The Idol of Television (very long)
Frederick Braam (braam@mtu.edu)
Sun, 29 Oct 1995 23:35:55 -0600 (CST)
Well, I got requests for it, so here it is. Now, let me just say that
I was informed or remembered wrongly, but it's only 31 reasons that a
Christian should not have a television in their home, not 45. But 31 is still
more than enough reasons for me. This is from Set the Trumpet to Thy Mouth
by David Wilkerson.
Thirty-One Scriptural Reasons Why Overcoming Christians
Should Remove the Idol of Television From Their Homes:
1. We have a direct commandment not to bring it into our homes.
"Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house
lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly
detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a
cursed thing" (Deuteronomy 7:26)
2. It puts viewers in the seat of the scornful.
"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the
ungodly, not standeth in the way of sinners, not sitteth in
the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of
the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And
he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that
bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall
not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper" (Psalm 1:1-3)
3. Overcomers are not to set any wicked thing before their eyes.
"I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt
thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect
heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the
work of them that turn aside: it shall not cleave to me"
(Psalm 101:2,3)
4. When animated by Satan it is fellowshipping with the works of darkness.
"Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what
communion hath light with darkness?" (2 Corinthians 6:14)
5. It pollutes the pure stream of righteous thoughts.
"Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things
are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are
of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any
praise, think on these thing" (Philippians 4:8)
6. It is touching the unclean thing that Paul warned against.
"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" (2 Corinthians 6:16,17)
7. It is unsuited to the bride preparing herself for Christ.
"And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from
God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband" (Revelations 21:2)
8. We are not to waste time, but redeem it.
"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye
walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the
time, because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:14-16)
9. We are not to partake with idols of the children of disobedience.
"But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it
not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither
filthiness, not foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not
convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that
no whoremonger, not unclean person, not covetous man, who is an
idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of
God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of
these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye
were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk
as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable
unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is shame even to
speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all
things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light" (Ephesians 5:3-13)
10. Viewers are in the seat of violence which takes away grief for sin.
"Woe to them that are at ease in Zion...that put far away the
evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; that lie
upon beds of ivory...but they are not grieved for the affliction
of Joseph" (Amos 6:1,3,4,6)
11. It certainly does not renew the mind.
"I beseech you therefore, brethern, by the mercies of God, that
ye present your bodis a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to
this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,
that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God" (Romans 12:1,2)
12. It represents the leaven of the world and should be purged from
the home.
"Your glorying is not goo. Know ye not that a little leaven
leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven,
that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even
Christ our passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Corinthians 5:6,7)
13. We are to mortify all that is unclean and idolatrous.
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are
above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set
your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth:
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupisence, adn covetousness, which is idolatry: for which
things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience" (Colossians 3:1,2,3,5,6)
14. It is a filthy communication that we are commanded to put off.
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8)
15. It is not walking worthy of God, unblameable and holy.
"Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and
unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye
know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every on of you,
as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God,
who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory" (1 Thes 2:10-12)
16. Viewers are not possessing their vessel in sanctification and honor.
"For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye
should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should
know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; for
God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness"
(1 Thessalonians 4:2,4,7)
17. It is polluted fountain out of which proceeds cursing and bitterness.
"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My
brethern, these things ought no tso to be. Doth a fountain send
forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my
brethern, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no
fountain both yield salt water and fresh" (James 3:10-12)
18. It takes away the blush toward sin.
"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay, they
were not all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore shall
they fall among them that fall: in the time of their visitation
they shall be cast down, saith the Lord" (Jeremiah 8:12)
19. Christ calls us to anoint our eyes, not poison them.
"And anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see"
(Revelation 3:18)
20. We are to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
"Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, perfecting
holiness in the fear of God" (2 Corinthians 7:1)
21. A ministry to Christ demands we renounce hidden things of dishonesty.
"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received
mercy, we faint not; but have renounced the hidden things of
dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of
God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending
ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God"
(2 Corinthians 4:1,2)
22. It is an idol that causes confusion and should be hated.
"Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast
themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods. Ye that love
the Lord, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints;
he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked"
(Psalm 97:7,10)
23. It offends children, causing them to stumble.
"And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe
in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about
his neck, and he were cast into the sea" (Mark 9:42)
24. Viewing becomes a dominating sin of presumption.
"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony
of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the
Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord
is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and
righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold yea,
than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them
there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse
thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from
presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall
I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be
acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer"
(Psalm 19:7-14)
25. It is too late. Christ is coming soon. We should be casting off
off all works of darkness.
"The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore
cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour
of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting
and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife
and envyings. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof"
(Romans 13:12-14)
"And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even
as he is pure" (I John 3:3)
26. God commands holy people to destroy and cut down all idols.
"But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars,
and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn
their graven images with fire. For thou art an holy people unto
the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a
special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the
face of the earth" (Deuteronomy 7:5,6)
27. It is friendship with the world, causing enmity with God.
"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may
consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers adn 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 4:3,4)
28. The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, and viewers are
not eschewing evil as commanded.
"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain
his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let
him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.
For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are
open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them
that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be
followers of that which is good?" (1 Peter 3:10-13)
29. If you consider it only a spot on your garment, it is still wrong.
"Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be
diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and
blameless" (2 Peter 3:14)
"Ye therefore, beloved, seeing that ye know these things before,
beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked,
fall from your own stedfastness" (2 Peter 3:17)
30. Television encompasses all three temptations Satan introduced in Eden.
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If
any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 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" (1 John 2:15-17)
31. Overcomers who have seen the Lord in His glory don't need it!
"What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him,
and observed him" (Hosea 14:8)
Conclusion
Shall we tremble at His Word and obey - or shall we make excuses
and continue sitting in the seat of the scornful? Will we become
so enthralled with Christ that we can no longer gaze upon that
which would grieve Him?
Will the bride of Christ truly separate from all that is of this
world? Are there any in this nation who can hear and accept this
message? Or, are we too sedated by the addictions of this world
to hear?
Will the church of Jesus Christ call me a legalist, a self-
proclaimed judge? Or, will the Spirit raise up an anointed body
of saints to shake of all entanglements and cry out for
cleansing and separation?
We shall see!
========================> Frederick R. Braam <=========================
| "Neither is there salvation in any other: for ther is none other name |
| under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved"- Acts 4:12 |
| braam@mtu.edu and http://www.me.mtu.edu/~braam |
=================> Michigan Technological University <=================