Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: anti-christ, blog, Christian, Christianity, commercial, culture, devil, family, God, Satan, satanic, spiritual, supernatural, television, trend
Has anyone else noticed the growing trend over the past few years, of more supernatural themed programming on the tube? I have watched less and less television over the past few years, however, I recently spent some time staying with family who very rarely have their set turned off. It was like culture shock. I had know idea how bad things had gotten.
I was utterly dismayed and horrified at a blatantly demonic program called “Supernatural”, after watching for only a few minutes before I had to leave the room. This show reminded me of the horror movies that were rated R, when I was in high school a few years ago. (Okay, it has been more that a few years.) There is also a wildly popular supernatural themed show called “Heroes” that I watched once and had a hard time following because all of the episodes are connected. Although much more tame than “Supernatural”, it didn’t sit well with me. My fear is that all of this supernatural programming is to condition the world and prepare them for the coming signs and wonders of the anti-christ.
The growing trend of supernatural themes is just one of the many problems with television these days. Gone are the days of wholesome family programming. There are a few kids shows on Nickelodeon and Disney that are fairly family oriented, however, many or perhaps most of the movies and programs on “family” channels are not family friendly by conservative Christian standards. It seems that all the networks are pushing the envelope these days.
Commercials are also a problem for me. How many commercials have you seen of late, that promote lying or at least make light of it? One spot that comes to mind is the guy getting rid of his grill, and then telling his wife that someone stole it, so that she will buy him a new one. Lying isn’t the only one of God’s laws that is reduced these days. Have you seen the commercial with the guy walking out the door and seeing the attractive female plumber entering the neighbor’s house. After getting a look at her, he goes back inside and proceeds to toss everything he can think of into his own toilet in hopes of giving clogging it up, and them he is surprised to see his wife looking into the bathroom at him with a look of confusion. Then, there is the new e-trade commercial, that describes the things that you can do with one finger. One of the things is “tell your expensive broker where to go.” It doesn’t actually show the gesture, but we know what is implied.
A short while ago I was talking about all these things with my pastor’s wife. I told her that I was going to write a post on my blog about the tube, called the Devil’s box. She told me that when television first came out, her uncle said that it reminded him of a picture of Satan, the screen was his face and the antennas where the horns sticking up out of his head. Hmmm!
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Interesting thoughts… As a Christian, I enjoy all kinds of programing, fiction novels and movies which are not “Christian”. I am intelligent enough to know that the “Harry Potter” series are good stories which promote friendship and the triumph of good over evil, not some backhanded attempt to convert the world’s youth to sorcery and witchcraft… I am a HUGE fan of Vampire stories and movies and lore… I think they are great stories… Do I believe in Vampires? Of course not… DO I think this undermines my faith? Absolutely not… You choose what you watch and let me choose what I watch… but don’t pretend to know about my Faith just because I might like the show “Supernatural” or “Ghost Whisperer” or the like
Comment by Matthew December 5, 2007 @ 7:53 pmI think the trend you see goes back much further into our history than just the present season on TV, recall shows like “Bewitched” or “I dream of Jeni.” Just to make a minor note, “Heros” is based on an evolutionary scheme, more akin to the “X-Men.” None the less, it reflects what is popular in our culture in general, spirituality is cool, but just because something is spiritual does not mean that it is Christian. I also find the popularity of things like American Idol troubling in the least, along with the so called reality shows. There is little that is edifying, and much that is at best rubish.
Peace,
Comment by Kevin December 5, 2007 @ 8:08 pmKevin
What you say is interesting, but we cannot shut off the rest of the world. I have a lot of interests as far as books and tv goes. I also know that it is fiction. I don’t take it to heart. If we teach our children the difference they can make their own decisions when they are out with friends. We cannot shut ourselves off from the world and pretend that it doesn’t exist. Christ said “Go into the world and teach the gospel”. How can you do that if you don’t know what is going on in the world and shut yourself off from it? We aren’t doing what he said and we must rely on his strength for us to be strong. If your family was causing you problems while living with them, you should have found another place to live. God will provide if we walk in his Light.
Comment by Carol January 14, 2008 @ 12:49 pmI don’t ever want to live in a world where someone is going to tell me what to watch and what not to.
Thanks for listening,
Carol
Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog and commenting on it. I would like to take the time to answer a couple of your comments.
Kevin said,
“I also find the popularity of things like American Idol troubling in the least, along with the so called reality shows. There is little that is edifying, and much that is at best rubish.”
I agree, Kevin. Most of the reality shows are disturbing to me also.
Carol said,
“If your family was causing you problems while living with them, you should have found another place to live.”
My family wasn’t causing me a problem at all, I was able to leave the room when something was on that I didn’t want to watch. I didn’t post this to slam anyone in my family. If I came across that way, it was not my intent. I love my family even though I may not agree with them on all things.
My reason for this post is to show how much television has changed and how things have gotten progressively worse, as the world has. I am not saying that we should not try to reach the world for Christ.
I do that on a regular basis by giving out cool Gospel tracts from Living Waters and by going out into the
street to talk to people about salvation and sharing the Gospel with them.
We are in this world, but as Christians we should not act or look like the world. We are called to live a Holy life. This is not my opinion but what the Bible says in the following verses: Romans 12:2 &9, John 15: 18-19, Galatians 6:14, II Tim. 1:9 & 2:19, I Thess. 5:21-22, II Peter 3:9-14, II Peter 4:17-18, II Corinthians 7:1, Jude 23. I am not trying to be bossy or tell anyone what to watch and not to watch but giving my observation of the world and how it is getting worse, in light of scripture and what the Bible says. I am also exhorting other Christians to examine their lives in the light of scripture and be careful not to fill their minds with things of the world. There are many things on television that are fine for Christians to watch and I am not saying that Christians should not watch, just that we need to be careful what we bring into our home and allow our children to watch.
Probably what disturbs me the most is about television today, is the content of the commercials and what they are teaching especially our children. I mentioned several in my post that blatantly go against the commandments (God’s law). John 14:21-24. http://www.needgod.com
Comment by outofthefire January 15, 2008 @ 8:02 pm