When I was a kid we had one TV in the living room. I was behind a closed door and you never touched it until Dad picked the show you could watch and he was right there. We didn’t have remotes. You got up to turn on and turn the channels. It was never cartoons because I always had chores in the morning. Sometimes it would be Waltons, Gilligan Island or Hee-Haw. Only usually one hour. It didn’t hurt me a bit. I still am not a big TV watcher. I would rather read or be outside. This was a Big Problem when my boys were growing up. I didn’t feel like they should be watching TV all the time and especially certain shows. Their Father thought differently. He liked the TV all the time. It created a lot of problems.
My Aunt Mary never had a TV in her home and I used to love visiting her. She never had a car either. She was a very hard working woman who I greatly admired.
I believe my Dad knew exactly what he was doing. Our bodies are temples of God and I believe we can misuse our bodies through excessive TV. It becomes an idol. It seems like every show is shoving everything down our throats that are not our values. Now I’m not saying all TV is bad but we must choose wisely. It affects children’s emotional and social development and their faith and spiritual growth. Watching violence on TV they are more likely to have increased feelings of hostility, etc. They think the behavior they see on TV when turned loose is normal behavior. It can affect psychological health. This is why you choose your spouse very carefully. I did not and it affected them badly. I was always on the losing side. It affects children’s moods and their thinking and behavior. You are what you watch. In Norway they did a study in 2000 on exposure to cable TV and found it lowered IQ scores quite a bit.
Would we be happier with less TV?
I find I’m less pessimistic, less angry, and less bitter. The news is a dangerous poison to my sanity and my well being. I don’t watch media news but I get the headlines on my phone and ipad. I only look and what I deem important. It’s hard to find good clean TV shows anymore. Darrell likes action movies but I find myself with earplugs reading a lot.
John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy might be full.
Matthew 13: 16-17
But Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye seen and have not seen; and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them.
I keep my eyes always on the LORD with him at my right hand I will not be shaken.
On the plus side for the Christian, TV can be a wonderful educational tool. Some TV can and has saved lives and been helpful and uplifting.
We just can’t be addicted to TV or let it control us where it pulls you in. Much of the popular shows today focus on the worst that mankind has to offer and evil is glorified as good.
What do we do with it? Don’t let it control us, rather use it as the communication tool it was meant to be.
We don’t have cable or any regular TV. We have Prime only in our house and I choose what to listen to.
Matthew 6: 22-23
The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness, If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!
If your TV causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you. God and TV have the ability to influence and change people’s beliefs. We have a choice. Just be careful what you choose. Don’t let TV program you.
