What are your thoughts of born again Filipino's being fixated of watching TFC like everyday as much as they can? For those who are scratching their heads TFC is a Filipino channel with game shows and soap operas from the Philippines. It seems like every time I go to their bible study they have their tv's on the TFC channel. Thoughts?
Well I'm not Filipino, but I do have a 1/4 Filipino granddaughter ;0). However my opinion it that these things are just time suckers. The soap operas, if they are like the USA, are all about adultry, cheating, fornication, etc. There is nothing godly in them. I gave up watching them in 1976 when I got saved. They are a total waste of kingdom time.
Saints,
TV's are brainwashing tools that will not help you grow in your Christian walk. David wilkerson called them "babylonian idiot box's". I believe it is a time where no Christian should watch cable TV and browse channels.. you WILL defile yourself by doing that.
I am not saying this as a rule but rather as what I feel is good for my walk with God and I am not imposing it on others, it is just my opinion. But here is a good rule. When you are watching a channel and your run across a sexual scene or swearing, blaspheming or something wrong, then simply change the channel. But once you run out of channels turn off the TV. I guarantee you would have to turn off your TV in one hour if following that pattern.
an hour?? that's a long time!! animal planet isn't that exciting ;)
I'm a filipino. And I think many Filipino Christians have been deceived in wasting their precious time on this deifliing things. There's alot good things to say about the Church here in the Philippnes but what had happened is that even in many popular Churches the central attraction is nothing but entertainment. The celebreties and the kind a high class people thinks that joining a born again Church is being in a popular trend nowadays, here. The pragmatic approach in many Churches are usually molded by what's hip in the t.v.
I personally give up wasting my time in the television more than 2 yrs ago, but I watch news and good documentaries. David Wilkerson's book 'set the trumpet on thy mouth' is I think one of the best warning on the spiritual danger t.v. for any Christian. Ps 101:3
"I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;I hate the work of those who fall away;It shall not cling to me." Really most of the soap operas here in the Philippines is full of stupid and immoral stories. I remember what Keith Daniel said that if you stayed long with an unbeliever it is possible that his spirit will be opened to you and be tranferred. Before when I used to watch t.v. as a new Chiristian I didn't know that the harsh and stupid attidtude of a cult preacher in tv got in to me. And there's alot of garbage that could enter to you through the tv programs in the philippines. Let us remember that unless we surrender this idols there will be still no revival; even if we are on our knees in desperation.
Brother, I believe what is happening in the Philipines in that area is most likely no different from what is happening in North America.
I have observed how TV has changed our daughters' attitudes(among other influences)for the Christian walk of faith, how it has made my husband neglect his responsibilites and how it has affected my prayer life negatively and wasted huge amounts of our time. For that reason we gave up TV altogether since August 2009 and it is one of the best decisions we have ever made. Once you get a bit of a distance to it, you can see it's devastating influence a lot more clearly.
While on the one hand I don't want to tell people what to do, I will not hide my conviction that anyone who truly wants to follow Christ closely must get a grip on his/her TV'use and reduce it to very select programs or if they do not have that self-control to get rid of it altogether. I had tried to reduce TV time and it never worked for long. Giving away your TV works! :)
Please pray for the fellowship that my wife and I help in. They're called Kodiak Bible Chapel Filipino Fellowship. I've grieved about this issue with my wife and it's kind of like a stumbling block for me when I go to their bible studies. Most of the shows on TFC have always some sort of sexual content in it. Specifically pray against the deaf and dumb spirit in this group and maybe for all born again Christians around the world. Thanks.
Jr
Yes Sir! I believed that it will be good if you could lovingly tell them the truth about the programs that they are watching. I'll pray for you and for that Church!
If they are believers, you need to rebuke them in love, especially if they put it on during Bible studies. You need to have the conviction for yourself, why you believe it's wrong, some Bible verses and principles, and share it. Prayer is the best work, but it being solid, and knowing why you are against it, before rebuking them is best. Whether they listen or not is a whole nother question.
If it is for the mean time, spending spare time watching television is okay, but they should be aware that addiction on soap operas and games show is not a leisure. They should be spending more time in listening in God's word.
WOW! Just when I thought things couldn't get any worse in our Filipino Fellowship! The fan has officially hit the wall! My wife and I have officially stopped going to their Bible studies and our only participation with the group is teaching their kids during Sunday School. It's as if they have gone into Soap Opera mode with scandalous acts, adultery, lieing, deceit and alcohol!
There's something about having the motivational gift of a prophet that just turns your stomach about certain situations or certain people. My feelings/general thoughts about certain group members has come to fruition this past week and have been confirmed all along.
I have helped sustain this group since the summer of 2006 with their Bible studies and prayer meetings. Prior to me arriving back in Kodiak their Pastor who led and created new converts had to leave the island in the summer of 2004. They were in a time of testing with prospect fill-in pastors never wanting to commit to leading them.
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The Bible says to confront your brother or sister when they are in sin but what happens when they don't want to be helped?
Please pray for them. It seems like my efforts were only in vain. As of right now it also seems like my calling to lead them has come to an end a few weeks back. My thoughts on this is somethings and some people just can't be helped or it will take time for them to realize they need help.
Thanks.
Brother, I feel for you. You know what you must do, right?
They need to hear the truth and the consequence will either be repentance or separation. It must be so hard for you. May the Lord fill you with much wisdom and boldness and give you and your wife peace. I will include you in my prayers tonight.
Another fellowship on the brink of collapsing. As I type at my desk I still can't believe on what's going on. For four years I've touched on repentance, sin, revival, living for Christ, the importance of evangelism, the cost of following Jesus --> EVERYTHING WE HAVE/AMBITIONS FOR 'OUR' FUTURE/OUR CAREERS/OUR FAMILY/OUR VERY OWN PLANS WE KEEP SO CLOSE TO OUR HEART, casting down our idols, living thrifty, so on and so forth but still nothing! The weeds of this world has completely overtaken this fellowship.
I guess I'm ranting a bit. The secret sins of a key member (a married women that's married to an unbeliever) has been reveled to the fellowship. She has been having a secret affair with another of our key members' husband for about five years now. FIVE YEARS! The Bible never fails! Our sins will find us out and that's all the time.
Our Pastor knows about this now. This so called Filipino Fellowship is just Christian Filipino's that barrow a room from Kodiak Bible Chapel for an hour and a half every Sunday. Our Pastor probably has some tough decisions ahead to try to untangle all the commotion.
Please pray for my Pastor Mark. He has been a delight to have as a Spiritual mentor. Pray for right words to be said. Pray for healing from the individuals that have been devastated.
The story doesn't end just yet. The women caught in adultery which is about 46ish has six kids (3 of them are 18 and above and the rest are 13,8,6) is having another secret affair with another member of the group which is about my age 24.
Kodiak is such a small town by the time you drive into town everyone here knows what you're going to do before you even know what you're going to do.
The rep of Christ is at stake here in Kodiak from this. It will take time for complete healing it feels like.
Please do not be too hard on them... but for the grace of God there goes you or I. Instead of judgment, weep for their condition.
Myself... I feel the constant tug of just being a nominal Christian or separating myself. And I hear these words from that sermon in my head at least four or five times a day: "Others can, you cannot!"
But on a global level, I believe the separation has begun.
God bless,
Lysa
Our Pastor called on the key members of our fellowship today for a meeting. He allowed both parties to tell their side of their stories but we were not able to settle to a consistent confession. Both of the individuals that were involved in acts of adultery were pointing fingers at each other. Then our Pastor just left it at that since no one wanted to fess up to their guilt. The meeting ended with people with heavy hearts. It's sad to see this happen in church settings but I guess it's something that is expected.
Please keep Pastor Mark and both individuals that were involved in the act of adultery in your prayers for a little while longer.
Thanks
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