The DeputyHeadmistress over at the Common Room has been posting some pieces she wrote several years ago that dovetail beautifully with this series. Yesterday she wrote:
While staring at a television program or video, we *perceive* a continuously moving picture, like real life, but what’s really happening is thousands of tiny little squares are rearranging themselves to create the picture we think we see. One part of our brain actually recognizes this, but getting frustrated with the speed of the changes and the way they are made, actually just sort of turns itself off. Unfortunately, this is also the part we use when we are thinking critically, mulling something over before we accept it, and so we are left with the ‘emotional’ part of the thinking apparatus. I am *not* saying that we just blindly accept everything we see on television (although we all probably know somebody who does just this), but I am saying that we are more likely to be in a receptive mood to something portrayed on television, and the subtler the message, the more likely it finds its way into our minds and becomes part of our basic assumptions.
emphasis mine
Proverbs 26:22 The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.
Television is a whisperer. Sometimes a really noisy one, but a whisperer nonetheless. As we sit in rapt attention, soothed by the flickering lights, amused by the clever writing, enthralled by the mysterious plot, what kind of messages are being whispered to our unguarded hearts and minds?
Oh, but we think we are protected. We had our quiet time in the morning, didn’t we? We read today’s chapter of Proverbs. And we have the Holy Spirit, right? And after all, we’re smart enough to recognize all the messages and not be affected by them, aren’t we?
Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes
Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
Scripture repeatedly exhorts us to be on our guard. Not just physically on guard, but spiritually and mentally on guard.
Proverbs 4:23-26 Watch over your heart with all diligence,
For from it flow the springs of life.
Put away from you a deceitful mouth
And put devious speech far from you.
Let your eyes look directly ahead
And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.
Watch the paths of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
Have you been guarding your spring? Is the water pure? What kind of speech have you been listening to? Where have you fixed your eyes? I know that, in days past, mine have not always been fixed on Jesus, not even most of the time. Perhaps that 15 minutes, or 30 minutes in the morning with my Bible… But what about the rest of the day? What about the evening hours when the kids are in bed and the dvds come out? Are my eyes fixed on Him then?
Hebrews 12:1b-2a …let us lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…
Have you been feeling encumbered? Weighed down? Entangled? I know I have. Like a lot of women, like a lot of people, I struggle with depression and feelings of failure and frustration. I know Romans 8:15 all too well…
For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
Now obviously, Paul didn’t have television. So I can’t blame all of that struggling on the box. Even without its influence, I will still be made of flesh. But… I have a suspicion that television is making things worse for many struggling saints.
The Bible teaches that the company we keep has an influence on our ability to discern truth. How many of us have diligently taught our children 1 Corinthians 15:33?
Do not be deceived, “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Or how about this Proverb…
Proverbs 14:7 Leave the presence of a fool, or you will not discern knowledge.
How many television shows have us keeping bad company, or delighting in the speech of fools? Scripture says that “hanging out” with people such as these will harm our judgment. If we say that we are too wise to be affected, are we not already deceived? What whisperings are slipping past our weakened filters to mingle with the truths that we hold dear? What principles are we using for our day to day decision making that have not been imbibed from the pure water of Scripture, but rather steadily sipped from the tainted fount of entertainment?
Colossians 2:8 See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.
There is no denying that we are living in deceptive times. Many people, including myself, think that we are living in the last days…
1 Timothy 3:1-5 But realize this , that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; Avoid such men as these.
Here’s a little game for you. Go through the above passage and see if you can pick a show or genre to match each word. I’ll get you started: Lovers of self, how about all the makeover shows? Lovers of money, game shows and reality shows. Disobedient to parents, any show marketed to young people. You can find shows, and movies, and even performers to match each one… And how about this “holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power”? Just last night on Lost, a show which I’ve heard has spiritual themes(I’ve never seen it) this took place:
Tonight’s show had a strong baptism theme running through it. Unfortunately, Mr. Eko, the priest, launched into a discourse on baptism in which he claimed that John’s baptism cleansed Jesus “from all his sins”.
Denying Christ’s sinlessness definitely falls under the category of a form of godliness with no power, don’t you think?
But the part of that passage from Timothy which really struck me to the heart was not any fragment which I could use to condemn any particular tv show, it was the part which condemned me. Lovers of pleasure, rather than lovers of God. Oh how I love pleasure. I love fun. I love laughter. My live-in-person friends can testify, the word “kill-joy” is one that cannot be applied to me. I am the one who says, “Forget your housework - let’s have some fun!” I regularly call my local friends and say, “You need a break. Come play with me!!” If I didn’t love pleasure so much, you wouldn’t see post after post from me about my time management and housekeeping problems. I love pleasure. Why do I want to watch the same movies over and over again? Because I love pleasure. Why do I balk at turning off this brain-wave altering, world-view changing source of the world’s offerings? Because I love pleasure.
Now stay with me here, because this is where I think things get really exciting…
Look at the verses which come next in that passage…
2 Timothy 3:6,7 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
I always used to picture oily salesmen when I read this verse. But working through this series, I got popped between the eyes. We don’t have to let these people in through the front door anymore. They’re already in our living rooms, pouring steadily forth through that unblinking eye.
I’m going to be really honest here. That last phrase, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, has always made me nervous. I am always learning. I read and I read and I study and I study. People at church have complimented me on my knowledge - and I always squirmed because I knew that it was only head knowledge. If I really knew what I was talking about, I’d be more free. I wouldn’t be so weighed down by my personal pet sins, I’d be able to change… Philippians 4:13, right? And yet, I do have knowledge of the truth. I know my Bible and that’s truth. But a few days ago, I finally got it. There’s more than one meaning of the word know. There’s knowing truth intellectually, and then there’s knowing truth experientially.
John 8:32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.
Remember a few days ago when I wrote about Freedom? Freedom to say No to sin and Freedom to say Yes to God? Could it be that the reason I don’t really experience that freedom, the reason I am so weak to obey Scripture and be zealous for good works is because I have been captivated by the electronic whisperer in my house?
What can God do with me, what will He do in me, if I give Him my full attention? It’s scary. But it’s kind of exciting too! I feel like I’ve been dreaming for a long time and I’m starting to wake up…
and of course…to be continued!
Some good thoughts - looking forward where you are going with it. Here is another passage I like to apply to my daily life (actually just had a post about it):
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” ~Philippians 4:6-8
Yes, we have freedom in Christ, yes, we make choices - bad & good. But I know at the end of the day, even if I made another bad choice and sinned once again - He still forgives me because of His grace and mercy and not because what choices I have made. I can try to make the best choices during the day/night. That is why I need Him, that is why He died for me, because even without TV/books/Newspapers I would still sin, just as you said about Paul…but those are just my humble thoughts….thanks for listening.
Comment by eph2810 — January 26, 2006 @ 12:36 pm
Now it doesn’t sound so good after reading it
Nuts - anyway, I am not saying that I increase my sins, because of His grace and mercy, but that I am always forgiven even if I sin and confess my sin - oh, not sure if that sounds better - but hey - it does in my head
…
Comment by eph2810 — January 26, 2006 @ 12:50 pm
Still enjoying. Still not 100% with you, but appreciating the chance to examine myself. In the spirit of disclosure, my TV use boils down to every moment I can have tennis on, and movies ever other week or so.
I am still interested in your thoughts on children who are allowed to watch no TV, pop music as worse than TV, and drama as a means of preaching the truth.
One quibble. 2 Timothy 3:6,7 refers to false teachers in Ephesus leading women (probably rich women who fancied themselves qualified teachers of the gospel, but really lacked any wisdom or knowledge) into their particular heresy. They kept learning things, but things that didn’t matter - profane and vain babblings. Gathering good “head knowledge” is good, because eventually it will bear heart fruit. These women were gathering esoteric, hidden truth for the purpose of dominating others.
Anyway, this verse cannot refer to entertainment.
Comment by codepoke — January 26, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
Blest, you ask:
“What can God do with me, what will He do in me, if I give Him my full attention?”
Is it possible for me to give God my full attention WHILE I’m watching TV? (…..or at least for me to have God consciousness)…..while I’m working?……..while I’m shopping?……..while I’m playing, etc.?
I guess I would say that if the answer is “no” to ANY of these questions, then I need to re-evaluate the role of that activity in my life.
Comment by nhe — January 26, 2006 @ 12:58 pm
cannot refer to entertainment? (would the term for that be dispensationalism? - I’m not sure) If that verse only applies to that situation in time - would that negate 2 Timothy 3:16? Just asking…
I may address some of your points later… I’m not making any promises.
One thing I will say… You said in a comment on an earlier post that kids who get no tv tend to be fascinated when they get around a tv… Um - kids who do get tv tend to be fascinated around a tv. So - basically - I can either get them addicted myself -or do my best to avoid it in my own home. More on this subject later…
Oh - and I don’t mind raising weird kids. I was a weird kid myself - despite being public schooled and marinated in tv. I think my kids won’t be able to avoid their “weird” destiny.
We are a peculiar people!
Comment by blestwithsons — January 26, 2006 @ 1:00 pm
Another great post, Blest!
I’m with CodePoke in that I am still not 100% on board. I believe I am reading some of the scriptures you are using a little differently than you are. (No. I am not saying you are wrong and I am right.) But I will say that I am absolutely putting much more thought into what movies I put into the machine. (I almost never watch tv anyway; maybe some news every now and then.)
With regard to nhe’s statement about giving God our full attention; Are you saying that if we cannot focus 100% on God while we are working, we should quit our jobs? or that if we cannot focus 100% on God while we are playing we should never play?
I will stick to my guns about the Ecc. 7:15-18 passage. I understand the passage is not an open door to go willie-nillie into whatever our hearts desire without concerning ourselves with whether it is foolish or righteous. But there is something to be said about living a balance.
Thanks, Blest. I love the spiritual and mental (and even emotional) challenge.
Comment by Danny Kaye — January 26, 2006 @ 1:23 pm
Hi Danny,
I’m saying that we’re called to Phil 4:8 as someone has already mentioned, and to take our thoughts captive to obedience to Christ.
We should be doing that while engaged in any activity, and if we’re not, then how we approach that activity should be re-evaluated……I didn’t say that we should (necessarily) cease the activity.
I also don’t like the notion of singling out TV - my main point is that TV is a recreational activity used by just about all of us (in some form, even if only for movies) and it should be evaluated the same way we evaluate any recreational activity.
Otherwise we have Christians tempted to toot their own horns about “how little TV they watch” - it becomes a sickening spirituality contest………what I need to evaluate is my “approach” to TV, a subset of which is what/how much I watch…….we tend to raise it to the level of “taboo sin” (like drinking and smoking) when we single it out and pat ourselves on the back for “not watching it too much” - this false pride is more dangerous in my opinion than the danger of watching too much TV.
Comment by nhe — January 26, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
Thanks for clarifying the statement, nhe. I just wanted to know how you meant it.
And I apologize if I sounded as though I was tooting my own horn. That was certainly not my intent, but I can see how it may have come across.
I am in no contest with anyone, and willingly admit that most Christians are more spiritual than I am. Rest assured, to the best of my spiritual insights into my own soul and spirit, there was no hint of false pride in my heart when I typed that out. It was nothing more than a thought that crossed my mind while I typed.
Comment by Danny Kaye — January 26, 2006 @ 1:52 pm
I wasn’t singling you out Danny, sorry if it seemed like it. However, if I had a dime for every time a heard a Christian say “I don’t watch much TV”……….
I’ve been the fly in the ointment on this for blest - she’s probably had her fill of me.
I’ve told her that I think her approach is moralistic - meaning it rises the reaction in me to be a better Christian - which is noble, but I think we hear it this way too much already.
I want to be challenged to be more transformational, not more moral……but blest is nice and is a good writer, so I am committed to reading it, and it is causing me to consider how I lead my family in the area of TV viewing - so it has been positive for me.
Comment by nhe — January 26, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
“They kept learning things, but things that didn’t matter - profane and vain babblings.” That sounds like television to me!
Blest~ I’ve appreciated your posts and linked to you,(not sure how to trackback). Thanks!
Comment by Roberta — January 26, 2006 @ 3:54 pm
my main point is that TV is a recreational activity used by just about all of us
Does this boil down to an “everybody’s doing it -so it must be okay” argument?
Otherwise we have Christians tempted to toot their own horns about “how little TV they watch” - it becomes a sickening spirituality contest………
So? People will always find reasons to toot their own horns. I’ve encountered people who told me that they could “handle watching the sin” on tv and insinuated that I must just have a weaker conscience. Is that not dangerous pride as well? Just because someone might get a big head about something does not affect whether or not I am called to do it. If God is calling me to eschew television - should I tell Him “No” because I might start feeling prideful? (no thanks Lord! I need to keep on sinning so I don’t start thinking I’m perfect!) What if going to church makes people think they’ve got it all together and are superior to people who stay home on Sunday morning. Does that mean we should start encouraging people to not go to church so much lest they become prideful?
I’ve told her that I think her approach is moralistic - meaning it rises the reaction in me to be a better Christian - which is noble, but I think we hear it this way too much already.
We hear how to be better Christians too much? Huh?
I want to be challenged to be more transformational, not more moral……
In all sincerity, nhe, What does that mean?
Are you guys saying it is possible to be too moral? Too pure? I mean, yes, of course it is possible to get on a high horse and start thinking your better than other people because of what you do or don’t do - but then you wouldn’t really be too pure, would you? You’d be seriously contaminated by pride and forgetting that you were a sinner saved by grace.
And Danny, I’m going to go sit in the backyard and read up on Ecclesiastes… I’ll deal with you later!
In the meantime, can you guys do something for me? Just think for a moment… What if I’m right? (and I don’t know for sure that I am. I’m still not claiming inerrancy and I never will!) What if television really is holding you back in some way? What if you could have more fruit, more victory over sin, more peace, more joy without it? Would it really be too great a sacrifice??
And lest anyone get confused
I’M STILL NOT TELLING ANYONE TO DITCH THEIR TV.
THAT WILL NOT BE MY FINAL CONCLUSION.
Comment by blestwithsons — January 26, 2006 @ 4:43 pm
I really, really appreciate the series you’re doing here. I can’t believe I haven’t seen your blog before this week!
Comment by Kristen — January 26, 2006 @ 4:48 pm
Hello Blest; It seems that we meet again in the same arena of conversation! Somehow, and I can’t quite put my finger on it yet, there is something about this topic that offends people. If I were to say to someone that I don’t eat very much broccoli or spinach (and give personal reasons for it)… how many would respond that I was ‘tooting my own horn.’ Not too many I would presume. What is the difference?
Why can’t I write in my blog that I think that the garbage shown on television is stinking and rotten? Why can’t I then say that I cannot stand to smell it all day or even at all period)? Why can’t I give reasons for this and present a defense for my own personal distaste of this junk?
I think you have presented you case very well over the past several posts. I understand why you reject the ‘American Idol.’ You have certainly given me some more areas that I need to think about in my own life and I appreciate it.
We got rid of our TV years ago (toot! toot!)
Comment by Stephen Morse — January 26, 2006 @ 5:01 pm
She’s on a roll now!
Regarding my comments about silly women being led captive, you said:
If that verse only applies to that situation in time - would that negate 2 Timothy 3:16? Just asking…
Nope. 2 Timothy 2:6 is useful for correction of novices who are learning obscure, useless information and trying to gain power in the church by it - today, as well as in ~65 AD. It applies to a situation, not to a time.
Since you almost asked, or at least almost hinted at asking…
Based upon 1 Timothy, the type of useless information they were learning was probably fables and useless genealogies. They desired to be teachers of the law, but did not understand how to rightly divide the law. They were probably rich, and due to their social stature, they were used to taking the lead. Now they were learning useless things about the law. Philetus and Hymenaeus were teaching that the resurrection was already past, and they were probably two of the men leading these silly women captive by their false doctrine.
So, if someone in the church is going around teaching evil doctrines of ___________, then this verse would apply. (I was going to put dispensationalism in there, because that was what you poked me about, but I don’t want to confuse anyone. I would only have been kidding!)
Comment by codepoke — January 26, 2006 @ 5:34 pm
Would it really be too great a sacrifice??
Nah. It interferes with my blogging anyway!
Comment by codepoke — January 26, 2006 @ 5:35 pm
Whew. Interesting comment thread there. I was wondering….and this is totally going to be taken the wrong way, I’m sure….is it possible that this offends so much because it convicts?
I watch a very, very limited amount of movies(less than one a week…more like one every other week)yet this post has convicted me. Not necessarily that I should completely give up television (movies in my case) but to evaluate why I watch, what I let myself watch, and what I justify watching.
Now, I surely know noone’s heart, and I’m definatly not making any accusations. And I MOST DEFINATELY am not tooting my horn about not watching television (my reasons aren’t as honorable as it not being very spiritual…more like I’d rather spend my time on the computer or something!) but I know people tend to get offended when they feel convicted.
But then again…maybe that’s not it at all.
Comment by Bethany — January 26, 2006 @ 7:04 pm
lol….I’m not offended!….I just don’t agree with some of the conclusions drawn.
…but Bethany is right, I am convicted, and I’ve said as much - it is good food for thought.
My conviction however, is not over my TV viewing habits, rather, I’m giving thought (as a result of reading this series) as to how to better encourage my family in how we approach TV - do we turn our brains off when we turn the TV on? I think that’s a legit question.
Blest - being “transformational” (not my word) as opposed to “moral” just means doing things from a motive that is indebted to Christ’s mercy in my life, vs. doing things simply because they’re right…..the difference is subtle and both are good - but one seeks to be about being good, the other to be about being salt and light.
I don’t think we have an audience with the world when we’re about being moral - we’re just republicans with Bible verses at that point. That doesn’t mean we’re not to be moral, its just that we don’t lead with it. The morality I want in my life is a by-product of a brokeness response to God’s grace, it’s not the end goal.
I think you tend to make it the end, that’s my rub.
I would say this if you were speaking in the same way about parenting, dating, whatever…its your style I guess I have the beef with.
I’m going to lay low on this topic hence forth. I’ll wait for you to post on a different subject before I weigh in again. Maybe it’ll hit me differently.
You’re a great writer, and I think your scriptural support is accurate in support of your points - even on the occasion where I would make a different life-application than you would.
Comment by nhe — January 26, 2006 @ 9:17 pm
One more thing - I suppose its not odd to not own/use a TV if you have a good PC w/ a highspeed internet - you really have access to piping in a lot more good AND bad stuff into your household via highspeed internet than the TV could ever hope to accomplish - hence I don’t see the big advantage to not owning/using the TV - except maybe to save money by not buying one.
Comment by nhe — January 26, 2006 @ 9:24 pm
nhe,
I hope you’ll pardon me, particularly as you seem to be planning to lay low, but I would appreciate further clarification. I’m not tracking on the subtle difference between living “morally” vs. “transformationally.”
As far as I understand you, you seem to be focusing on whether our moral actions stem from the overflow of our hearts in gratitude for grace as opposed to an attempt to be good “for goodness’ sake,” so to speak.
What confuses me is, as we go about each day making choices, when confronted with issues that have moral relevance, how exactly are we to differentiate between the two? Or do I just assume that, as a believer, whichever course I choose meets God’s standard of holiness because I’m forgiven in Christ?
More to your point, should I eschew what I perceive to be the moral choice because I suspect that in my heart it is my attempt at being good rather than a genuine desire springing forth out of love for my Saviour?
The thrust of my questioning is, whether you believe morality should be the end or merely an effect, the purity of the content of our viewing is still at issue.
That said, I find it a difficult issue to address coherently, mostly because there’s so much film media stored up in my brain that I find it difficult to disassociate myself from it enough to be objective. If I hesitate to condemn something, is it because there may be some redeeming feature or because I have too tightly assimilated it into my consciousness?
Illustrative of this is the fact that, as my sister and I chat briefly about this issue on the phone, my conversation is peppered with constant quips and allusions to programs or movies that we’ve both seen! I wonder, in fact, if I could converse at all, at least verbally, without some of it seeping into my speech.
Bottom line is, I think, it is tough to appraise the attributes of water when one is a fish.
Comment by SCPanther — January 26, 2006 @ 11:42 pm
Blest - great series. Much food for thought. I have been pondering some of this myself. Why don’t I have more time to read? Could it be because I have been watching too much tv?hmmmm
Comment by Pam — January 27, 2006 @ 12:10 am
I just want to say Blest that even if no one else gets anything out of this series it has spoken straight to my heart, rest assured God gave you this for a reason
I have been more “blest” by your blog than you or any of your naysayers will ever know. I know you dont write it to get attention, but I wanted to call the fact to yours that you’ll never know (til Heaven!) how much God’s blessing me thru your blog, first on the subj. of books then this.
My Bible is very personal and My Lord uses verses for different things every single day, what means one thing to me may mean something totally different to you. Thats why its the LIVING word 
Blessings, Melody
And to who ever it was that said “you cant use this verse regarding entertainment” God gave me that verse 6 mos. ago about TV being “vain and profane babblings” and I claim it regularly when we are determing what our children and even ourselves watch
Comment by Melody — January 27, 2006 @ 9:58 am
Hi SC Panther,
Sure, I’ll clarify further. It really isn’t blest’s content that I take issue with, but rather, how it is arranged.
There is a sense of “ought” to what she says that isn’t connected to anything (in my opinion). TV does damage in these ways, these are the affects, this is the Biblical support.
That’s all well and good. I just don’t think this subject can be breached without the “common grace” elements - the aspects of TV that are redemptive, that are positive.
When this is missing, I’m left with a challenge to be moral about my TV habits. That’s fine, but I’d rather be challenged about “how” I watch TV, rather than “how much”……..what’s better? Turning my brain off in front of the the TV for 5 hours a week?, or engaging my brain w/ redemptive programming for 20 hours a week?
You might say 20 hours is too much (and it is), or you might say that what I’m watching isn’t really redemptive (which is subjective) but what if I am really getting something out of it, while the 5 hour person is in vegatative state? Its just not this cut and dry.
The word tranformational was a little over-the-top, I’m sorry. Ths topic really doesn’t lend itself to that - you are correct.
As I mentioned in my previous posts, I think I would take issue with this kind of argument no matter what the subject was, even if I agreed more readily with the content………there just isn’t any grace or challenge to be Christ-like for the hearer. If I’m a child and my parent wrote this and then read it to me, I’d feel lectured to, but not valued.
Comment by nhe — January 27, 2006 @ 10:21 am
I would venture a guess that Blest has made an assumption:
If we are participating in this thread of Christian blog posts, we understand that we are living a life of grace, and that our goal is to be Christ-like.
I believe she is laying down some great practicles on how to live out our goal. Should she need to remind us all that we are under the law of grace, and to be motivated by that always? I guess I don’t think so. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a safe assumption to make of most Christians. (I understand that some just don’t get the concept.)
I have not been to your blog, nhe. But I do intend to check it out at some point. I am quite certain I will find some great meat to chew on. And I look forward to it. But I am just curious; do you feel the need to include things that are obvious in each post, just to make sure we don’t forget to remember to keep it in mind?
yeah…I could be wrong.
Comment by Danny Kaye — January 27, 2006 @ 10:52 am
good question Danny………don’t have an answer to it - I’m just relaying how the series is “hitting me”…..I’m in the minority, so I’ll defer to the wisdom of a multitude of other believers here who aren’t having the same issues I’m having……
Comment by nhe — January 27, 2006 @ 11:14 am
nhe, your assessment of my tone puzzles me no end. (one of the dangers of the internet. I should have my buddies come testify about what my real voice sounds like!
) I have bent over backwards to avoid telling people what to do or making any judgments or assumptions about others’ behavior or motivations. If I were not motivated for love for my brethren in Christ, I would not be writing this series. It’s not exactly fun. But I truly, truly believe that this is what God wants me to write right now.
Sometimes the most loving thing you can do for someone is show them that they are making a mistake. If I really believe that the epidemic of television addiction/idolatry is harming the nation at large - and the Christian family in specific - the best thing I can do is point it out.
Sometimes God tells us stuff we don’t want to hear - and tells it to us from people we wouldn’t choose. The harshest, most hurtful statement can contain truth. (or is that redemptive theme thing just for entertainment?
) I’m not saying God is telling you anything, mind you, cause I don’t know!
Anyway… As far as the motivation goes. Danny Kaye was pretty much right. I assume that I’m writing to Christians. I know that the ONLY reason I have anything to say, and the only reason I have any desire to live out the things I am writing is because it is God who works in me both to will and to do His good pleasure. If I didn’t have a heart to please Him through grateful obedience, I’d be downstairs watching a movie at this very moment, I promise you. I’m not trying to earn my way into Heaven. I’m not trying to outdo somebody. I’m not looking for a reason to get snooty. I just want more of God. I want more victory over sin. I want to bear fruit in every good work and increase in the knowledge of God. And I want to do the best I know how for my children. I believe that television is getting in the way of that -not just for me but for many other Christians. Anyway. More to come - including your “redemptive themes” topic…
Comment by blestwithsons — January 29, 2006 @ 11:11 pm
I look forward to seeing your comments on redemptive themes in TV programming.
I’ve been a little confusing and meandering, I’m sorry. The bottom line is that it just all hits me a bit legalistic. I believe that I would probably not find you to be like that if I knew you, but I’m just saying how it hits me. I’m sorry.
Comment by nhe — January 30, 2006 @ 10:42 am