ONE MAN'S TESTIMONY REGARDING TV

From Brother Oving in The Netherlands

Testimony for not having a TV.

A TV or no TV
A question?

 

THE POSITION OF TV DURING MY LIFE:

My both grandfathers and grandmothers rejected TV from the first time it appeared in several houses, even from believers.  My grandmother said sometime: 'it is the box of the devil with his tail on the roof (antenna).' The slogan for the introducing campaign of TV was: 'it brings the world in your house!'

My grandfathers- and mothers did not like to have the world in their houses.  My father and mother followed/obeyed them in that rejecting.

So we (my sister, brother and I) grew up in a childhood without TV.  That did not mean we grew up stupid (an argument for TV is often that children can learn from TV too).  Once a teacher said to my mother that he could see that we did not have TV at home because of the results of our learning on school.  There was a difference.

But, sadly, from both sides, believers and non-believers, we were seen as a rare species.  Some did even see it as were our parents hiding such a nice gift for us, the children.   Like if it was some kind of rudeness.  Also there were some believers thinking that we did think that we were better than the rest, or that we judged people with our actions.

So some day, in a vacation, one of them delivered a small b/w TV at our home, it would be nice for the children and for the spare time.  The use would be only for the week of vacation.   The 'gift' was accepted, so we watched some movie, I remember it was 'Sissy' the princess of Austria.  Further I do not remember what I saw.

Many years later, we had our second time, having TV in the house.  A colleague of my father made it technically possible to watch TV with a VCR and the screen of a home-computer.  When I remember that, I see how hypocrite it was. We watched a lot of TV during a time.  All of our family had our special favorite things to watch. Sometimes we had a fight about the 'TV-time'.  Our family life became a mess. The 'favorite things on TV' mostly absorbed our free time.

From soccer till soaps and late-night movies, we saw it. At the end we became unhappy.  We came to the conclusion that TV influenced our thinking and acts.  During watching TV we became more tolerant to evil things.  And that was also said in an interview with a soap-star: our series has the purpose to get rid of many 'little holy houses', to get rid of taboo.

We came to the conclusion that having TV was a waste of time and a waste of standards.

I wrote the above with mentioning 'we'. I know that it is a personal choice, we did not come all at the same time to that conclusion. So for me it became also a personal choice.

The arguments we heard also were 'do you not have a power-off button on the TV' and 'I am in control, so if there is anything wrong, I switch to another channel'.  We found out that both arguments were wrong.  It is denying of human weaknesses.

We got rid of TV.

And as we experienced it, such a roommate is not wanted anymore.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE

Note:

Below are some verses concerning the way we can use our eyes.  The lesson of that part of the Bible will be shortly noted and a short  application in relation to TV.

What we see can have a large impact on our mind, soul and actions.

A few examples:

Genesis 3:6.  And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Lesson:

We see it all happen: disobedience, consuming, and deceiving of someone else.  Sin.

Application:

'Good for food'. What we watch can become food for the mind too.

'Pleasant to the eyes'.  A nice program can be so pleasant for the eyes.

'Desire to make one wise'.  The desire to watch that program on Friday-evening, 'if I miss it, I sure missed something!'

Genesis 13:10-11  And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.   Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.

Lesson:

Lot chose the things of the earth.  He made the wrong choice.  To choose what is well-looking on this earth is to put your head down instead of what Abraham did: to choose/expect the things from above (Hebrew 11:10, Revelations 21:9-27)

What is beautiful on this earth is ugly in the light of the things of God.

Application:

TV can offer many bright horizons, often the world of mankind looks beautiful but it is all fake and nothing worth for him who wants to obey God (Abraham).

Numbers 13:27-33

And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there. The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south: and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains: and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. But the men that went up with him said, We be not able to go up against the people; for they are stronger than we. And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof; and al the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.  And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Lesson:

This part shows the human mind: focus on the sight and forget the power of God.  Looking at the earthly forms, thinking they are too great to conquer while above there is an Almighty.

Application:

The news on TV can shock us, we can lose hope if we see all the terrible things on TV happen, we can forget at that moment that God is above all things.

Mark 6:21-29  And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lord, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;  And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.  And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.  And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.  And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.  And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.  And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and be-headed him in the prison,  And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

Lesson:

This shows when we follow our desire, it will take a sacrifice. Herod in his desire promised something to the girl that was dancing so nice. It was a big sacrafice, the head and life of John the Baptist. Following our desires can lead to tragedy.

Application:

Not only TV offers some kind of see and order system by phone and creditcard (that leads to materialism), but TV offers also 'new' moral standards and thinking when we accept that as being beautiful, we are lost.

Conclusion:

Only a few verses of the Bible make clear that what we see, we can accept it, follow it and face the consequences of it.

The question is:

What do we HAVE to see, what do we HAVE to accept, and what do we HAVE to follow, and what WILL the consequences be for a believer, following the words of the Bible, being Word of God.

TV is one of the many things that can seduce us to 'forget' better standards. It is one of the things that can be on our retina.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE TELL US THAT WE SHOULD SEE?

Psalm 25:15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. O there are so many nets around, let us look toward the LORD.

Psalm 121:1-3 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

We will not have to fear, we do not need the 'shows' of people of this earth, shocking many. We have to look above, not down on the things of the earth. We are strangers in this world. Our help is from above, from the LORD.

Proverbs 22:9 He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

If we want to see something, let us watch on our neighbors, let us have love to our neighbors, showing the love of Jesus Christ by our acts to them, let us look on the proper things to watch for.

Mattheus 17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

Jesus Christ has to be the one that we see, we have to look at Him. Do we see him with the eye of belief? A major truth, He is the center of our belief, let us look at Him.

1 Joh. 2:16-17 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

 This one exposes what we in our human thinking and acts do. But it is all temporarily, it is not worth it. To be with God forever, that should be our point of view, what we are looking for. Our short time on this earth should be a time of obeying and following Him, instead of our flesh to serve the world and its deceiving.

WHAT ARE THE ENEMY TACTICS TO TEMPT?

Luke 4:1-13 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.  And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.  And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.  And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.  If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:  For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:  And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.  And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.  And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.

Jesus answered with the Word of God.

That should be a big lesson for us. We should not only follow this example of Jesus Christ, as following Him, but we have to LIVE the Bible in our life's also.

We see in the verses above that the devil tries to use weaknesses to become a trap in failing our faith to God. How beautiful and with Honour to God are the answers of Jesus.

We should know what our weaknesses are, everyone has different weaknesses, we have to deal with them in the light of the Word of God, and we have to answer the temptations of the devil with the Word of God.

We should use the Word of God as our defense (Eph. 6:11-20).

CONCLUSION:

TV is worth nothing.  There are many other visual media, but TV is on top of them, for all the deceiving and temptations it can offer. We have to make the proper decision how to deal with them. We have to learn the Words of the Bible. That is much better 'food'.

Seeing with eyes of flesh:

Job 10:4 Hast thou eyes of flesh? or seest thou as man seeth?

We should see only clear:

Hebrew 2:9-18 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.  For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,  Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.  And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.  For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

What we should do in this desert called earth:

Hebrew 4:14-16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

O, that we should follow His path.

' Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:  And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting' (Psalm 139:23-24)