On our Christmas visit we purchased a few films in a Christian bookstore. My daughter-in-law was relieved that there are places where one can get something besides the evil films.

Watching my grandson watch one of games on the screen and he kept turning it off. I asked him why he was turning it off and he said that it scared him. I took a look and a little boy was trying to hit a demon with a bat and every time the bat would hit the demon, it would disappear and then appear again. The challenge was to kill the demon and that was of course impossible.

At the another house they had bought a play station for daddy and games for the kids were included for free. One of those consisted of a huge bullie at least 10 times the size of an extra small little girl. Much as the other, they were beating each other up. I could not believe the level of intelligence these games represented. The kids thought it was funny but the big bully of course won every round beating that little girl up.

Can there be any real doubt about this question that television is tool of the devil? Can anyone who loves God and studies their Bible really deny that much harm has resulted from "watching" TV. But since we are living in a TV generation, many who profess to be Christian that are in their fifties or younger, seem to be oblivious to this since it has always been around in their lifetime and they have already spent so much time with it.

Since the invention of the TV it has gradually become more vile and demonic over the years. It has been said that Clark Gable was the first person to use profanity in 'Gone With The Wind'. In our day, this seems like kid's stuff compared to what is heard and seen. In our cartoon, we have a person whose mind is in neutral as he watches and hears things that have often been produced from godless Hollywood. Such has become a habit for many, much like any other kind of addiction of the flesh, that one needs to turn from. Misusing God's holy name on TV is semi-common, even though this is a very serious sin:

If you call yourself a Christian, how can you just sit back and allow these wicked people to blaspheme God's holy name in your house and not be angered to a point of turning from it? Have you forsaken your first love (Rev. 2:4)? Even using euphemisms are not proper for a Christian.

Also, from the cartoon it is apparent that this unclean habit of TV watching has a hypnotic, intoxicating effect even to the place of taking some or part of one's time away from personal Scripture study. (Note: Before the invention of this vile tool the Bible was not in competition with the TV in our raging spiritual battle. Television is one problem the Christians in the days of the Apostles never had to battle with.)

Perhaps TV is part of the reason why there is such general ignorance of the Bible and false doctrine in Christian circles. It is so bad that it seems the average professing Christian knows the TV stars and sports figures better than the characters in the Bible. They can't remember where certain verses are in the Scriptures but they know the characters, times and channels of their favorite TV shows!

Getting back to our cartoon picture, what is the man in the cartoon watching? Though we can't be sure, several possibilities are:
1. He is watching one of the innumerable detailed, graphic sexual scenes shows in the course of a month.
2. He has tuned into one of the many talk shows where they are discussing one of the perverted but common things that is of interest to the sinful nature, but that also spiritually defiles the viewers.
3. He is watching a violent, brutal beating and murder take place that is real to life.

The TV viewer is certainly being slowly desensitized to the evils of the world as the world comes into his home and mind through the TV. (Note: He doesn't have to go out into the world - he allows the world with all its evils to invade his precious home setting). If others in his family, or even his friends, would see the same pictures and hear the same words they too could be spiritually defiled as well. Have you ever considered the seriousness of this?

"Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he is cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed, to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him." (Luke 17:1-3)

The aforementioned Scriptures is especially indicting for parents who use TV as a babysitter, TV might hold children's attention but it also exposes them to wicked words, sights and the world's deadly values that can lead them into sin and away from God. Also, cartoons are filled with violence. See Gen 6:11-13 to learn how serious this is.

What are some of the subtle things that are happening to those who watch TV? They are being desensitized to the evils of divorce, sexual immorality, "living together," suicide, materialism, anger, violence, murder, rape, revenge, lying, cheating, stealing, hatred, homosexuality and much more.

In addition, chances are he is gradually becoming lukewarm, if he is still a Christian at all. Regarding this danger, Jesus taught:

"So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth." (Revelation 3:16)

Note: The divorce and promiscuity rates in society have escalated, as TV portrays these evils as commonplace and normal. God hates divorce (Mal 2:16), and immorality will exclude one from the Kingdom (1 Cor.6:9,10; Eph 5:5-7) How God must hate TV!

All of that is serious enough but what about the lust that this tool from the devil is generating in viewers' hearts? Regarding this the Lord taught:

"But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)

It is our conviction that more adultery is being committed before the TV, as viewers watch it and lust in their hears, than in all the brothels put together! After all, isn't this the reason many dress immodestly on TV (and in society) as they do? Notice what the Bible says about modest apparel:

"In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety: not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." (1 Timothy 2:9)

Lusting in the heart will damn one's soul and must be firmly resisted:

"And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." (Matthew 5:29)

Notice what righteous Job did about lust: "I made a covenant with mine eyes: why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1)

Often women on TV seemingly dress to try to get men to lust after them. Such are no better than prostitutes, as far as leading people into sexual sin.

Regarding religious TV, there are many savage wolves in sheep's clothing openly teaching heretical things on TV like You cannot out sin the grace of God, as eternal security teacher Charles Stanley has taught in the past! Imagine the danger a savage wolf poses to a sheep (Christian)! This reflects the danger of a false prophet (Matthew 7:15). Christians are to guard their hearts (Prov. 4:23). Among other ways, this is done by protecting yourself from such Satanic teachings as eternal security and others. Scripture declares:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." (Romans 16:17,18)

[Ed-note: In Touch Ministry of Charles Stanley has passed the $50 million mark (annual) according to their IRS 990 report.]

False teachers and their lies cause divisions and deadly deceptions and must be avoided. False teachers are, therefore, very dangerous and this alone is cause enough to spend less time watching religious programs and more time directly in the Bible reading, rereading and pondering the precious eternal truths that God has given mankind, and then putting them into practice (Matthew 7:24; Luke 8:21; James 1:22). Certainly some good has resulted from religious TV and Christian videos, but the harm far outweighs the good.

Friend, don't deceive yourself: The truth is TV, among all of its other evils, is also a waste of precious time that could be used serving God. Since we are all going to account for our free time, among other things at the Judgment, we must take these spare time opportunities seriously and use them to bring forth good fruit. Remember, Jesus taught:

Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Matthew 7:19).

God wants gain from children. The servant of God who was given money (talent) was expected to bring forth gain but was lazy and failed. Notice, there was no eternal security for him:

"His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 25:26-30).

Furthermore, the Bible never shows general entertainment as part of the life of a Christian. Neither does it ever state viewing sports as being exemplary or even normal for a Christian. Dear friend, turn from your TV and stop allowing the devil to use it in your life to your own spiritual harm. Remember 2 Timothy 2:4 and 2 2:16:

"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life: that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." (2 Timothy 2:4)

"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." (2 Timothy 2:16)

Christians are called to live holy lives (2 Timothy 1:9). In fact, it is imperative to live this way to enter the kingdom of God:

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord." (Hebrew 12:14)

Consider also the following:

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." (Matthew 5:8)
"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:8,9)

We are also to come out from the world, be separate and keep ourselves from its spiritual pollutants:

"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them: and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
"Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." (James 4:4)

Unscriptural Excuses for Watching TV

1. I'm lonely.
2. I'm tired and just want to relax.
3. I watch only shows like Little House on the Prairie and Angels on Assignment.
4. I watch only "Christian" stations and never X-rated shows.
5. I watch only the educational channel.
6. Everyone watches TV.
7. We're not under the law so it's permissible.
8. What else am I supposed to do?
9. Watching TV helps to prepare me for bed time.
10.I worked all day; now it's time for me to enjoy myself.
11.There's more to life than just reading the Bible.

If you say you watch only the "clean" shows and the news, what about the beer and all the flesh-exciting commercials that are shown in between the scenes with women scantily dressed in a provocative way?

Is it possible to survive without watching TV in our day? Absolutely! Serious Christians have been doing this for a long time. You can too, but you must battle against the devil's subtle temptations of TV viewing. Remember, we are battling for eternity! Your eternal soul and the souls of those around you hang in the balance. If you view the Christian life as anything less than this you have already been lulled to sleep by your enemy, the devil, who is trying to destroy your soul. One final question, now that the convicting power of the Holy Spirit has been speaking to you as you read these truths (assuming you're like many), what are you going to do about changing? [ Source: Fighting the Good Fight, Evangelical Outreach, PO Box 265 - Washington, PA 15301