Glorifying God With Your TV

By Jordan Stone

The advent and subsequent evolution of TV in my life is quite funny to think about. My first recollection of a television in the Stone home was a large and loud silver box that played nine channels and had no remote. To change a channel you entered the number into a part of the TV that was not dissimilar to a calculator and then pressed a large "Enter" button to confirm the change. After a few seconds of buzzing static sounds, the channel reached its destination. Such a cumbersome viewing experience mitigated the number of hours that the TV was on at the Stone home.

About five years later the introduction of a remote and cable TV (praise Jesus for ESPN) revolutionized television in our house . . . in that we watched much more of it.

Much more.

Over the next seven or eight years more TVs showed up and before we knew it, TV was a huge part of family life.

And TV still is a huge part of life for most families.

Is there a way to redeem all the time devoted to a television? How might we better glorify God with our TVs? In a helpful article, author Randy Alcorn tackles these questions with fourteen points for “taking charge of the TV”. I have provided only the points, to see Alcorn’s commentary click here.

1. Keep track of how much time you spend watching.

2. Decide in advance how much TV to watch per week.

3. Use a schedule to choose programs for the week - then stick to your choices.

4. Keep your television unplugged, store it in a closet, and/or put it in a remote part of the house (prevents mindless flip-on).

5. Periodically "fast" from television for a week or a month. Notice the "cold turkey" effects. (Avoids addiction, reminds you of all that can be done when TV off).



6. Choose programs that uplift rather than undermine biblical values.

7. Use the "off" switch freely. If it's wrong and you keep watching, you're saying "I approve." (Unless it doesn't present temptation and you're critically analyzing it).

8. Use the channel changer frequently.

9. Watch and discuss programs together as a family--to avoid passivity and develop active moral discernment through interaction. (Avoid the second TV set that splits the family and leaves children unsupervised).

10. Don't allow young children to choose their own programs--that's the parent's responsibility.

11. Don't use television as a baby sitter.

12. Spend an hour reading Scripture, a Christian book or magazine, or doing a ministry for each hour you watch TV.

13. Consider dropping cable, Showtime, HBO, or any other service that you determine is importing ungodliness or temptation into your home.

14. If you find you can't control it--or you're tired of the battle--get rid of your television.

HT: Providence Church