1 Corithians 10:23
All things are lawful, but not all things are prifitable. All things are lawful but not all things efify.
Question to the forum.......
Is it profitable or edifying to watch television? Is there any redemptive value in watching television?
Bearmaster.
Sorry this thread got duplicated. Someone asked me to be more specific. The question itself is simple and basic. Is televiision profitable for the believer? Is television edifying to the believer?
I will try to be a little more specific. Does watching television help one get closer to Christ?
By the way I do not use a computer but a smart phone.
Bearmaster.
Since Duck Dynasty is being hailed as one of those shows worth watching given the trash that is on television. What is the redemptive value of television.
Some would say we need to watch television to stay informed. But the press distorts the truth. Some would say we need to watch television to catch the weather. Most phones have a weather app. Some one would say we need to watch television to relax. A good prayer walk in a park would be better.
Nielson, the research company, who track television usage says the average American spends spends 3 to 4 hours a night watching television. I assume this includes many Christians. One would wonder if that amount of time were spent in the word and prayer if we would not see revival?
Ok. Enough pontificating. Does television help in our faith walk with Christ? That is aside from watching Duck Dynasty.
Bearmaster.
Would you say you have to use discernment on the Internet sites that you visit?
If your answer is yes, I would apply the same discernment to TV.
Would you say you have to use discernment on the Internet sites that you visit?
If your answer is yes, I would apply the same discernment to TV.
You are still being too general.
Throwing out your TV and Computer are fine if that is what you need to do.
I was just scanning what's new on SI and noticed this thread connects well with a review of the sermon 'Finished with the World' by Keith Daniel:
https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=50164&forum=34&3
Review reads:
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Last, but not least how he told the story of the TV was really true. We bring the world into our home without a thought of how much time we put into the world, dressing like the world, looking like the world, talking like the world and how this affects our younger generation (our children). The Lord said, in Romans 12:2 "Do not be conform to this world but be transformmed by renewing your mind, what is good and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". So take the world off and put on the armor of GOD by "anchoring" the word to your "heart". This is a must hear, everyone should listen to this sermon.
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Well, I guess we can rule out Miley Cyrus specials.
How about we put Joel Osteen in camoflage and hang a duck call around his neck on a gold chain? Would that do it?
Somebody quoted Len Ravenhill a couple days ago, how entertainment is a substitute for joy. Dead on!
By the way, a prayer walk in the evening is one of the most delightful things you will ever do!
Bearmaster asks-
Is it profitable or edifying to watch television? Is there any redemptive value in watching television?
- and-
Is television profitable for the believer? Is television edifying to the believer?
I will try to be a little more specific. Does watching television help one get closer to Christ?
The question does not actually allow for an accurate answer.
The answer entirely depends upon what television a person is watching.
In the past I have had SkyAngel receivers that had many programs that were Christ edifying all day long. I often was challenged and grew spiritually watching those. I could sometimes see a Keith Green video, a Ravenhill preaching video, and myriads of other things related to the Christian life. Some were great and ones I grew from... and others not so much. It depended on what it was!
Another thing to consider is that much television can be positively education but not necessarily "spiritual". There is certainly nothing wrong with that. For example - Animal Planet aired a marvelous series last year called "Wild Russia". It is a six-episode series of documentaries about the wilderness in Russia. About 12 total hours of unbelievable information, breath taking cinematography, and knowledge. I learned more about the unique and specific Russian geographic areas and their local wildlife than I had my entire life... and I was pretty well versed as it is something I have actually studied. To then have close up filming of those areas and wildlife was marvelous! It broke Russia into the 6 very specific and vastly different geographic regions. As much solid educational information as a semester college course. Was it something that moved me closer to Christ... no.... not really except maybe an even deeper appreciation for His creation. Not only was this not "wrong"... it had some very positive benefits! 17 short (1-2 minute) clips from the various regions can be seen at http://animal.discovery.com/tv-shows/other/videos/wild-russia.htm if anyone is interested.
I have had the same experience watching various Food Network and Cooking Channel shows with my wife. We both enjoy cooking from scratch and do so together quiet often. We have found many ideas, thoughts, techniques, and recipes on those shows. We then try them together. Was it a "get closer to God" television program...no. However, it gave me ways to spend enjoyable times of family building in the kitchen with my wife and children. That is a VERY POSITIVE thing..especially in todays world! When my 16 year old daughter asks to spend time with her old man and have him help her learn some new recipes and cooking techniques that is priceless gold. That is a fringe benefit that those television programs helped make happen. Those programs have helped make that happen so it is very profitable.
So... in answer to your question bearmaster -
Is it profitable or edifying to watch television? Is there any redemptive value in watching television? - and- Is televiision profitable for the believer? Is television edifying to the believer? I will try to be a little more specific. Does watching television help one get closer to Christ?
The answer is that yes, it can at times definitely help one spiritually. There are other times that it can be educational and help you grow mentally and emotionally. It may also help you grow relationally with others or give you tools to help those connections and growth with others happen.
Without question there is much of television that is trash and garbage as well. I simply do not watch that. Simple enough isn't it?
Does television help me grow... it can. But that question is not an honest one in terms of the answer it invokes. Let me present it to you this way and perhaps you will better understand how this works...
Does reading books edify the believer or move them closer to Christ?
The answer depends entirely upon what book is being read does it not?
You can read the Bible, great sermons, the great classics, your textbook for Spanish class, a trigonometry text book, US History books, cookbooks, autobiographies, pornographically explicit books about sexual deviation, the satanic bible, or playboy magazine.
The answer to whether reading books helps you spiritually entirely depends upon which of those books you read. I am sure you understand that.
Watching television is exactly the same... whether it is beneficial, neutral, or negative in its effect upon us depends entirely upon what we are watching.
There is no one size fits all answer to this question.
I own a TV, but no cable. I don't even have local news networks connected. Why? In my quest to submit what I watched to the Lord, I found that my selection of channels was very limited, not because of shows only, but because of commercials--really dirty, really vulgar commercials that kept showing up. Even on the weather channel. And then all the Christian channels were full of prosperity gospel. Hunting channels were full of commercials about sex. I have yet to find a station that plays things that edify the Lord only.
Is TV evil. No. It is an electronic device that converts electromagnetic radiation into a discernable picture and sound. There is nothing inherently evil about that. What stations have been playing for the last couple of years is evil.
I will watch movies, on occasion so long as they are not immoral--which unfortunately, most of them are. Even some of my all time favorite movies have failed to honor the Lord. So, I don't even hardly watch movies.
Am I legalistic? No. I don't go around church telling everyone how horrible they are for watching TV nor do I think it. It would be a band-aid over the main problem in my church anyway and would breed into legalism for many of them, due to a lack of understanding of grace.
When I get married, am I going to have a TV? No. I would rather spend time with my wife and future children and teach them skills necessary for life than waste time teaching them not to act like the shows I let them watch.
It depends on the content. Whether it is a DVD player, MP3 player, your Iphone, a TV, Computer, IPAD, Laptop, etc., etc.
And it comes down to the affections of your heart.
Everything comes down to the desires of your heart.
It is silly to interrogate one another and ask what outward, material things they own and then think we are qualified to judge how spiritual they are or are not, because of something they own or do not own.
Ye shall know them by their fruits, not by their possessions or lack thereof.
It also depends on your own personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. There are many testimonies on SI where people have said the Holy Spirit has convicted them of spending too much time online and especially on SI.
If it is entertainment you are looking for, I suggest you get a bird feeder or two, a hummingbird feeder or two placed some distance apart well supplied with feed. Now: watch. It is so relaxing. As I watch my birds I am filled with wonder and amazement at God's creation. God is so creative: look at the use of color, angles, design, personalities of the birds. If you are a biologist you will be aware of the intricacies of the body, how it functions...all working to induce an awareness of the greatness of God.
You do not get this by watching the tube or studying news reports. After watching my birds I am filled with JOY because once again I see the creation of God at work apart from human politics or sin.
Great suggestion. We have many hummingbirds. They are very enjoyable. National Geographic has some great close-ups of them with cameras I could never afford. They (hummingbirds) glorify their Creator.
This is a really good question. It would depend on what you are watching. A lot of television shows including reality tv, are junk.
There is too much nudity and cursing, violence other things that make me angry. My wife likes to watch cooking shows, I like a few shows like "duck dynasty" and news reports.
I am tired of "hollywood" cramming homosexualaity down my throat. I am sick of seeing America begining to rub shoulders with communism.
What we give our life and time for is what we love. You could also include (internet surfing, facebook, movies) and much more... at the end of my life, I want to say I used my time for the glory of God. I know personally I have wasted too much of my life on things that don't matter and I will have to give an account.
I love what ginnyrose suggested and sometimes we just need to unplug and even read God's word made from paper and get away from the digital world we created. TV can create in us such a false sense of intimacy that we really crave and should be drawing from with God.
Our pastor lately talked about "practicing the presence of God' and just sitting quiet in His presence and listing and talking to God and reading his Word. That takes time, and I know I have spent 2 hours (as Leonard Ravenhill said) watching a movie when I know I could have spent 2 hours in quiet reading God's Word, praying or serving the Lord somewhere.
Just my 2 cents.
~ Doug
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