People have been conned by the devil in the realm of entertainment more than any other walk of life.  Even as Christians, we have allowed the devil to fool us into thinking that what we allow into our minds by way of books, magazines, the internet, and especially TV, really does not matter.  Most of us know the difference between right and wrong.  We know what pleases God and what is offensive to Him.  When it comes to our behavior, we strive to be morally upright.  However, many of us have concluded that as long as we behave ourselves morally, it is okay to allow filth into our hearts through the gateway of our eyes.

Television is not, in and of itself, sinful, but there are a lot of sinful things that come from it. There is enough profanity, blasphemy, and obscene gestures on TV today to make almost anyone blush! The average child will see 20,000 murders before he’s 16 years old, plus thousands of bedroom scenes, 95% of which are between unmarried persons, and now persons of the same sex.   One man described television as junk food for the soul.  This is what he said:

“Junk food is artificially flavored and colored, excessively sweetened, and highly addictive. It is harmful to physical and mental health and its consumption interferes with or even deprives one of beneficial, healthful nourishment.  Television is an almost precise spiritual equivalent of junk food. The entire content of its programming is unedifying, un-nourishing, opposed to sound mental and emotional health, and filled with value training which is diametrically opposed to a sound and healthy society. The lifestyles and ideals it portrays are artificial, corrupt, and undesirable. Moreover, television is highly addictive.” 

While this quote is a little bit of an exaggeration (the entire content of television is not corrupt), much of what the author of this quote said is true.  If one carefully examines the moral content of television programs, he will see that they portray the exact opposite kind of morals and ideals as the Bible does.

Let us not allow the devil to take advantage of us by planting unhealthy seeds into our hearts through different means of entertainment.  Instead, let’s do all we can to keep our hearts pure.  Remember, Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).  Let us do our best to secure our minds by thinking about the kind of things Paul refers to in Philippians 4:8.

Philippians 4:8 (ESV)
⁸  Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.   

Do not give the devil a stronghold in your mind (2 Corinthians 10:4-5), but rather, fill it with the Word of God.

Let’s all protect our minds from Satan at all costs.

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.