Hi, I've wondered about this for a while. I don't really mean the obvious stuff. Obviously, Christians shouldn't watch filth. What about the stuff that's half filfth? Like Sex and the City?
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What should Christians watch on TV?
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aiki
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Half filth? Uh, is water that is half-filthy good to drink? How about a plate of food? If the food is half-filthy, should one eat it? Would you take a bath in a half-filthy tub? I'm pretty sure that your answer to all of the above would be "No." Really, there is no such thing as "half-filthy." If there is any filth in a glass of water, that whole cup of water is made filthy. So, then, should you be feeding your mind on stuff from the t.v. that is half-filthy? Is a "half-filthy" show really only half-filthy? I would suggest to you that such a show is entirely filthy.
The Bible gives a very clear set of guidelines for what we should allow into our mind and heart.
Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.
God calls His children to radical separation from the world. There is no place where the world is more represented and displayed in all its vileness than on t.v. In light of this, I haven't watched t.v. for nearly a decade. As much as possible, God calls me to, "come out from among them and be you separate." (2 Cor. 6:17) How will you obey God's call to be separate from the world?
Selah.
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ephesians4:2
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I only watch the weather mainly, mainstream news is a lie and and bunch of propaganda. Everything else is designed to brainwash you and dumb you down. When was the last time the History Channel was really about history, or when the TLC channel really meant "The Learning Channel " and actually taught you or the when Travel Channel was about geographic places and cultures and not just food. Get your news from someone who is not a member of a satanic cult and your entertainment from someone who has good morals and values. None of these things can be found on tv these days.
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SoldierOfSoul
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What will feed the flesh and what will feed the spirit, this is what you need to ask yourself when you watch anything.
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citizenthom
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This is one of those areas where what causes one brother to sin does not cause another to sin. I can watch most TV without any trouble: I can filter through the worldview. My wife, on the other hand, absorbs things like a sponge, and simply cannot watch certain shows, especially those dealing with the supernatural.
When in doubt, it's better to err on the side of "don't watch."
When in doubt, it's better to err on the side of "don't watch."
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Ask God. Also imagine that Jesus, in all his physical spender, is sitting there watching what you watch and observing you while you watch a show your uncertain about.
I sometimes watch south park. This is a good example, as sometimes it is smart and funny, and at others, raciest or full of sex. If theres to much crap then I skip it. I try and keep the same principle for every thing I watch. Think about what effect it would have on others watching it, then think about yourself and how you might be desensitized to all the crap.
Hope you make right decisions.
God bless,
Dave.
I sometimes watch south park. This is a good example, as sometimes it is smart and funny, and at others, raciest or full of sex. If theres to much crap then I skip it. I try and keep the same principle for every thing I watch. Think about what effect it would have on others watching it, then think about yourself and how you might be desensitized to all the crap.
Hope you make right decisions.
God bless,
Dave.
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Terene
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I personally don't encourage any Christians to watch TV, because it is exactly in contradiction to everything that the Lord has taught us. The Lord taught us to deny ourselves and take up our crosses, but the TV endorses personal grooming, fashion, materialism and all else EXCEPT denying ourselves to follow Christ. The Lord teaches us to sin no more, but the TV endorses and even encourages sinful lifestyles.
We are living in the last days, just like the apostles have been mentioning over one thousand years ago, it is time for us to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord and be found blameless and holy when He comes. We must be faithful until the end, or we will only be believing in vain.
May our God bless you all!
We are living in the last days, just like the apostles have been mentioning over one thousand years ago, it is time for us to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord and be found blameless and holy when He comes. We must be faithful until the end, or we will only be believing in vain.
May our God bless you all!
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Its a matter of what you can handle well. You won't see that much on TV that differs too much from living in our society. We can have skills that help us assess and even utilise much of what we experience. For example, I watched some episodes of Sex and the City and was updated on current sexual attitudes and thought through a Christian response to them. I do that with a lot of what I come across, including the dialy new broadcasts, films, music etc
John
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John
NZ
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SoldierOfSoul
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Some Christians are not mature enough in the faith to do that though Johnnz. You may be able to watch with a detached and critical spirit but many Christians would be brought into these kind of shows and it could corrode their faith and godly morals in the process.
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I used to wonder about this too. One day, my pastor during college(who is an amazing man, has changed the lives of many, spreads love and joy, loves mission trips, etc etc.) wrote in his blog about watching the movie '300'. He went with some other church leaders, and wrote about how he really enjoyed the movie. He never mentioned whether the movie was 'good' or 'bad', but how it showed a determined group of people could change the world, and compared it with the disciples of Christ.
It struck me how we could see the same movie yet focus on different parts of it, and get a different message. So my rule of thumb is that as long as you are not watching a certain TV show for the relatively negative parts of it(blood, sex, etc etc) I think its fine.
It struck me how we could see the same movie yet focus on different parts of it, and get a different message. So my rule of thumb is that as long as you are not watching a certain TV show for the relatively negative parts of it(blood, sex, etc etc) I think its fine.
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Perhaps, but best let it up to the individuals to decide, as long as they are adults, or mature for their age.
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I agree with South Park or Family Guy. I used to love those shows, but they seemed to get more and more on edge and controversial as time went by. I know longer watch them much, though the earlier ones are always fun to rewatch.
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aiki
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So, how does what you all are suggesting obey Paul's command in Philippians 4:8?
How does watching a couple having sex fit in with God's commands to think on things that are "pure and lovely"? How does watching people slaughter each other with guns, or knives, or their bare hands fit in with what is of "a good report" or "virtuous and praiseworthy"? How does listening to people curse, deceive each other, backstab and espouse values and beliefs that are utterly contradictory to God's Word fit in with whatever is "true, honest and just"?
Ephesians 5:3-4
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
How are Christians who are commanded not even to mention fornication, uncleanness, etc. able to justify taking in entertainment that is full of these very things?
Selah.
How does watching a couple having sex fit in with God's commands to think on things that are "pure and lovely"? How does watching people slaughter each other with guns, or knives, or their bare hands fit in with what is of "a good report" or "virtuous and praiseworthy"? How does listening to people curse, deceive each other, backstab and espouse values and beliefs that are utterly contradictory to God's Word fit in with whatever is "true, honest and just"?
Ephesians 5:3-4
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
How are Christians who are commanded not even to mention fornication, uncleanness, etc. able to justify taking in entertainment that is full of these very things?
Selah.
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L
LP1
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I also stopped watching south park and family guy plus the Simpson, I only watch sports and some TV shows.
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Paul was telling the Ephesians not to engage in those acts. In the same vein, Christ spoke in Matthew 15:
"What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”
If we were to not eat or watch anything 'unclean' there would be very little we could do. Even a basketball game could be looked upon as violent and not 'good'.
As long as you are not watching to enjoy the sex and violence on TV, and are mature enough so that it does not affect you, I see nothing wrong.
That being said though, if a TV show is all about violence and twisted sex and shocking the audience with no redeemable value at all, yeah best to avoid it.
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