Ravenhill Versus Wilkerson On TV Watching

I have this account to give about the issue of TV watching concerning two notable men of God, Leonard Ravenhill and David Wilkerson.

In the early 80's David Wilkerson entered into a time of intense prayer in which he suspended all his ministry activities for a year (and out of which was birthed his book, Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth). During that period he was convicted about his TV watching. He had just bought a huge beautiful TV, the old large kind that came in a solid carved wooden case, and he put it out in his back yard on a tree stump. (He lived in the countryside--nevertheless don't try this at home) He got his 12 guage shot gun and blasted it to oblivion.

Well, at some point after that, because he was solidly convicted that TV Watching was not just his problem but a real cancer on the spiritual life of church and especially preachers who set the standard for the flock; well, knowing that Leonard Ravenhill, who had acted very much as his spiritual father for about 15 years or so by this time, also had a TV, he went over to his house which was about a 5 or 10 minute drive away to confront him on having an idol in his house. David basically told him to get rid of his TV, and Len told him this: "I know what to watch, and what not to watch." And he kept his TV to the end of his life, but he also kept his great zeal and tireless prayer life going, too.

The moral of the story is this: If you can't control it get rid of it, before it controls you and destroys and guts your spiritual life. That is the non-legalistic but spiritual approach to this or any other question about the spiritual life. Do what ever it takes to separate yourself from sin, and know that the stronger and more spiritual man does not need rules or abstainances as much as the weaker man. In this case, Leonard was the spiritually stronger because he was more disciplined and had greater power over the occasions of sin.

Good illustration. Romans 14v23 tells us that whatever is not from faith is sin. The chapter speaks in relation to food and drink, but does say WHATEVER. Basically, if in doubt, don't.

Is God pleased with that comedy programme that we watch? Does He find it funny?

That quiz show where they win lots of money, the lotto programmes, does God want us to watch that?

Question ourselves. Judge ourselves. Let not Christ come and find us wanting. God bless.

On balance, I should add that I personally heard Len constantly bash Christians for watching TV. Of course he was right because most of us simply cannot control what we watch or how much we watch, all of which is a product of why we watch. Len said once, "I'm not saying you will go to heaven because you don't watch TV, or that you'll go to hell because you do." He also said on numerous occasions, "Entertainment is the devil's substitute for the Joy of the Lord. And the more satisfaction you get out of that dumb thing [TV] the more your joy will diminish." Basically, Len condemned TV, not legalistically--after all he had one--but because it was obvious to him that it was destroying people's spiritual lives. If Len could see what is allowed on daytime TV now he would condemn it outright, I am certain. He was pretty harsh on it in 80's and that was before porn and flashes of nudity and swearing and the latest craze for occult themes than runs right through most shows nowadays. I myself was without TV for several years in Korea, and when I got back a couple of months ago I wanted to see what had been going on in Canada to catch up so I switched on at my parents place while visiting and I COULD NOT BELIEVE what daytime TV is allowed to show. In just 5 years the amount of hellish smut and pornography has risen to shocking amounts. Of course people would not call it pornography, but I knew Len, and he would have, and so would have the men and women of God who grew up in the old days and knew revival and what Godly living and society was. God grant us the power of a holy life! God help us to live separate from the flood of filth that is overwhelming our lands and churches!