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There's an Idol in the House!!!

You remember when you sat down in your church, your car, or maybe even a friends' house, and then it came. The person to whom you were listening dropped a hundred pound weight on the balance of your mind in the form of a shocking quotation. Each of us no doubt has experienced it. I would like to recall an experience of mine from this summer at Junior Camp.

The speaker was Ed Dunlop. If the name sounds familiar, you may remember him because he is a ventriloquist, in addition to being a youth speaker. He brought a message about television to the 4th-6th graders and their counselors. The statement went something like this: (loose quote with no meaning or emphasis changed/lost) "With the hours and hours of television kids watch a week (I think the amount was in the 20's), kids engage in less than 5 minutes of meaningful conversation with their parents in a week." When it first rang in my ears, I thought, "No way...impossible! Less than 5 minutes?!" After regurgitating the statement a few more times, it became apparent that (on average) the statement was undoubtedly true.

My purpose with this post is not to declare 'voodoo' on the TV. However, several questions do arise in my mind as I continue to think about this unimaginable phenomenon. I am not trying to tell any person what they should do regarding the television. It is not bad in and of itself, but please consider these questions:

  • Do you find yourself planning things (family time, church, time with the Lord, etc.) around the times of "Can't miss TV shows"?
  • Does it ever anger you when someone's need or request for you takes you away from your favorite TV show or from "the game of the year"?
  • Does anyone in your house ever get the idea that the TV is more important to you than they are?
There are more questions that could be posed. Believe me, I have asked them to myself over and over again. Like I said, my motives are only pure. I want Christians, especially myself, to consider the controlling aspect of the box that may be discovered in every major room of your house. The way we spend our time displays to us and others who our G(g)od really is. Honor Christ in the way you spend your time. TV will not make it into eternity!

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