The Idol of Television

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Boisy Pitre had occasion to say :
:)
:)In a previous message, Frederick Braam said:
:)> 
:)>         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.
:)
:)I just finished reading these 31 reasons.  I have to hand it to the author,
:)it's an ingenious way to use scriptures to justify his beliefs.
:)
:)I agree that a lot of what is on television is "junk food for the mind,"
:)particularly commercials and certain channels.  Yet there are engaging
:)programs on educational and political subjects which I enjoy.  I am able
:)to decide what I watch and what I don't.  Since self-control is the issue, I
:)believe that the final decision ought to lay with the person, not with the
:)church.

	The author was not simply justifying his beliefs but rather
	showing what he has gleaned out of studying the scriptures 
	in his life and applying to the way that he walks in this 
	life.  I think that you would of gathered that if you truely 
	read with an unbiased and open mind.  That unfortunately
	is a problem with  a lot of people who find an idol that
	they wish to hold onto, they are very unwilling to let go
	of it and will use any argument (such as "that's only your
	conviction") to justify their positioning.  I can speak from
	experience because I was once that person.  I did not want to
	give it up because it was such an important part of MY life.
	But when I let go and did as Jesus wanted I was walking in
	HIS life, and there is definately a difference of walking
	on your own and walking IN Jesus.  Self-Control isn't the real
	issue, it is more an issue of just blindly giving up the things
	that you might not understand and letting Jesus open your 
	understanding as to why you did it after the fact.  Walking
	for Him is not as laborious as a lot of people make it seem
	because once you give up things, you don't even miss them
	and again I know this and have heard many others testify of the
	same things.  

:)
:)Now to VCRs.  If the issue of the TV is the inability to control what comes
:)into your home, then I would think the argument against the VCR completely
:)falls apart.  Now you can have *complete* control of what you see and hear.
:)In fact, I believe the UPCI allows VCRs, do they not?  I haven't read the
:)Articles of Faith in quite a few years.  In fact, when I attended general
:)conference some weeks ago, I saw videotaping of the services.

	As to this issue, I am clueless.  I don't believe that it is
	the ability to control again but rather the fact that some
	people are unwilling to preach and teach what God gives them
	for the fear that they may lose people, or something of the sort.
	I have no idea about conference or why they would be taping it?

:)
:)>         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?
:)
:)I will call you a legalist -- that is what you are.  And an inconsistent
:)one at that.  If you decry TV and its evils, then you should be preaching
:)against all forms of technology that receive frequencies transmitted by
:)"wordly" stations, be it audio or video.

	This was not from Bro. Fred's conclusion but rather the 
	conclusions out from the author of the book.  So Bro. Fred
	was not adding of his own thoughts or comments at all during
	that mail but rather keeping it totally free of all extraneous
	ideas and thoughts to present the pure list from the author.

	Just an added note that the author of the scriptural reasons
	is NOT UPC or UPCI, but rather is a person from the Assemblies
	of God churches and has done the research and comes up with the
	same reasons that Pentecost has been standing on for years.  
	Whether your pastor preaches it or not, if you see it or are 
	in a place where God convicts you of it, then you should do it.


    - Thomas J. Griffin III <----------------------------------------------
   |    "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the            |
   |        life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."               |
   |    			John 14:6				   |
    -----------------> griffin@mtu.edu  &  http://www.me.mtu.edu/~griffin -