and eternity is nearing, and I have neither time nor inclination to mingle with the world in admiring its toys and sharing in its pleasures.

It is a mistake of course to suppose that the renewed mind must never occupy itself with any other book than the Bible. Ignorance is not a virtue nor does scripture call it “bliss.” The renewed mind will not be content with idleness, and even reading for instruction will take on a new interest as we look at all subjects against the background of our knowledge of God's word and will. As for reading for recreation, one would only say, “Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” (Rom. 14:5) But whatever we read, or indeed listen to or look at, let us not forget that the great enemy is on the watch to find an opportunity to break down our loyalty to Christ. Satan will try to educate us along a path that leads to doubt and unbelief; and will turn a means of recreation into one of desecration if he can. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols.” (John 5:21)