The Monster in Your Room

THE MONSTER IN YOUR ROOM

Perhaps the most influential tool in the 21st century likely to be found in almost every home is the television. The Zuckerman’s research on "The impact of Television to Children" found out that more than 96% of American homes have at least one television set. That is to say, virtually every home in the current United States of America has at least a television set.

The television industry provides people with host of programmes which have various impact on the human brain. Over 90 % of the programmes on secular TV channels have negative physical, psychological, and spiritual effects on a person. Consider the various entertainment programmes on secular TV channels. Secular programmes such as movies, series, and music are filled with all forms of sexual immortality, vile language, alcoholism, drug abuse, witchery, occultism and many others. These kinds of programmes are inspired right from the pit of hell.

From Anton Lavey, the founder of the Church of Satan in America, we read the following in relation to TV: " Many of you have already read my writings identifying TV as the new God. There is a little thing I neglected to mention up until now — TELEVISION IS THE MAJOR MAINSTREAM INFILTRATION OF THE NEW SATANIC RELIGION. The birth of TV was a magical event foreshadowing its Satanic significance. The first commercial broadcast was aired on Walpurgisnacht, April 30th, 1939, at the New York World’s Fair. Since then, TV’s infiltration has been so gradual, so complete, that no one even noticed. People don’t need to go to church anymore; they get their morality plays on television." (The Devil’s Notebook, page 86; Capital Emphasis Added) How do Christians respond to this canker that is plaguing our society? A Christian revivalist has clearly spelt out the attitude of majority of Christians in relation to the bizarre programming on many secular TV channels in the following words: "many Christians enjoy programmes about the occult, vampires, witches, zombies, uncut sex, and other perversions of the truth. Christians should not be entertained by darkness. If we are, our heart needs spiritual resuscitation. Any Christian who wishes to live a godly life should concur with Job on this proclamation, "I made a covenant with mine eyes, why should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1). Many deceive themselves that they learn something good from the various entertainment programmes on secular TV. Let us hear what the Spirit of Prophecy has to say on this: "Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school for morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater, the circus, and every other questionable place of amusement" (Adventist Home, page 516 paragraph 2).

The apostle Paul in his first epistle to the church at Corinth gave a great warning which is suitable in our selection of programmes from the television world. The apostle declared plainly that "All things are lawful to me but not all things are expedient: "all things are lawful for me but I will not be brought under the power of any" (1 Corinthians 6:12). From Ellen White, we read the following important truth: "It is a law both of the intellectual and the spiritual nature that by beholding we become changed. The mind gradually adapts itself to the subjects upon which it is allowed to dwell" (Great Controversy, page 555, paragraph 1).

Beloved, how do we occupy the mind with scenes from wrestling, pornography, boxing, martial arts, telenovelas, and the occult and expect to be spiritual? How do we meditate upon words from the Holy Bible, when our minds are occupied with scenes from the satanic world? How do we go on the mission of evangelizing the world when we are wasting time on secular TV? Beloved, the questions we need to ask ourselves in relation to various secular television programmes are these:

1) Would Jesus have watched this programme? Will I feel comfortable watching this programme if Christ was physically seated next to me? Would I have enjoyed the programme together with Him?

2) We need to further ask whether we will be glorifying God or fulfilling the lusts of the flesh in watching a particular TV programme? From 1 Corinthians 10:31, the apostle Paul writes that "whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God".

Friends, it is Satan's plan to keep God's people glued to television and other forms of modern gadgets through secular movies, series, telenovelas, music, fashion shows, beauty pageants, diverse video games and competitive sports such as football, until the time of judgment is completed in the most holy place of heaven's sanctuary; and the dreadful words are pronounced upon the watchers of these programmes: "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still" (Revelation 22:11).

Beloved, this article is to awaken us out of our sleep. For many of us, television has become the monster in our rooms. I believe the time has come in the history of God's people when secular TV programming must be shut out from our homes. I believe the time has come when we must dread to watch such negative TV programmes just as the people of ancient Israel dreaded the disease of leprosy. My dear friends, as probation has not yet closed and we still have time, let us repent from watching the evil programming on secular television and prepare our hearts and minds for the coming kingdom of God.

As we wait for Christ's soon coming, we will find Paul's admonition in Philippians 4:8 a timely message: "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things". Even as I bring this article to an end, it is my prayer that the Lord will give you the strength to repent from watching secular programming on TV and other modern gadgets, and become an agent that God can use to free many from the slavery of the evil screen of television.

Jude Adjei Asamoah and Samuel Nyarko