Is your TV killing you?
John Piper is no fan of television. He has repeatedly warned anyone who would listen about the dangers of TV. That may seem like a strange warning to those of us who grew up with television. It’s entirely possible, of course, that the warning is just too strong. But I don’t want to assume that without thinking hard about it.
Recently I came across several bloggers who (following the lead of Andy Naselli) have posted their thoughts about the following excerpt from a sermon Piper addressed specifically to pastors.
Turn off the television. It is not necessary for relevance. And it is a deadly place to rest the mind. Its pervasive banality, sexual innuendo, and God-ignoring values have no ennobling effects on the preacher’s soul. It kills the spirit. It drives God away. It quenches prayer. It blanks out the Bible. It cheapens the soul. It destroys spiritual power. It defiles almost everything. I have taught and preached for twenty years now and never owned a television. It is unnecessary for most of you, and it is spiritually deadly for all of you. (Read the rest.)
Deadly. That’s a strong word. He uses it twice in that one paragraph. Not only does Piper admonish preachers to turn off the television, but in a different article he advises them to teach the people in their congregations to do the same.
Help your people to turn off the television. Few things in our culture are more spiritually numbing than the television. Even the so-called “good” shows are by and large banal and low-minded and anything but cultivating of a rich, deep capacity to enjoy God. And when you add to that the barrage of suggestive advertisements that accompany virtually every program, I do not wonder why so many of our professing Christians are spiritually incapable of experiencing high thoughts and deep emotions. (From the article Advice to Pastors)
This certainly is radical, counter-cultural advice. Is it good advice? Try to be honest and objective. What do you think?
Barry Wallace
theoparadox
pijohnson
Barry:
I try to watch as little television as possible, preferring to read. But then, one must be careful what one reads.
We grew up in the generation that had TV as the “boob tube”.
But now, the generations that follow us have the PC. You can turn off the TV, but the PC can be even more dangerous, because it has all the TV has to offer, but on one’s own terms: when you want for as long as you want.
I wonder if Piper should have addressed this as well in the same message.
Good point, Andy, and I agree. I intend to address that in my next post.
Are movies and TV equal? It is my lifestyle choice to rarely watch a movie. For various reasons, they just don’t fit into my life. But, I find TV to be good for me generally. I watch an hour or two a day, either when I am doing my physical therapy stretches or to clear my mind and wind down for bed. By the time I get to that point in the day, I’ve already had Bible study, prayers, read posts online and listened to podcasts. Of course, I am discriminating in what I watch, but TV is today’s evening story-telling. My eyes are too tired by that time of the day to read. And, I enjoy TV. God doesn’t mean that we should have no relaxation or enjoyment. I think Piper has extraordinary abilities to concentrate. He may not need any down time. But, I do. : )
You sure nailed that one! There are some good, enlightening things on the tube, and I watch some good movies now and then. Heck, I just watched the presidential debates a few nights ago! But nothing beats quite time alone with the Lord. TV is no substitute for sitting down with the Bible and pouring over its wisdom.
I like you site, it’s uplifting. Thanks!
Nita
http://www.joyouslife.wordpress.com
Oops! I mean quiet time, not quite.
Nita
Yes, kill the t.v., but for the goal of mortifying the flesh and living by the Spirit for satisfaction in the glory of God.
And, Andy C I think you are correct. The main difference is the very intentional nature of the internet. We will go where we “want” to go. We can certainly “stumble” on to something inappropriate but again we are not chained and without escape.
For me, I’m married, and my web history is NEVER erased (even though I know how to do it and know all about history scrubbers). And, one must hope for a spiritually mature wife (I’m very blessed!).
I’ve invited my church, as their Pastor, that they can view my internet history as well. No one has asked to see it. But, making myself that transparent has a sobering effect. Of course, these are primarily human tools to keep me from losing credibility in these relationships.
These “helps” are legalistic traps if I ever forget that the thoughts of my heart, the words of my mouth, the deeds of my flesh and the viewing of my eyes are all bare and naked before the Lord. And especially here, lest I create a false understanding of God’s sanctifying work, I must be led by the Spirit and the Word and be fully satisfied therein.
We got rid of the TV a while ago…and we didn’t have cable/satellite either. We stopped watching movies, too…it just didn’t fit in with our dedicated
Christian life. Christians don’t belong that deeply in culture. I don’t want to even inadvertently reflect worldly culture. I can’t help my American upbringing, but God willing, He will use my life in a more dedicated way than I was willing to give in the past. So, no TV for us.
Ann, joyouslife, Kelly, Magdalena,
Thank all of you for taking the time to think about this question and respond. All of you made some excellent points. I’d like to follow up on some of your comments over the next few days.
Thanks again!
We think about unplugging the thing and getting rid of it all the time. We’d be better for it, for sure!