There is a song that Gateway College of Evangelism sang called Holiness Is Right.
There’s a difference between wrong and right
There’s a difference between darkness and light
There’s no compromise we must draw the line
Sin is still a reproach but holiness is rightNow the world is living all kinds of lifestyles
But the life of a Christian should be pure and undefiled
Everybody has faults to repent thereof
And then walk in the light because holiness is rightGod is God and he’ll always be the same
His word is the law not will title will ever change
We must distinguish between
Clean and unclean
And then walk in the light
Because holiness is rightWe must be holy-
It’s not a suggestion it’s a command
Holy-
Gotta have pure hearts and clean hands
We must be holy
We’ve got to be saved and sanctified
Holy-
Because holiness is rightWe must be holy
Garments spotless, wrinkle free
Pure and holy we’ve gotta be
Consecrated and set aside
Because holiness is rightNow the church mother use to tell
It’s holiness or hell
Now the same is true today
To see the Lord there’s no other way
There aren’t many Apostolic’s that I know of that would approve of this song because it’s an “about me” song. I understand that, and that isn’t what I am here to talk about. What I am here to talk about is where our holiness standards are going.
Growing up in the Apostolic Faith, there were certain things that we didn’t do. We didn’t go to the movies, watch Hollywood, wear beards, shorts or have long hair (as men) and women didn’t cut their hair, wear pants, skirts were way past the knee, etc. Today, if you look at churches that were against all those things, you will see that a lot of them don’t believe in those things anymore. And if you stand up for those things, you are too strict or conservative. This is where I am.
As I journey on this path in ministry, I struggle with these things. As I look around at Youth Convention or church functions, or on Facebook at so-called Apostolics, there is a great falling away of Holiness. Now, I will say, that I understand that you have to have Holiness on the inside, and that’s another post for another day. I want to address my struggles with this today.
With the invention of internet, it has made it complicated to be against television. Not impossible, but very difficult to stand against it. With smartphones and internet right at your fingertips 24/7, the argument is that how can you be against television and movies, but not against internet. I asked a pastor that I look up to these questions, and he confirmed my hearts cry.
Television Vs. Internet
The television made it’s first public demonstration on January 23, 1926. It made its first public appearance in the States on April 7, 1927. It wasn’t until 1938 that the television for the home was sold in the United States. The television followed radio, in that people wanted moving pictures to go with the stories that they listened to on the radio. Three of the main views of the invention of television were a way to communicate life ideas, entertainment, and education. While two of the three aren’t necessarily evil, one sticks out as the problem with a Holy Ghost filled person indulging in television.
Tuesday, July 31, 1941 is the famous television history date. On that day, the FCC activate new call letters for two stations, WNBT (WNBC) and WCBW. The first day of television included a game show, a baseball show and the first news cast. Out of the three things aired on the first day of television, two of them were worldly entertainment. Now, I will say, as Christians, we aren’t supposed to be shut off from entertainment, we are to live a life of enjoyment, but for all purposes here, my goal is to show the evolution of television into what Christian’s shouldn’t be for.
Meanwhile, why the television is getting it’s startup, in the background is forming what will become the fall of all morality in the United States, and the world.
In 1910, Hollywood became a part of Los Angeles, forming the most prominent film industry, ever. It wasn’t until 1912, that major motion picture companies started setting up in Hollywood. I remember listening to old preaching and the preacher preaching against “I Love Lucy.” We think of that as crazy nowadays, with what we see on a regular basis even in print (billboards, magazines, advertisements, etc.)
I say all that to say that we can honestly draw a conclusion that television, for the most part, was developed for entertainment. Hollywood may have not started off with the intention of being vile, immoral, and vain, but that is what it is today. Let’s take into consideration what you can find on basic air television today.
Please bear with me as I try to explain these shows, as I haven’t seen them.
The Big Bang Theory – This may seem harmless to many people. But the show is based on 4 nerds that lives intermingle. The problem you ask? Well, as you may know, a lot of science-ee things reject God and creationism. This show doesn’t fall short. There is even a mother of one of the characters that is a right wing Christian, in which the character finds absurd because he doesn’t believe in a God. Not to mention the gratuitous pre-marital sex, and adult innuendos. Go a head Christian, watch that in front of Jesus.
Supernatural – Sounds good right? A show about people having occultic powers and defying Godly supernatural things. Yep, sit your kid in front of the telly to enjoy that.
Modern Family – A dysfunctional family including gay parents, lying and unrealistic vanity. Sign me up!
American Horror Story – All about everything of the devil. That pretty much sums that up.
There are many other shows, but don’t forget the advertisements.
There is an advertisement out there for Las Vegas. Two men leave their wives to go check in at a hotel in Vegas. They are standing close to each other waiting to check in when the concierge thinks they are checking in together. They look at each other and shrug, and it says “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” So we got homosexuality, infidelity and sin portrayed all in one 30 second commercial.
The problem with these things is that you can’t stop that from being played. You don’t choose what commercials are being portrayed right in front of your eyes. You can skip past a part of the show that may be inappropriate for your, or your kids eyes. So why show it?
I will set no wicked thing before my eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 103:1
The internet on the other had was invented for information and education. I could go on and on on this post, but I am trying to keep it short.
The internet was invented as a place where you can collect information and data. Of course, with anything that the public receives access to, people make it bad. The internet can be way worse than Hollywood. But, you make the choice of what comes on in front of you. Popups and all that is a thing of the past. The internet, with the right protection, and Godly wisdom can be a very safe place for a Christian.
All of this comes down to what God sees fit for us to watch and be entertained with.
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
The Word of God is clear. All these sins are worthy of death, and anyone who takes any sort of pleasure in them, including, but not limited to watching it, listening to it, and enabling it. Silence is acceptance. And I could write for 14 hours on that statement alone.
The CONCLUSION: A Christian has no part in Hollywood.
A television set, in and of itself, isn’t evil. What you put on it is. There are many outlets of good wholesome Christian movies, that won’t make you sin, won’t compromise your Holiness, and do bring glory to God. Not to mention, documentaries, informational programming, educational programming, and preaching. Just like the internet, all those things do not compromise your Godly living.
The argument for television is always started out with, “How can you be against T.V. but not internet, the internet is far worse?”
I get it. I understand it.
The thing is, internet wasn’t invented for entertainment purposes. It was made for information. “The information super highway!” I remember when internet came out and was available in homes. It took 19 floppy disks to install, and you had to wait for that awful sound to come on, it took up your phone line, it was downright a pain. Especially compared to what we have today. And then after 50 eternally long seconds, you may get connected to the internet, or it could start all over again. Finally, you’re connected. Then a call comes through and knocks you off. Then you start the whole procedure again. Treacherous.
I remember I was allotted 30 minutes of internet use. My parents had our computer in an office, and monitored everything I did. Luckily, I had been pretty sheltered and didn’t have a desire to look at evil things, but had I, it would have been found out pretty quickly. On a side note, I firmly believe that all internet devices should be monitored by parents, and computers and tablets shouldn’t be allowed to be used alone. But I digress.
The internet used to be a lot more open. But with blockers and monitoring services, spyware and adware software, and anti-virus, the popups that used to come up are pretty much non-existence. The internet is a lot safer than it used to be.
That argument goes both with television and internet. Close monitoring, and pure intentions is what it all comes down to. Besides our own well being, we have to be pure in our thoughts and not allow the devil any room to play. Hollywood has nothing for a Christian to desire. And most internet streaming isn’t appropriate either. But it is possible for Christians to remain holy in a technological world. I pray today that you find a balance in entertainment and holiness in your life.
IN Christ, Peyton
Coffee Shop Theology 