Influence of media on the youth
There is a battle at hand
2 Corinthians 2:11 – Lest Satan should get an advantage of us. For we are not ignorant of his devices.
Once upon a time if your children where in a good school, involved in a strong church and had proper supervision at home, you knew a parent that you had your bases covered. In our modern age, however, there is now a forth venue of learning. Its common name is the media.
Recent technological breakthroughs – VCRs, walkman-type portable stereos, cable television, satellite, computer games, and internet access – are now common house hold items that that serve as the message bearers of this fourth centre of learning.
While the media has its indented effect on children, adults are by no means immune. In logging so much time, even committed, mature Christians are saturated by the messages of the media. The media is so powerful that it can change out national opinion and swing elections.
A. Titus 2:11-13 gives us our PRIORITY
Because of God’s grace in bringing us “salvation” our desire should be different from those of unbelievers. We should not want “ungodliness” and “worldly lust” but desire to “live soberly, righteously and godly”.
B. Phil.4:8 gives us our PRINCIPLE.
The kind of matters our mind should be upon should be “true …noble, …just,….pure, lovely, …of good report, ..virtue(or ‘virtuous’)” and “praiseworthy”.
C. Psa. 101:2-3 gives us our PRACTICE.
Here the David the psalmist says, “I will have wisely in a perfect way”. His desire is not to REACT to what he sees but to ACT. He doesn’t want to just go with the flow, but to respond “wisely”, to evaluate what he sees and hears, to filter it with the truth of the Word of God.
Television
1. TV is addictive because it requires nothing of us. We consider television to be an amusement. Have you ever considered the meaning of the word “amusement”? The root of the word is “muse” which means “to think, ponder or consider”. If you place an “a” in front of “muse” then you mean “not to think, ponder or consider”. When we plop in front of the tube we often disengage our brains.
2. TV is addictive because it focuses our attention. It’s hard to carry on a conversation and watch TV. It’s hard to read and watch TV.
3. TV is addictive because it provides a temporary escape. Through the actors on the screen we, if only for a few minutes, escape our boredom, pain and frustrations. We vicariously live out adventures and fantasies.
4. TV is addictive because it’s easy. We simply turn it on. It does the rest. When it is off we feel restless. It is no wonder television is called “the plug in drug”
5. TV puts us in to a coma like situation not different from drug abuse. Not unlike alcohol or drugs the TV experience allows the participant to blot out the real world and enter into a pleasurable and passive mental state.
6. TV commercials treat the customer as a piggy bank and rob him of his money for many things that may not be necessary at all.
7. TV produces emotional disturbances.
8. TV induces overeating. It stows down the metabolism rate (14.5%) Lower than while steeping and also increases the desire to snack and consume foods of all types. 1/3 of US is overweight.
9. TV makes you doze and not concentrate on studies. More arid morn staying awake and not get enough sleep. The health hazard is that the immune systems ability to fight unwanted cells is hindered thus allowing them to multiply.
10. TV watching strains the eyes. You stare endlessly into a screen of flashing pictures decreasing the ability of the eye to focus, resulting in blurred vision. Constant eye motion that improves its health is obstructed.
11. TV induces wrong mannerisms. The styles of dressing up, walking, talking, idea of romance, changes in attitude are alt affected.
12. TV suggests and auto suggests thus drawing you away from all reality into a world of fantasy and pushing you into a mode of sin. Smoking as adult image.
13. TV grabs the time for family conversation. Love does not grow without communication.
14. TV as electronic babysitter. No time to play with the child. The child believes all that it sees and is sunk.
15. TV displaces the time to read. Even a professor who does not read —
16. TV makes study boring since this is hard work and other is entertainment alt the way.
17. TV programs are mostly recorded and are deceptive. There are infinite possibilities for romance, adventure, great courage, special effects etc.
18. IV increases aggressiveness, appetite for more violence and promotes immorality.
Internet
- Picture of primitive man back to the same In front of a computer
- Computer games destroy the brains ability to think/mental strain.
- Cyber sex
- Click of a mouse to enter into prostitution.
- Marriages devastated
- Worse than drug addiction
- Triple A
- Online gambling
Books
1. Throughout Jesus’ earthly life and ministry, His focus was entirety upon the Word of God. He said in Mat. 5:17, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfil” He came to “fulfil,” Literally to “flesh out” the Won)!
2. Of course, Jesus Lived at a time before printing presses when books were huge parchment scrolls. However, even if Jesus had Lived in the “information age,” His focus would have been on the Word.
Christians Should Read Selectively.
3. Women express their disgust and lack of understanding at how men can be addicted to pornography. However, many of the romance novels found near the supermarket counter can be labelled pornographic.
4. According to Webster, “pornography” is defined as “the depiction of erotic behaviour intended to cause sexual excitement’ whether in pictures or print.
We need to allow the Principles that Lead us in other forms of Media Govern Our Choices of Reading Material. Would Jesus enjoy reading this book or magazine?
Music
1. We will listen to messages in music we would reject anywhere else.
2. We listen to singers and musicians we could not personally respect. The Bible warns us in 1 Cor.15:33 “Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits.” We keep company with some terrible people through our music.
3. Like other forms of media, some secular music degenerates our values. When you go through a period of listening totally to secular music your spiritual Life deteriorates.
4. Be aware of what we Listen to. Check out the Lyrics. The Lyrics of many secular songs may be good and wholesome. They can even be sad without being bad! However, many lyrics are downright sinful and some even blasphemous.
5. Intersperse secular music with Christian music. We are blessed to Live in a time when there are so many different styles of Christian music. We can all find a musical format with godly, even biblical lyrics.
Conclusion
1 john 5:4 ---for whatsoever is born of god overcomess the wor1d. And this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.
Revelation 3:5 ---He that overcomes the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of Life, but I will confess his name before my father and before his angels.
Rev 21: 7---- He that overcomes shall inherit all things and l will be his God and he shall be my son.
We have a war at hand.
The church to promote the message of Jesus can use the media.
Media encourages a Life style of sexual immorality, violence and consumerism but the church can use these to proclaim that in Christ Jesus we have a better way characterized by love, joy and peace.
TV fulfils a prophecy of tong time Rev 11:7
Web camera/God sees you.
Daniel 1:8 - Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself with the royal food and drink.
What about you?