Called to Be Separate

Q: I understand that much of today’s viewing material is not acceptable for Christians. Does this mean I should stop watching television?

A: Dear friends, this is a solemn question. As we have analyzed God’s inspired principles for viewing material, we have learned a number of criteria which it must meet. Viewing matter which does not meet these criteria would by default be off-limits to the Christian who is purifying his life to meet Jesus soon. 

The Christian’s viewing material will portray righteousness, not sin. It will:

* exemplify pure speech. All bad language, swearing, angry shouting, and impure suggestion is here excluded.

* portray strict purity. Romantic scenes, immodest dress, impure innuendos, and portrayal of ungodly lifestyles are excluded.

* portray love of mercy. Anything that encourages humanity’s tendency toward retal-iation, cruelty, malicious treatment of others, or unjust dealing is excluded. Competitive sports and scenes of war or unkind treatment are excluded. Whatever hardens our sensitivities by making violence or ill treatment appear less shocking is excluded.

* be true. Fictitious stories, acted out in a theatrical style, are excluded. Fairy tales, cartoons, and material exalting the unreal and fictitious are excluded.

* be accompanied only by music that the heavenly angels would be glad to hear.

* not decrease our love for heavenly things, but rather will help us forward in the Christian life. Anything that is a mere entertainment, a waste of time, is excluded. Anything that increases our love for earth, or excites our minds so that Bible study appears boring, is excluded. Scenes that elicit a silly laugh and careless thoughts are certainly excluded as well.

            * be of good report. Even the news often offends here. While we recognize that a certain amount of information is helpful, on the other hand we will not willingly expose ourselves to scenes of war, crime, and bloodshed just because they are really happening. Nor will we spend so much time focusing on the negative or unimportant in the world around us, that our minds become unbalanced for Bible study.

Dear friends, if we honestly test what is provided on the world’s television stations today by the above criteria, how much will there be that is safe to watch?  

Another great danger of television is its fast, uncontrollable nature. Before you anticipate it, a commercial or scene flashes on the screen, leaving an impression that may remain unerased for years in your mind. The remote control is not a very good control of what you see; the TV programmers are the ones who determine what you see. Because of the unpredictable nature of television, you will likely see things that you did not anticipate to see.

Television can be addictive. In addition, the fast moving pictures encourage the habit of passive reception, rather than active thought.  

Usually when we willingly set foot on dangerous ground, we are very cautious at first. We realize there is danger, and often we make decisions about just what we will, and will not, consider as acceptable. But often we begin to slacken a little here and there. Things we once thought unacceptable seem less harmful. Our courage and daring grow, and step after step is taken deeper into danger.

To answer the question of whether or not we should watch television, I would encourage you to pray earnestly as you consider the power of this device. It truly is a window into your living room, through which Satan can bring his music, his scenes of suggested or outright impurity, the silly laughter, the worldly values, the immodest dress. And even if you are extremely selective as to what you view, might there be someone else in your family who would not be so careful? Could that person be led into sin through the things they are viewing?

There are other avenues through which we can gather needed information, and much information that is considered necessary, is really not necessary in comparison with the drawbacks of the television.

Jesus has called us to a higher knowledge even than that of current world events, or any other knowledge we could obtain via television. “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3.