Television
Joe Slater
	Several years ago I heard brother J.J. Turner make some insightful remarks about television and the effect it has on the church and its work. I’m passing those along to you, along with some additional material of my own. My purpose is not do discourage you, but to make you aware of the facts so that we may deal with them effectively.
	TV has severely affected the ability of people to read, listen, comprehend, and concentrate. Why read a book or newspaper when you can watch the movie or the news on TV? Even with TV, we don’t really listen. So what if we don’t comprehend? There are no exams. And we need not concentrate; if our attention wanders, we just change the channel or zone out as we stare at the tube. Result: Bible-reading becomes more and more rare; worship times grow increasingly entertainment-oriented; Christians have no idea what they are supposed to believe or why; and preachers fret while listeners, unable to change channels, simply stare glassy-eyed into space.
	TV has conditioned the watchers to become insensitive or immunized. We’ve seen so many people murdered, mugged, robbed, run over, beaten, and blown up that we take it in stride. Vulgar words have bombarded us until they don’t register any more. Result: when we hear the gospel, we set it aside as though it were as imaginary as a TV adventure show. We treat Jesus’ suffering on Calvary, the beauty of Heaven, and the horror of Hell as just “special effects” to be marveled at, but not taken seriously.
	TV causes people to feel, not think. If programs make you feel a certain way, they have accomplished the producers’ goal. Result: people want a religion that makes them feel good, one that touches their emotions, but not one that requires serious reasoning like Biblical Christianity.
	TV doesn’t require a response. Watch the program, brush y our teeth, go to bed, watch again tomorrow. It isn’t your job to do anything; it’s someone else’s job to entertain you with more programs. Result: come to church “hear” (?) the class/sermon, go home, eat dinner, come back again next time. It isn’t your job to do anything; it’s someone else’s job to put together another program for you.
	TV offers a wide range of false religious programming, much of which is watched regularly (even by members of the Lord’s church). Every false idea under heaven is promoted on TV, often in attractive packaging. Result: confusion reigns, the line between truth and error is blurred, and souls are lost.
	Lessons: Let’s use TV to proclaim the truth! Thank God for good programs like In Search of the Lord’s Way, The Truth In Love, and According To The Scriptures. Let’s resist the mind-numbing effects of much TV programming as we strive to listen, concentrate, meditate, read, and seriously reason from God’s word!
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What’s For Dinner?
	A few folks at worship assemblies appear to be “bored out of their beanies.” Whatever reason causes them to attend, they might as well enjoy being present. My advice: sing! Follow the melody others are singing, and focus on the words. Try it! Sing along. I guarantee you will enjoy being there more.
	--Cecil May, Jr. (via Preacher Talk)
Good Company
"Whosoever therefore would be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God" (James 4:4).
	American writer Ethel Mumford said, "God gave us our relatives; thank God we can choose our friends. Jonathan, the son of Saul, proved a true friend to David. Ahithophel, David's trusted counselor, betrayed him. Like David, perhaps we all have been wise in choosing some friends but not so wise in choosing others.
	What makes a good friend? Why are we attracted to some people and not to others? Perhaps we are drawn to those with whom we share a common bond or goal. Maybe we like or love someone because he or she has been a tremendous help and encouragement to us. We often imitate our friends, and in so doing, become like them.
	Christians have plenty of reasons to choose other Christians as friends.  We share many common bonds. We all have the same Father, our God. Jesus is our King, our Savior, and our Brother. We are to be of the same mind as Christ. The same Spirit works in us. We share the same faith. Heaven is our common goal. God meant for us to encourage and help each other as we journey toward our heavenly home. No wonder Paul so many times desired the company of the saints (Romans 15:24).
	A word often used in the New Testament for "friend" is "philos," meaning "loved."  John uses it as a name for Christians in 3 John 14. Jesus uses it when he says, "You are my friends, if you do whatsoever I command you" (John 13:14).  What greater company can we desire than to be friends with our Lord and Savior
	Donna Richmond Wittlif (Denver, CO)