Television as Decor!

There sits my television...it seems like it merely takes up space in the living room. Rabbit ears sticking up, cherry-finished stand underneath, and that big beautiful black reflective screen.

Not many years ago (maybe about 4-6) the television was in constant use. I used to play video games on it all the time, I watched movies somewhat frequently, and I actually had some clue as to what was on television. Not any more. Now the television sits in the living room of our apartment next to the rubber plant (which is not doing so well) for the mere purpose of adding decor--accept for the occasional usage if one of us wants to watch a movie, catch the news, or find out what is going on in the wide-world of TBN (I in no way endorse TBN, though sometimes they have good preachers on there).

I think the television works best as decor. The television brings countless hours of wasted time to Americans (and other peoples) every day and year. Time spent in front of the television could be spent in much better ways--such as praying (cf. Col. 4:3)--specifically now for those in Iraq and those in the Southern United States (I intend to post something about this later), making money to give to those in need, meditating upon Scripture, exercising, or spending quality time with the family (watching a movie is not quality time).

Not only does television waste our time, it also leads to the furtherance of our moral, emotional, and mental depravity. Sure the television can brings us good programs such as on the history or nature channels (though they have a naturalistic slant to them), yet these channels even lead to the wasting of time, money (to pay for cable), and to little good done for the kingdom (you may be able to better appreciate nature through them or to come up with a good sermon illustration from time to time--and I doubt there is a person alive who at the end of his/her life will look back and say, "Dang, I wish I had watched more of the discovery channel"). Yet I have read and heard that television has been shown to increase anxiety, depression, and a lack of comprehension and ability to concentrate (this is a fast post, so I'm not going to take time to document my sources--I'd have to find them first).

Furthermore, television brings to the click of a button graphic pornography (both visual and emotional--both for men and women) that does not need to be accessed, that was not quite so accessible or in such crude forms not so many years ago, and that Christians should guard against and stay as far away from as possible--not see how close they can get without getting burned (cf. Job 31:1-4) (I heard a good point this morning by one of my fellow classmates that since the enemy has power in this world, he will deceptively and secretly move the lines from where they were originally drawn over into his own territory. Thus, when you think that you have not crossed the line into unsafe territory, you are actually naively walking in the enemy's territory.)

Television is best kept as decor--and it makes a nice retro-postmodern piece of art. Don't be sucked in to the television's trap--fight against it, lest it suck you into its siren-like trance and pull you into some sort of debauchery of the mind and emotions.

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV)