Are Christians supposed to watch tv shows?

[Claudya]

so I cancelled my cable. The interesting thing is that when I cancelled it, my bill went up by 5 bucks per month for my internet access.

Yeah, same here. I don't even own a TV at all. But internet access via cable is more expensive if you don't have TV than it is if you have and use a TV. If oyu have a TV they just split the monthly fee and say half is for cable TV or radio, the other half is for the internet access. If I have no TV they charge the full price only for the internet. Wonder if that's legal, making me pay for a service I don't use. Unfortunately it's the only fast internet provider out here in this geographically isolated part of town.

 

[Pizzaguy]

It's just that I think our focus should be on writing our own story. We shouldn't spend so much time in a mentally passive state consuming entertainment.

A LITTLE time spent consuming entertainment is ok - but other than that, I think you NAILED IT.

 

[Brother Mike]

Can't miss Dexter, all the rest of the shows are EVIL. My buddy appeared on Dexter also as a stand in detective.

 

[Mike S]

The interesting thing is that when I cancelled it, my bill went up by 5 bucks per month for my internet access.

That's the only reason I have cable TV. Internet acces was less expensive when bundled with cable TV. I watch very little TV, and most of that is just the legacy broadcast channels on the cable. I have only basic cable, so none of the channels most cable customers want. No FOX, no MSNBC, no CNN, no ESPN, etc.

 

[Mike S]

That's the only reason I have cable TV. Internet acces was less expensive when bundled with cable TV. I watch very little TV, and most of that is just the legacy broadcast channels on the cable. I have only basic cable, so none of the channels most cable customers want. No FOX, no MSNBC, no CNN, no ESPN, etc.

Isn't that a load of Genius corporate crap? They want you to bundle to save money, but if a bad week hits and you miss a payment, they shut your whole life down! So I wont bundle with any of them. and that 5 dollar discount to have cable...that made me mad so I said not just but heck no. I can find news on the internet anyway. Anything on tv really, is available on the net.

And a whole lot more, actually. I think of the internet as the 21st century version of the town square where everyone goes to post their broadsides.

 

[ezrider]

I think that television shows and movies can actually help a Christian to grow spiritually. Sometimes I find it much easier to the empathize with the characters that I am watching, and it allows me to reflect on that empathy and compassion much easier because I have nothing invested in that character, they have done me no wrong. The empathy and compassion that moves my spirit by watching a fictional character on tv can be instructive on learning to apply the same empathy and compassion to people in the real world.

If all you ever do is look for the evil in anything, how will you ever learn to see the good?

 

[evenifigoalone]

I think that television shows and movies can actually help a Christian to grow spiritually. Sometimes I find it much easier to the empathize with the characters that I am watching, and it allows me to reflect on that empathy and compassion much easier because I have nothing invested in that character, they have done me no wrong. The empathy and compassion that moves my spirit by watching a fictional character on tv can be instructive on learning to apply the same empathy and compassion to people in the real world.

If all you ever do is look for the evil in anything, how will you ever learn to see the good?

This is a good point.

Some shows you can actually almost allegorize, even if they weren't intended to be an allegory. I used to be a huge Star Wars fan, and back then I found ways to make it into an allegory. It helped my walk with God, actually. Eventually though, I did give it up temporarily because it became too much of an obsession.

 

[MrExtraOrdinary]

There's no hard and fast rule about TV shows and Christians. TV shows are there to help us, entertain us or promote something. We just need to be mindful of what we watch and see to it that they are geared to our conducive growth as Christians!

 

[MysticalJourney]

I don't watch much TV, but I do spend too much time on the internet.

The one strange exception I make for TV is the Walking Dead. If you can block out the zombies, it is actually a very Christian show. They do not mock Christians, and in fact several of the characters are Christians and they read and quote the Bible. The characters are well developed and so is the plot line. Like real literature instead of pop culture.

Now if they could only write those stupid zombies out of the show, it would be perfect! LOL

 

[Classik]

Soccer!

 

[farouk]

I don't watch much TV, but I do spend too much time on the internet.

The one strange exception I make for TV is the Walking Dead. If you can block out the zombies, it is actually a very Christian show. They do not mock Christians, and in fact several of the characters are Christians and they read and quote the Bible. The characters are well developed and so is the plot line. Like real literature instead of pop culture.

Now if they could only write those stupid zombies out of the show, it would be perfect! LOL

Well, this must be quite unusual...

Blessings.

 

[cloud7divine]

If you can it is better for you to abstain and avoid it. Even the most mundane shows nowadays have some form of improper elicitations that are better left to the dark. IF not the shows themselves; the commercials definitely warrant concern. It is better to read scriptures, volunteer, read a morale book, etc. that won't possibly give rise to temptation or your "heart to grow cold, or lose it's saltiness."

Praise be to GOD the heavenly father and his son lord JESUS CHRIST forever>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

 

[abide]

I'm a Christian. I like to watch tv shows and movies. Mostly stuff like The Office, Parks and Rec, ect.

Is it ok to watch these kinds of shows even though there might be some inappropriate parts in them? Can't I just mentally block out the inappropriate things?

I'd like to know what you guys think.

I believe there is nothing wrong in watching TV. I think the key is watching things that don't edify. I personally do not watch TV except for the news and the weather and a few community programmes. I prefer to read or do craft. Sometimes though I would watch a youtube documentary. But watching TV is not my passion.
I believe that our time must be spent wisely. The problem with TV viewing is that unlike reading a book, you cannot review what you have just watched. I would suggest that instead of asking if TV is good for a Christian, increase your reading and you would find that TV viewing will not have that great interest. Reading is better than TV viewing.

 

[OhFarouk]

Another way of approaching this subject is to say: Define the universe and give examples.

TV reflects a huge variety of things.

For the Christian, pursing what is profitable is a moral duty. Philippians 4:8.

 

[Barth Jones]

Frankly, people in general (and Christians in particular), watch too much TV. A little TV now and then is fine. We shouldn't indulge there. Nobody has time--especially Christians--to trifle away. The way I see it is, as long as 1 out of 6 people in the world are dying of starvation, I'd be sick if I were to watch more than an hour of TV a week (including "educational" stuff). But that's just my very firm opinion.