Christian Foundations
DEVOTIONAL ARCHIVE
by Dennis and Barbara Rainey
If, as the previous devotion maintained, much of what comes into our homes via television does not contribute to a sound Christian home, then what can be done to manage this monster? Why not start a "Just Say No" campaign against TV? I am not advocating total abstinence, although for some families that may be a good solution. But I suggest taking TV in moderation-say, six to eight hours a week.
Here are some tips we try to follow in our family:
Instruct the kids to ask you for permission to watch TV. Don't let them treat it as a "given," but a privilege. Don't let them watch it randomly, but determine what you want them to watch. Make TV off-limits in at least these two rooms: The room where you eat your meals, and your bedroom. Agree on the number of hours and the programs that can be watched during the week and on weekends. Let the kids choose from a list you approve. Don't let your children watch a video movie unless you know what's in it. Read the reviews of movies when they first appear at the theater to get clues about the level of bad language, sex and violence. Don't just "watch TV"; watch specific programs for a specific purpose. Once, when I had plopped down to watch nothing in particular Barbara said, "There's nothing on worth watching. There are other things more valuable to do, like spending time with me!" And she was right. Yes, all this will take a great deal of self-control and discipline. But think of how "the tube" undermines the family, and you will realize it will be worth it. In the early '80s, a Michigan State University study reported that one-third of four- and five-year-olds in the U.S. would give up their relationships with their dads in favor of TV.
That's scary evidence of television's power. I believe God wants us to rule over this twenty-first-century monster.
That God's Spirit will enable each family member to identify and resist unhealthy influences.
Discuss: Do you have rules about watching TV in your home? If not, talk about implementing some of the tips discussed above.
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