The sin of watching TV

[The Unforgettable Fire]

There was a time in certain Pentecostal churches that it was considered a sin to have a TV in your home.

I knew a Pentecostal girl once as a teen who snuck around and watched movies without her dad knowing and her dad, a Pentecostal minister preached strongly against it.

She would lead the song service on Sunday for her dad, but during the week, when at her friend's house, she would secretly watch a movie or two. Sometimes she would even watch the evening news.

Any thoughts on this?

And why is TV watching not a sin anymore? Or is it just certain programming?

Elaboration welcome.

 

[Messy]

There are some extreme Dutch reformed churches where it's still considered a sin. But internet is not a sin, so they can watch all the programs on the computer.

 

[The Unforgettable Fire]

There are some extreme Dutch reformed churches where it's still considered a sin. But internet is not a sin, so they can watch all the programs on the computer.

I was just thinking, If TV is a sin the internet must surely be a sin, and with everything online now, imagine the potential for problems that creates...well...unless you are Amish I guess.

 

[freezerman2000]

Certain programming,not the TV...There is wholesome programming,and some I have no desire to watch.

 

[FreeInChrist88]

It seems that certain denominations in their well-meaning pursuit of holiness, declared many questionable activities to be sinful. TV and movies, secular music and any level of alcohol consumption fall in this category.

I've never seen TV declared sinful in the Bible. Oh, that's right, TV wasn't invented until 1900 years later. So obviously, leaders in certain denominations saw something about TV that they didn't like and decided to create a taboo outlawing all TV for everybody. Perhaps the thinking was, "The people are too stupid to properly regulate themselves. They will let TV pull them down a road of sin and destruction. Let's declare it sinful, preach against it and put the fear of God into people so that they will fear judgement if they watch TV. That will keep people on the straight and narrow."

The story about the preacher's daughter is hilarious. Too bad she was put under the burden of other's rules instead of being taught how to regulate herself.

 

[thunderbyrd]

your question is too simplistic. but whatever. sure, Christians should watch TV. where else can you get your daily dose of perversion, criminality, cheesecake shots, occultism, profanity, teen sex, on and on. watching tv is a really good way to build up your relationship with god. by "god", i mean the god of this world.

now lets argue argue argue. i mean, that's the point of this thread, right? everybody get out your spiritual slide rulers and display your worthless acumen.

 

[Messy]

your question is too simplistic. but whatever. sure, Christians should watch TV. where else can you get your daily dose of perversion, criminality, cheesecake shots, occultism, profanity, teen sex, on and on. watching tv is a really good way to build up your relationship with god. by "god", i mean the god of this world.

now lets argue argue argue. i mean, that's the point of this thread, right? everybody get out your spiritual slide rulers and display your worthless acumen.

There are also good programs on tv. There's even very good christian videos on the internet. The medium isn't bad, but people can get inspired by God or the devil to make a program or a site.

 

[Johnnz]

That is just one small issue of the real one - who do we as Christians relate to the culture we live in? The options are basically
Avoid it - some kind of monasticism
Ignore it - run your lives in parallel, with the 'spiritual' as your first priority or separate compatment of your life
Interact in an informed, challenging way, showing how all of life can be brought under some kind of alignment with Divine principles. This is my position.

John
NZ

 

[McMatt]

Its all based on a complete misunderstanding of the bible. They are worried about works instead of living the gospel and are too afraid to slip up. Yet everyone sins and those who are forgiven do not have their forgiveness revoked.

 

[savedgirl2010]

I think it is up to the individual, we have free will ...we can choose what is Ok and what is not... For example, I choose not to watch the news and don't care to watch the regular prime time shows...I do enjoy the classics like, I love Lucy, Leave it to beaver, Andy Griffith..in the evenings iInever watch tv. This is just what works for me...

 

[The Unforgettable Fire]

your question is too simplistic. but whatever. sure, Christians should watch TV. where else can you get your daily dose of perversion, criminality, cheesecake shots, occultism, profanity, teen sex, on and on. watching tv is a really good way to build up your relationship with god. by "god", i mean the god of this world.

now lets argue argue argue. i mean, that's the point of this thread, right? everybody get out your spiritual slide rulers and display your worthless acumen.

What about the cooking channel?

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

I wonder where christians get all this stuff. It is not a sin to watch TV.

 

[Serendipity..]

God hates these things:

Gluttony
Greed
Perversion
Pride
Lies
Laziness
Slander
Idolatry
Lustfulness

We couldn't blame tv for causing anyone to do those could we?

 

[like eagleswings]

I wonder where christians get all this stuff. It is not a sin to watch TV.

yeh, its legalistic. come to christ, then we will batter you whith our laws.

 

[Serendipity..]

yeh, its legalistic. come to christ, then we will batter you with our laws.

Ok think of it this way, you would go out of your way to avoid going to a brothel or a hotel to get drunk because you didnt want to do something God disapproves of and you would feel guilty.

However laziness and gluttony are easily performed in front of a TV while coveting your neighbor's possessions. That stuff is going to damage your walk if you do to much of it! its ok for an hour after work or a movie at the end of the week but if you're watching gossip shows all day instead of doing stuff its an issue.


Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.


2 Thessalonians 3:11-12
We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.


Proverbs 6:9-11
How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Ecclesiastes 10:18
If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks.

Actually TV does promote laziness I hate to say and I am not being legalistic here but its common sense! If you watch TV all day you end up poor and unfit!

 

[The Unforgettable Fire]

If you watch TV all day you end up poor and unfit!

Especially if you cook all the real tasty stuff from the cooking channel.

Js

 

[Faulty]

There was a time in certain Pentecostal churches that it was considered a sin to have a TV in your home.

I knew a Pentecostal girl once as a teen who snuck around and watched movies without her dad knowing and her dad, a Pentecostal minister preached strongly against it.

She would lead the song service on Sunday for her dad, but during the week, when at her friend's house, she would secretly watch a movie or two. Sometimes she would even watch the evening news.

Any thoughts on this?

And why is TV watching not a sin anymore? Or is it just certain programming?

Elaboration welcome.

While the teen wasn't sinning by the mere act of watching TV, the dishonoring of her parents in the matter was a sin.

If I didn't watch TV, how would I get my 'Doctor Who' or 'Duck Dynasty' fix?

 

[ByTheSpirit]

I think God is just spewing fire and brimstone over anyone who dares have a tv in their house and use it. How dare anyone think they can do such a heinous thing and escape judgment? I'm pretty sure Ephesians 4:30 used to say Do not grieve the Holy Spirit by watching tv, that is before the NIV and such corrupted it...

This is crazy, of course my first paragraph is in jest, and of course God isn't upset at anyone watching tv. Now if a person were to only watch tv and neglect things that matter more in life then it becomes a problem as do all other things.... Let's bring up subjects that really matter here as Serendipity did....

Overeating is called gluttony and that is a sin, all Christians lie but yet that doesn't seem to be talked about much any more as if it's is ok now.... Greed, Envy, Pride the list goes on, last I checked TV watching wasn't, isn't one of them. Anything though that interferes with our relationship with God is a problem and needs to be scaled down.

 

[RDKirk]

The answer lies in 1 Corinthians and Philippians 4:

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. -- 1 Corinthians 6

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, think on these things. -- Philippians 4

Paul at some point told the Corinthians something that sounded like "Everything is permissible." He didn't mean that literally, but he probably said the same thing to the Corinthians as to the Romans about not being under a "written code" and the Corinthians interpreted that as "no rules!" (called "antinomialism").

But because a written code can never cover every possible situation--people invent new ways to sin every day--Paul gives us information on how to renew our minds to conform to the mind of Christ rather than to the world. When we put on the mind of Christ, we can look at each situation and determine the will of God...not by a written code.

Scripture does not say "watching television is a sin." But it does say, "not everything is safe for us to do.

It also gives us a prescription for testing anything that we might take into our minds and spirits.

Is it good? Is it true? Is it noble? Is it pure? Is it lovely?

Back in the early 80s, I watched what would be my last horror move, John Carpenter's "The Thing." After that movie, I realized that I had not done my spirit any favor at all. That put me behind in my spiritual growth. I was like a man running a marathon who stopped midway to smoke a cigarette. It took months for me to work that movie out of my spirit, and I realized I never needed to consume that kind of "entertainment" ever again.

An olympic athlete in training consumes only the food that will enable him to win. Sure, maybe a Big Mac won't hurt...much. But it won't help him win.

We who are in this race--we are in middle of actually running the race--must keep our eyes on the prize. We are not like a boxer who has no training plan and just beats at the air aimlessly. We must have a training plan and stick to it. We must feed our spirits the way an Olympic athlete feeds his body. We must constantly cast away all encumbrances that would hinder our running.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." We must always strive for the beneficial, not just the permissible.

 

[like eagleswings]

The answer lies in 1 Corinthians and Philippians 4:

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. -- 1 Corinthians 6

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, think on these things. -- Philippians 4

Paul at some point told the Corinthians something that sounded like "Everything is permissible." He didn't mean that literally, but he probably said the same thing to the Corinthians as to the Romans about not being under a "written code" and the Corinthians interpreted that as "no rules!" (called "antinomialism").

But because a written code can never cover every possible situation--people invent new ways to sin every day--Paul gives us information on how to renew our minds to conform to the mind of Christ rather than to the world. When we put on the mind of Christ, we can look at each situation and determine the will of God...not by a written code.

Scripture does not say "watching television is a sin." But it does say, "not everything is safe for us to do.

It also gives us a prescription for testing anything that we might take into our minds and spirits.

Is it good? Is it true? Is it noble? Is it pure? Is it lovely?

Back in the early 80s, I watched what would be my last horror move, John Carpenter's "The Thing." After that movie, I realized that I had not done my spirit any favor at all. That put me behind in my spiritual growth. I was like a man running a marathon who stopped midway to smoke a cigarette. It took months for me to work that movie out of my spirit, and I realized I never needed to consume that kind of "entertainment" ever again.

An olympic athlete in training consumes only the food that will enable him to win. Sure, maybe a Big Mac won't hurt...much. But it won't help him win.

We who are in this race--we are in middle of actually running the race--must keep our eyes on the prize. We are not like a boxer who has no training plan and just beats at the air aimlessly. We must have a training plan and stick to it. We must feed our spirits the way an Olympic athlete feeds his body. We must constantly cast away all encumbrances that would hinder our running.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial." We must always strive for the beneficial, not just the permissible.

All things are lawful for me, but all things are not beneficial. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. -- 1 Corinthians 6 this wraps it up for me


yep, i am glad you wrote that ,i was just about to throw the telly out the window