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Date Posted: 16:08:01 05/01/03 Thu
Author: SYNTARSUS
Subject: Re: Christian Television?!?!?! (What next?)
In reply to: PuNkRaWkChristian 's message, "Re: Christian Television?!?!?! (What next?)" on 11:03:02 05/01/03 Thu

>Ok, you have a valid arguement. But then again you
>don't.

Okay, I'm listening . . .

>You don't know their hearts or their
>convictions.

True. And actually, I believe quite a few of them DO have good intentions. Although I think television isn't the greatest medium in which to convey their message. (Read Neil Postman's book: 'Amusing Ourselves to Death' and read the part about religion & television. Then we'll can have something to talk about.)

>You are being judgemental. Remember, we
>as Christian's are not supposed to do that?

Actually, we have no buisiness judging those OUTSIDE of the Church. As for those inside, we are to let them know (granted, in a loving way) if they are doing something seriously wrong and ruining their witness, because if they aren't warned, they may continue in their destuctive behaviour, and ruin their witness and bring other people down with them. For examples:

"What business is it of mine to judge those OUTSIDE of the church? Are you not to judge those outside? God will judge those OUTSIDE. 'Expel the wicked man from among you.' " (1 Corinthians 5:12 / emph. mine)

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector."(Matthew 18:15-17)

Now, I'm not saying that the TV preachers are all bad, nor am I saying that I can just go up to some preacher on TV and tell him where his doctrine is un-Scriptural; but I am trying to make a point about what the Bible really says about judging. Sometimes we DO have to confront our fellow believers about their problems, and if they don't listen, then we've done for them all we can, and we must leave them for God to deal with their hearts. We can't change a person's mind, but we can show them what we don't approve about their behaviour, in hopes that maybe they'll change. But that doesn't always happen.

Okay, now I want to talk about what are known as 'gray' areas. This means that something is neither good nor evil, according to what we know about the Bible. This is where it would be wise (though not neccessary) that we choose the better of the two. This would be a decision involving the choosing of something 'higher quality' vs. 'lower quality'. Books are of higher quality than TV. Classical as compared to Rock/ Pop music. 'High Culture' vs. 'Popular Culture'.
Mcdonald's or a home-cooked meal with the family? Which do you think would make for a better choice? Which would illustrate that you have a higher view of life and standard of living? (Read: 'All God's Children in Blue Suede Shoes' by Ken Myer, if you're confused.)

>All they are doing is taking an outlet that reaches masses >of people and allowing them to see God's grace or to at
>least inform them of it. Granted, some are kinda
>boring, they've put me to sleep. But then there comes
>on a preacher that you can tell is filled with the
>Holy Spirit and you're just like "Wow!". Let's take
>Bishop T.D. Jakes for example. Everytime he's on you
>can tell God has given him an awesome message. I
>always look forward to hearing God's word from him
>because it's obvious his heart has been given to God.

I cannot say I agree or disagree with that statement, for I do not know who Bishop T.D. Jakes is. (Because, of course, I've stopped watching TV.)

>Now with CCM or Contemporary Christian Music, that is
>very touchy with me. I love Christian music and that
>is all I listen to. I don't listen to it because,
>"Oooo yeah! It's Grits! It's Pigeon John! It's TFK!"
>No I listen to it because they don't try and make
>money, they just want to get the Good Word out. Most
>Christian artist have a day job because their music
>career definitly isn't getting them anywhere. They
>were given musical talent from God so they could
>spread the Gospel.

Like I said, I don't doubt many of them have good intentions. Some may have some music that is quite appropriate.

I think I've written on this message board something about how music, itself, affects your body (brain, heart, cells, etc.) and your mind (emotions, trance-like state, etc.). That is why I'm not sure if the music is quite fitting the message. Some of the so-called 'Christian' Contemporary music sounds angry (screaming, growling, etc.) even demonic, because they are copying the world's style of music which really doesn't seem to fit with the words that they are using (if they are using words at all, sometimes I cannot tell!). Some of the music is really shallow and has come to the point where it is practically Humanistic. One must be discerning. As I ALSO say: "Many a fell deed hath been wrought in the name of good intention." (Bad things have come about even when someone has good intentions.)

C.S. Lewis wrote, in the book 'Mere Christianity':

" . . . wickedness, when you examine it, turns out to be the pursuit of something good IN THE WRONG WAY."

(emphasis mine.) Rather deep, eh?

>Now if don't agree with me, oh
>well, Jesus still loves ya. But don't judge other
>people, because you don't want the angel's to frown
>when you get to heaven do you?

I'll keep that in mind.

>P.S. Don't knock Christian Skateboarding. That is a
>GREAT Ministry!

I said nothing against that, and I think it sounds like a wonderful TV-free activity, in which other Christians can come together and fellowship with each other. I see nothing blatently wrong with such a ministry, as far as my knowledge goes.

CONCLUSION: Discern for yourself, PuNkRaWkChristian. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you the difference between right and wrong, good and evil, truth & lie, Preaching that is Biblically-sound and that which is blatantly ridiculous. As a fellow believer who is a human-being just the same, I am only as good as you are on discerning these matters. Every Christian experiences God in a unique way, so I will end this debate by admitting that I don't know everything, so you'll just have to pray about it. I have stated my opinion, based on my knowledge of scriptures and scientific (and other) evidences. I'm still learning new things & will keep and open mind. (Though I won't open my mind so far as that my brains fall out! Ha!)

-SYNTARSUS

P.S. - Wow! You put an angry face on your post. Me put a heart because me forgive you for being angry! Eeee. :>
<"grins">

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