re the vexed question of Reformed Christians and TV:

[JennyG]

...here's a great article on it by Dr Joel Beeke.
Without wanting for a moment to suggest that abstention is or ever could be mandatory (Beeke doesn't go that way either) - still I think there's good food for thought there for any believer

 

[Andres]

the link is bad.

 

[JennyG]

bother - it worked for me this morning, but now it isn't. Thanks for pointing that out - I'll see if I can get it sorted, because it's worth a read

 

[Andres]

bother - it worked for me this morning, but now it isn't. Thanks for pointing that out - I'll see if I can get it sorted, because it's worth a read

thanks. I am always blessed by Dr. Beeke so I would like to read the article.

 

[JennyG]

this seems to be the best I can do - here it is:

Is TV Really So Bad?

by Dr Joel R. Beeke


We are living in a sin-sick, morally degenerate, and pleasure-mad world. Our society continually demands entertainment, amusements, and pastimes at an ever-increasing level.

What is the goal of this "continual-entertainment" spirit? To keep modern man happily busy.

In a certain sense, entertainment does succeed in its goal. It keeps thousands and millions busy.

The very words themselves reveal this fact. The word amusement comes originally from the French and literally means "to stare at fixedly so as to prevent musing or thinking." The word pastime speaks for itself. It means to kill or use up time as a thing of little value; to pass time away. The root of the word entertainment means to divert. Thus it implies something which takes us away or diverts us from the normal, real world of everyday life.

In other words, entertainment, amusements, pastimes are things which keep us busy - busy avoiding the realities of life and truth as they are set down in God's Holy Word. They keep us busy avoiding thinking about eternity, hell, heaven, sin, God, Christ, salvation, our own selves, and especially our need for a new heart.

But if entertainment succeeds in its first goal of making man busy it fails miserably in its second: happily busy. Never has there been so much restlessness, dissatisfaction, and yes, unhappiness - in spite of the millions who immerse themselves in modern-day entertainment. Despite our freedom from poverty, our multiplication of opportunities in nearly every walk and aspect of life, plus our continual drinking in of entertainment - no age has been as unhappy as modern man.

Entertainment can never give enough - it always leaves an empty feeling behind. The more it is practiced and relied on, the emptier it becomes.

It has turned our society into an object of pity, for we are victims of our own system. Society goes full cycle, from being pleasure-hungry to pleasure-mania to pleasure-boredom.

But do you know what is even worse? Not only the world, but also the church has begun sliding down the slippery slope of entertainment which can only end in sin, and disastrous results.

Satan does not stop with liberal churches only. He comes also among us. We who believe that the truth is still preached among us - who know so well that the Word of God says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil," who read continually, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" - are also beginning to fall victim to the idolatrous god of entertainment.

Step-by-step some are beginning to look for new things (in the church and outside of the church) with which we entertain and keep ourselves busy. Step-by-step the old-fashioned, plain gospel message with its emphasis on the necessity of conversion, is being increasingly de-emphasised. Less and less time is being spent praying together as a family, reading religious books together with children, talking together in family circles about spiritual matters.

Are we not all guilty? Do we not all fall short in experiencing the reality of the seriousness of life, death, the judgment day, and eternity? Today we have a carefree, laughing society, but you never read in the Bible that Jesus took life lightly. Rather, especially referring to our day, He said: "Watch, and pray, and again I say unto you watch!"

But by nature we don't watch. By nature our question is, "How far can I go and still not sin?" instead of, "How far can I flee from sin and avoid the very appearance of evil?"

At the very heart and center of our modern entertainment spirit stands TELEVISION. This is an obvious fact. Television sets are in the homes of 97% of Americans today and 91% of all television time is dedicated solely to the purpose of entertainment. Entertainment-addiction and television-addiction cannot be separated from each other.

Our society has become TELE-HOLIC. On a night when wives do not leave home, 95 out of 100 will spend it watching TV and 85% of their husbands will do likewise. Among teenagers, 80% will follow their parents' example, and 75% of children will also spend their evening drinking in the sin shown on TV.

There are people, however, who do not believe that television becomes an object of slavery in the home, and for that reason we have to consider the power of it in the homes where it is allowed. I shall seek to show you from plain facts that a television owner usually becomes addicted to TV with respect to (A) TIME, (B) SIN, and (C) CONTROL.

(A) TIME. The average TV viewer spends 5½ hours per day watching TV. By the time an average American youth becomes sixty-five years old, he will have spent fourteen years of his life watching TV (compared to one year spent in church, Sunday School, and catechism if he comes faithfully to all). In the U.S.A. children three to five years old spend fifty-four hours every week watching TV, which is 64% of their time awake. When the average graduate from high school receives his diploma at seventeen years of age, he will have spent 11,000 hours of his life in school, but 22,000 hours watching TV. Every time an adult sits down to watch TV, he/she averages 3½ hours of watching time before turning the TV off. Children are glued to TV for an average of 2½ hours per sitting. With the exception of sleeping, the average American will spend more time in his life watching TV than anything else - yes even more than working. Do we not have a tele-holic society with respect to our precious, God-given time?

(B) SIN. TV is a flood of sin. It numbs its watchers against all ten commandments.

First commandment: Anything we put above God becomes an idol. Modern man has become addicted to putting TV before God.

Second commandment: If not in reality, in practice TV has become a graven image in the hearts of most of its watchers.

Third commandment: TV causes its hearers to become addicted to hearing the name of the Lord used in vain. Profanity is used so often that it becomes an inoffensive thing. Few TV watchers realize that every time they willingly watch and hear such things, all those sins are reckoned to them on account of their willing participation.

Fourth commandment: Even the Sabbath Day is not holy enough for TV watchers to keep it turned off, or, if a small percentage may still do so for conscience's sake, desire and craving for it usually remains even on the Lord's Day.

Fifth commandment: TV does anything but honor father and mother. It continually degrades fatherhood and motherhood, and even frequently glorifies the disobedience of children. Family life, respect for authority, and obedience to government are repeatedly violated on program after program.

Sixth commandment: Instead of "thou shalt not kill," one study reached the conclusion that by the time a child is fourteen at least 18,000 violent assaults and murders take place before his eyes. Another study confirmed that the average child between five and thirteen years of age soaks in 1,300 murders each year, so that violence, assaults, and murders no longer speak the message of sin or its consequences. Murders, hatred, violent actions and words assume the role of normal behavior. The average child's program contains thirty-eight acts of violence per hour (adult program: twenty). A New York City judge who spent his life in courts judging juvenile delinquents and teenage criminals has plainly said that those who investigated the situation know that TV is a prime cause of crime. Another judge said: "Parents, one hour of TV can teach your children more crime, rebellion, smart-aleck freshness, and sex than you can counteract in months if you work at it."

The trouble with violence on TV is that it does not show the real consequences of violence. The guilt that is left behind in the soul of the murderer, the bereaved family, the orphaned children, the filled hospitals, and the solemn graveyards are not shown. Especially in children's programs violence is often totally unreal. Their heroes are often crushed or blown into pieces and moments later reappear unscathed. TV is artificial violence glorified instead of showing real violence in all of its ugly and terrible long-term consequences. Is it a wonder then that there have been thousands of examples of tragedies nationwide when children have "played TV together"?

Seventh commandment: How can the TV viewer remain pure with respect to the seventh commandment when seven out of eight references to sexual acts on TV take place between those who are not married? How can he remain pure when the TV viewer sees on an average of three times every hour sexual misconduct between unmarried adults? How can he remain moral when countless circumstances, conversations, immodest dress, actions, and behavior all point to the excitement and acceptability of sinning against the seventh commandment in a false and unrealistic way?

Eighth commandment: Can an hour be found that goes by when TV actors do not unashamedly steal before their audience? It is not wonder that thousands of thefts in real life have been patterned after TV plots and heroes.

Ninth commandment: Lying against a neighbor becomes a normal, acceptable, and even expected form of behavior on television shows.

Tenth commandment: Covet is a desirable word for TV viewers. Constantly they are reminded through advertisements of a stream of unending luxuries which they are told they shall never be happy without. There is always something they must have which they don't have. The programs themselves are not an exception. For one man to covet another man's wife (or vice versa) is the main theme of entire shows.

From beginning to end TV glorifies sin. On TV the only thing that is "sin" is morality. TV applauds sin, approves of sin, and forces its watchers to minimise sin through tens of thousands of countless repetitions. Over and over again the traditional family life is despised as old-fashioned: fatherhood is replaced with heroism via pathways of sin; motherhood is rejected as demeaning; obedience from children is laughed at as being too boring to be entertaining.

TV has become a catalogue of sin, and all studies reveal it is getting worse. It has become the devil's classroom. The devil is smart enough to throw in a little religion too, and occasionally even a little morality, to pacify consciences enough not to throw it out. Does not TV make a tele-holic society with respect to sin when it feeds lust, perverts morals, presents impurity as love, pictures murder as thrilling, exalts nakedness and indecency as beauty, and seeks to legitimize all kinds of sin against every command of God?

(C) CONTROL Here the addiction becomes even more serious. Thousands of family fights take place regularly because no agreement can be reached on which show to indulge in. In American homes 35% of mealtimes are spent in front of the TV set. Nightly thousands of parents realize the programs that will come on are demoralizing and harmful for their children but yet are so hungry themselves to drink in the sin which they contain that they often let their children watch it too, having no power to control it.

People who say they can control TV are usually speaking idealistically, not realistically:

(1) Our natural hearts love sin, our ears listen for sin, our eyes look for sin. That is just the problem with TV. It is not the box itself that is the problem, but it is our hearts. TV shows what the heart of man wants to see. We have enough "TVs" already in our hearts without buying one for our home. It is our "TV hearts" that are inclined to TV sets. We do not stand above a TV watcher - just the opposite. We desire to come so low that we confess we would not trust our own heart with such an instrument.

(2) Who is able to keep sin from flashing before them on the screen at any moment, whether it be through the program being watched or through advertisement?

(3) Is a person who has owned a TV set for some time, and consequently become hardened to many sins, really qualified to know what is necessary to "control"?

Man does not control TV. TV controls him. Only one study of many will prove this point. Approximately four years ago in St. Catharines, Ontario, the newspaper headlines read one day: $500 paid for disposing of TV. The article went on to say that a study was done in Detroit in which the goal was to find out to what degree people are controlled by TV. Two hundred fifty families were scientifically selected from various races and classes to be offered $500 if they would live without their TV set for one month. After thirty days they could take it back in, and receive $500 free. Out of 250, only fifty families agreed to do it. How many families "made it" through this trial of thirty days? Eight! The other forty-two forfeited their $500 sometime during the month - one family took their TV back in on the 29th day. The eight who made it through were interviewed extensively. All said it brought their family closer together without TV. Six fathers said they first learned to know their children. One father said: "The day that I disposed of our TV was the first day in twenty-five years that no one was killed in our living room, no sirens screamed, no shots rang out, no artificial merriment told us when to laugh, and no one slashed anyone else." And what was the final result of these eight families of whom seven said their family life was considerably more rewarding without TV? The last line of the article tells us: "All eight families took TV back in."

Tele-holism. Knowing it does more harm than good, and still keeping it - that is slavery.
Dear friend, I urge you to dispose of TV today on the following grounds:

(1) It is against the word of God. In Psalm 119 the Lord commands us to turn our eyes from vanity. The entire Bible speaks against television because of its unending list of evils.

(2) The sinfulness of television damages your own soul. Every secular and/or religious study has revealed TV's over-all effects. Since you know that we are fallen children of Adam and Eve, corrupt, and prone to backsliding, why do you unnecessarily feed your own corrupt nature with still more corruption through this instrument of sin?

(3) Studies on television reveal that TV also hinders the God-given treasure of family life and communion. This alone should be reason enough to dispose of TV immediately.

(4) By keeping television you are stepping on and fighting against your own conscience.

(5) You are wasting precious God-given time for which you will have to give an account one day. Would it not be far better that you take the time spent watching TV to read Scripture or good books, or listen to sermon tapes?

Do yourself a favor: for the Word of God's sake, the church's sake, your own soul's sake, your family's sake, your conscience's sake, dispose of your television today. Do it permanently before you become its lifelong slave.

Finally, may it become the prayer of all of us with David: "I will set no evil thing before my eyes. Turn Thou my eyes from beholding vanity."
(Pilgrim's Gate; Condensed)

 

[Andres]

Without wanting for a moment to suggest that abstention is or ever could be mandatory (Beeke doesn't go that way either)

i liked the article, but I did get the impression from Beeke that all TV should be forsaken. He says, "Do yourself a favor: for the Word of God's sake, the church's sake, your own soul's sake, your family's sake, your conscience's sake, dispose of your television today. Do it permanently before you become its lifelong slave."

He gave some very good reasoning to back up his stance though. I was convicted by several of the points made.

 

[JennyG]

Without wanting for a moment to suggest that abstention is or ever could be mandatory (Beeke doesn't go that way either)

i liked the article, but I did get the impression from Beeke that all TV should be forsaken. He says, "Do yourself a favor: for the Word of God's sake, the church's sake, your own soul's sake, your family's sake, your conscience's sake, dispose of your television today. Do it permanently before you become its lifelong slave."

He gave some very good reasoning to back up his stance though. I was convicted by several of the points made.

I found the same - I know in the past I have often compromised or found excuses for evil, so much of the article came very close to home.
I truly don't think he is attempting to bind anyone's conscience - he's simply discharging his own. he's so deeply convinced, he can't help but urge others to consider the points that he's studied, and which have brought him to the place he's at!

 

[raekwon]

Working link: Is TV Really So Bad?

 

[Pilgrim Standard]

a bit off topic? We got rid of out TV about 9 years ago simply because it was getting in the way of our devotions. It ate up too much of our time. Since that time we have purchased a monitor with a dvd player built in. We have more control of what we expose ourselves and children to that way, and it helps with some home school material. The absence of a tv in our home has been a means to free up time for more constructive activities. I have watched some tv since then at others homes and I am appalled at some of the commercials that come on without warning and would hate for my children to be exposed to that at a young age.

As for others, I have seen some very responsible use of tv's. For us it just does not work at all.

It is interesting to note that our living room has a very different feel than others. We have a more circular shape that accommodates family devotions better for us as we can all face each other. Couches and chairs face the center of the room. Living rooms with tvs seem to fit a pattern of focus and physical orientation towards the tv.

 

[Notthemama1984]

a bit off topic? We got rid of out TV about 9 years ago simply because it was getting in the way of our devotions. It ate up too much of our time. Since that time we have purchased a monitor with a dvd player built in. We have more control of what we expose ourselves and children to that way, and it helps with some home school material. The absence of a tv in our home has been a means to free up time for more constructive activities. I have watched some tv since then at others homes and I am appalled at some of the commercials that come on without warning and would hate for my children to be exposed to that at a young age.

I have not had TV or satellite for almost two years now myself. The reasons did not start as spiritual (Hurricane Ike destroyed the satellite dish and now that I am a poor seminarian, I can't afford it.), but I have to admit that I have seen the spiritual blessing that has come from not being glued to the TV. I do have a Netflix subscription which has allowed me to be much more selective as to what I watch (and praise God no commercials) and it prevents me from zoning out evening after evening.

 

[EverReforming]

I too have gotten rid of my cable subscription. I do have an antennae attached to my TV and a Netflix subscription, though I rarely even watch TV over the airwaves and mostly use the Netflix subscription as it allows me control over what's coming on my television. I've found I watch far less TV now than I did when I had cable. Many days my TV is turned on for maybe only a half hour or less the entire day.

 

[Elizabeth]

Our family has greatly benefited from getting rid of satellite TV. More talking, more music, more study(listening to those Ferguson sermons on Romans).

Nothing not to like about doing without it. It has created more of an attitude of peace in the house, in general. No blaring commercials, no talking heads spewing their political ramblings. No sinking into it as a sedative or antidote to boredom.

The first day or two was a little odd, but the adjustment was quick.

We do have Netflix, and have been enjoying All Creatures Great and Small on an occasional basis.

 

[baron]

I know God is dealing with me in this area. TV is addictive as any drug. I have found that since my accident three and one half years ago that the amount of TV I watched is to much. TV was on all day long watched good shows and bad shows. Even the science shows I watched are bad, they expose people to evolution. As evolution is the only truth.

But since our house went into foreclosure and was sold on Thursday and we moved into a new appartment I try and keep the TV off. Do not even want to hear it in the background. In the last five days I watched about five hours of TV. Tuesday was the most TV I watched with the new NCIS shows. I watched the first two but not the third show. So I ended up with about two hours of watching TV last night.

Now with all this TV watching I have done in the past I still read a lot any where from fifty to a hundred books a year. I think God is dealing with that in my life also and have gone back to reading the bible more than books.

I am also happy to listen to Sola 5 Radio! Finally a station with good programing.

 

[alhembd]

This thread is most encouraging to me. To see how serious Christians are indeed limiting themselves, or even getting rid of the television altogether.

I myself have never owned a television, and am very glad of it. I saw television destroy the morals of farming communities when I was a schoolteacher in rural areas. Divorce and adultery are painted as normal. Now, even sodomy is picture as a normal, alternative lifestyle. There is little doubt in my mind as to who is the mastermind behind most of the major television networks.

I am, however, a postmillennialist, and I do believe that there is a day coming in which the television will be made most useful for the propagation of the truth. Sad to say, however, we are not yet in those days, and it becomes us to be wise as serpents, while harmless as doves.

 

[kvanlaan]

We have not owned one for about six years now and our days are still as full as ever: we never sit about and stare at the ceiling wondering what to do. It is amazing how full one's day can be without TV. (That being said, we still have a computer, and the amount of time I spend reading the news, etc. is still too much!)

I do fully agree with the idea that TV normalizes sin. It reminds me of Huxley's "Brave New World" and their educational structure, where children are fed information at so many repetitions for so long and then they 'know' it; which is not really the case, but it is etched into their minds permanently. When we see a constant parade of sin, whether it be adultery, etc., we become desensitized to it eventually. And the profaning of God's name should be enough to pitch it (I think that's what did it for us, that and the casual sexual relationships that we were being bombarded with in watching these innocuous bits of devildry called ' sit-coms'.)

 

[JennyG]

As I know has often been pointed out before....if anyone thinks TV doesn't influence behaviour and belief, they should ask themselves why advertisers pour so many billions annually down the drain!
The biggest advertising coup in the history of the world (bigger even than the successful promotion of immorality) must surely be atheistic evolutionism, which is ceaselessly and disastrously promoted in all the media.

 

[kvanlaan]

From Pastor David Murray (yes, I've posted it before):

SermonAudio.com - Should Christians watch Movies?

A great Scotsman who makes some great points. He focuses on movies in the sermon, but the same goes for TV for the most part.

 

[Jeffriesw]

My wife and I got rid of our direct TV subscription about a year or so ago and have not missed it a bit. We did buy antenna so we could see college football on Saturday, but even then I have only watched 2 games so far this year and gave not turned it on besides that in several months, it just doesn't seem that important anymore....
We now spend more time together doing all kinds of things including our study of the Word. Probably one of the easiest and best things we have ever done.

 

[jayce475]

It's interesting how when such a topic is brought up for open discussion, there are always plenty of voices here on the PB trying to contend for Christian "liberty" and claiming that whatever is being said against entertainment is binding their consciences and legalistic. Then, when it is Joel Beeke who against the TV, we haven't had anyone so far proclaiming him to be a legalist. I mean, come on, he's advocating chucking the TV altogether and still no one says anything against what he's saying? But yes, methinks Joel Beeke is spot on.

 

[Andres]

It's interesting how when such a topic is brought up for open discussion, there are always plenty of voices here on the PB trying to contend for Christian "liberty" and claiming that whatever is being said against entertainment is binding their consciences and legalistic. Then, when it is Joel Beeke who against the TV, we haven't had anyone so far proclaiming him to be a legalist. I mean, come on, he's advocating chucking the TV altogether and still no one says anything against what he's saying? But yes, methinks Joel Beeke is spot on.

Jason, I was thinking of posting on this very same thing! Basically, some poster (don't remember his name) said the same thing Beeke's saying and there was an uproar on here. The mods even closed the guy's threads! I think the guy ended up leaving the PB. (by his own choice of course) Anyway, why when Beeke says it everyone seems to agree and praises the thinking? This seems pretty hypocritical to me.

And just in case anyone wants to say that Beeke is not saying having a TV is a sin, he says, "[TV] is against the word of God. In Psalm 119 the Lord commands us to turn our eyes from vanity. The entire Bible speaks against television because of its unending list of evils."

 

[Covenant Joel]

Is Beeke arguing about the physical television or is he arguing against watching TV? (I.e., the news, channel surfing, movies on TV, advertisements, etc). If the former, I find his arguments generally quite unpersuasive (though some of them certainly are compelling). If the latter, he's probably got more of a point.

 

[Steve Curtis]

I'm not sure what sense his argument would make if he were only speaking against a box. Clearly, he must be speaking against the programming/advertisements and the act of watching them.

 

[Casey]

It's always fun when the Comcast telemarketer calls advertising the latest deal. "We don't watch TV," I say. One of the three follows: gaasp!, silence, or "You're kidding, right?"

 

[Covenant Joel]

I'm not sure what sense his argument would make if he were only speaking against a box. Clearly, he must be speaking against the programming/advertisements and the act of watching them.

Except that it seems at some points like he's saying that one ought to get rid of the box altogether. It is that that seems ridiculous to me. There are good movies, and there are other good uses for televisions, so it does seem like binding Christian liberty to say that we must throw the box out.

 

[Steve Curtis]

it does seem like binding Christian liberty to say that we must throw the box out.

I agree.

 

[kvanlaan]

Jason, I was thinking of posting on this very same thing! Basically, some poster (don't remember his name) said the same thing Beeke's saying and there was an uproar on here. The mods even closed the guy's threads! I think the guy ended up leaving the PB. (by his own choice of course) Anyway, why when Beeke says it everyone seems to agree and praises the thinking? This seems pretty hypocritical to me.

And just in case anyone wants to say that Beeke is not saying having a TV is a sin, he says, "[TV] is against the word of God. In Psalm 119 the Lord commands us to turn our eyes from vanity. The entire Bible speaks against television because of its unending list of evils."

Now how many will actually do it? I don't know that this will change many minds, in the end. Those who have one will cling to Christian Liberty as a defense and those who don't will merely nod sagely and think "yes, I knew Beeke would feel as I do..."

Except that it seems at some points like he's saying that one ought to get rid of the box altogether. It is that that seems ridiculous to me. There are good movies, and there are other good uses for televisions, so it does seem like binding Christian liberty to say that we must throw the box out.

Yes, chuck the box. There are good movies, but they are few and far between. There are few, if any, good advertisements, and they consume approximately 15 minutes of each hour of TV. They are NOT merely focused PSAs, they are there to tell you how ugly you are without product XYZ and to create a 'need' where there was none previously (or at least they create a need if they are done properly). So any way you cut it, there is a significant dollop (let's say half a cup) of manure in that healthy orange juice you are sipping. Even if you only hear the Lord's name taken in vain once in a two hour movie, and cut out all commercials, does it make you feel better that the manure content has been lowered to a mere teaspoon in your orange juice? No. It is still fouled to a point where it is inappropriate for consumption. Full stop.

 

[Covenant Joel]

Yes, chuck the box. There are good movies, but they are few and far between. There are few, if any, good advertisements, and they consume approximately 15 minutes of each hour of TV. They are NOT merely focused PSAs, they are there to tell you how ugly you are without product XYZ and to create a 'need' where there was none previously (or at least they create a need if they are done properly). So any way you cut it, there is a significant dollop (let's say half a cup) of manure in that healthy orange juice you are sipping. Even if you only hear the Lord's name taken in vain once in a two hour movie, and cut out all commercials, does it make you feel better that the manure content has been lowered to a mere teaspoon in your orange juice? No. It is still fouled to a point where it is inappropriate for consumption. Full stop.

I can see your point, but ultimately to make such declarations you go beyond Scripture. My wife and I have a TV, but we don't have even the bunny ears (or whatever the equivalent is now in the digital age), much less cable. So we can't watch TV. Though with DVR now, one doesn't have to watch any commercials or anything he doesn't want. But we don't have it, so it's irrelevant to us. But we have a TV that we can use for movies that we select individually. Or if there is a good TV show we can watch it on the computer via the internet.

We can also watch sermons, lectures, or other good things via the TV. To say that one should just throw out the box would be to bind Christian liberty. To say that we ought to be a lot more careful than we are would not. Certainly there is much filth and we ought to be careful as to what we watch (and how much time we spend on it).

 

[JennyG]

To say that one should just throw out the box would be to bind Christian liberty. To say that we ought to be a lot more careful than we are would not.

That's a fine distinction. I suppose everyone on this thread has read Dr Beeke's article by now - your conscience may have been stirred, but is it bound?
If Beeke spells out the evils he can see in TV (hard to contradict) and urges you not to put souls in jeopardy or waste any more of your precious time on it, I would say he's only doing what any clear-sighted believer ought.

 

[Covenant Joel]

That's a fine distinction. I suppose everyone on this thread has read Dr Beeke's article by now - your conscience may have been stirred, but is it bound?
If Beeke spells out the evils he can see in TV (hard to contradict) and urges you not to put souls in jeopardy or waste any more of your precious time on it, I would say he's only doing what any clear-sighted believer ought.

But again, that goes back to whether he's talking about the physical box or if he's talking about television programming.

Similarly, one could write an article listing all the evils of alcohol, all of the possible problems that could come from it (waste of money, lack of self-control, drunkenness, etc, etc), and then tell us that we shouldn't put souls in jeopardy or waste money on it, then most people here I think would say he's trying to bind consciences unnecessarily. Would he have good warnings as to what one should watch out for in terms of alcohol consumption? Yes. Should we just throw it out altogether? I don't believe so.

Likewise, the TV can be a tremendous force for evil. It can also be used for good. The physical box is not the problem. What we use it for is. So while I can accept that he gives some very good things to think about, to conclude that all must therefore throw out the physical box would be going too far, in my opinion.

 

[jayce475]

...there are always plenty of voices here on the PB trying to contend for Christian "liberty" and claiming that whatever is being said against entertainment is binding their consciences and legalistic.

Dear Jason and Andrew,

Since both of you affirm this statement, then you need to back it up with proof. This is a humongous broad-brushing of everyone who has objected to the outright prohibition of television consumption in and of itself. No one, that I can remember, has said that everything "being said against entertainment is binding their consciences and legalistic." When you include the term whatever before that statement, that's all-inclusive. Sure, some of what is said "against entertainment" has been decried as an attempt to bind a person's conscience, just as some of what is said pertaining to alcoholic consumption is. But not whatever is said. We would all agree that watching p0rnography is sinful, and that saying such is not a binding of the conscience. We would all agree that the abuse of alcohol, causing drunkenness or worse, is sinful, and not a binding of the conscience. However, the above statement borders upon being a violation of the 9th Commandment, and if you're going to agree with or make such a statement then the burden of proof lies with you to show these "plenty of voices" and where they have said that "whatever" (which means all) that has been said against entertainment has been decried as an attempt to bind their consciences.

Be a little more thoughtful about the use of your words, Friend.



P.S. - I'm not throwing away my TV. I've had cable/satellite. I've not had cable/satellite. I'm fine with it howsoever providence has it. Have I watched horrible things? Sure. Have I seen some good and edifying things? Absolutely. Does the good that's available mean I have to watch the bad that's there? No. Does the bad that's there mean I must forsake the good? Not for me, personally. I can just turn the channel on the bad. However, if one struggles with not being able to turn the channel, it may be better for him. But I can't authoritatively tell everyone that it's universally sinful, without exception, for all people of all times to have a television and to - GASP - watch it.

P.S.S. - For those who don't have a television, good for you. I'm not knocking that either. It certainly is a question to consider, especially if one spends too much time on it. But there are times for lawful recreation. Some spend it one way, others spend it another.

Josh, it's meant to be understood in terms of the variety of arguments against entertainment and does not refer to all arguments against entertainment. My apologies if my semantics haven't been up to scratch in its precision.