As a single missionary I’m well aware that integrity online (as far as what I will or won’t watch) is a very serious issue. That’s why I have accountability partners, Bible verses to use when temptation comes, and the latest Internet filtering software for all my electronic devices. It is a little uncomfortable asking my parents to put a password on a new internet filter, but it keeps from much more awkward conversations taking place later.
Having a battle plan against things like pornography is absolutely necessary…yet it’s getting to the point where I need a battle plan for what comes on every night.
I happen to love television drama’s that have long story lines and plenty of action; think something like Lost (in its first three seasons), or 24. That’s why I loved streaming services like Netflix that allow me to watch my favorite episodes over and over again. Eventually I got tired of watching those programs though so the search began to find a new favorite action/drama program.
The good news is there’s no shortage of tv shows that fit these requirements
The bad news is there’s also no shortage of things in those programs that don’t honor God
While these programs don’t show pronographic material the relationships in most of them are patterned after the worlds philosophy that simply uses one person after another for your own benefit. This subtle message doesn’t destroy as many lives as porn, however in a way it’s more dangerous because people watching it begin to view others (particularly the opposite sex) as people to be used instead of honored.
Apart from that there were “look away moments” where I had to either look away from the screen, or turn it off (including things like profanity and violence). At first they only came once in a while, but I began to notice look away moments becoming more and more frequent. While dramas may have more of these then others it’s becoming incredibly difficult to find shows that don’t have look away moments, and in a few years I’m afraid it will be almost impossible.
Because the morality of television is dropping lower and lower in my opinion it’s time for Christians (men in particular) to develop an intense battle plan against those “look away moments.” A plan that involves a simple but difficult choice…if it’s not news or sports don’t watch it. Now I am aware men watch a LOT of sports so this doesn’t seem too difficult, however watching just sports is a conscious choice or commitment to place massive limits on what enters your mind.
This commitment led me to start an experiment Saturday by only allowing myself to watch sports and news for two-weeks, up till now things have gone well and I’ve kept up my end of the bargain except for NCIS last night (old habits die hard). Lord wiling by the end of those two-weeks it will be a habit so sports will make up 98% of my television viewing.
I’m not doing this today because NCIS is filled with “look away moments” but because the days coming when all our programs will be filled with “look away moments.” And if we wait till then to start looking away it will be too late.
Johnhwilburn.org 