Saturday, February 9, 2008

How Will They Know Series

 

Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.”

Jesus in our Den

 

Growing up, my family had some good occasions watching television.   Sometimes on Friday night I would watch an old Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan movie.  Also, I enjoyed from my childhood, Bonanza and The Wonderful World of Disney.  I always enjoyed watching football with my Dad.  He was a fan of one of our fine state football teams and I was a fan of another.   We had fun with that for many years.  

 

Raising a family of my own there were times each week we would watch a television show.  My children remember us making a family commitment to watch Star Trek-The Next Generation, the Jean-Luc Picard years, Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, and Touched by an Angel.   In truth, those are the only television shows I have ever regularly watched.   One day during the Christmas holidays we rented the movie, We Are Marshall and watched it.   I have not watched a regular show in at least seven years.   I remember those times with my family and truly enjoyed them.  

 

I believe television, in many instances, is not wholesome to put in our hearts.   I believe we bit-by-bit incorporate those television values in our lives.   We have never had more than one television in our house at a time because we didn’t want it to be a perpetual influence.  The only television currently in our home is in the bonus room.  

 

My rule of thumb about television was – if I could sit on the sofa with Jesus and watch it without being embarrassed, then I could watch it.  If I thought Jesus would look at me in disappointment I always turned the show off.    Once, Anna Camille asked if Friends could be a designated television show.  I agreed to watch it with her to see.   After five minutes, Anna Camille said, “Daddy, I’m sure you will never give me your blessings to watch this show.  Let’s turn it off and talk.”   

 

I have raised my family primarily.  If God blesses me with a generation of grandchildren to love I will live out the same values as I have all my life.   I am not condemning television.  It can be a useful tool for entertainment.  

 

The truth is, perpetual television undermines what we need to be.   It is not in the value system that I would hope would mold our children.   Primarily as a family, we read and talked.  The world will only be changed by people with strong, decent values and a loving heart.   Of course, I don’t say this as an arch-conservative.   I tell you this from my heart.   It is my belief that perpetual television will erode the souls of our children and our youth. 

 

Prayer:  Dear God, help me to put only the best in my heart and in the hearts of my children.  Amen.  

I hope to see you in church on Sunday!