how many christians do not go to the cinema or watch televison or go the movies

I am one person who does not do that I am interested in preachers and teachers who do not and to see how many people do not peform these actionsDOm

I am not clergy and do not hold a teaching position, but work in music.I do not go to movies, and watch little TV. I wish that I did not at all.I cannot seem to resist Speedvision, the History channel at times, and U Tn Vols sports...

see how many people do not peform these actionsCould you share a bit why you are doing this survey?What are your feelings about it?Diane

I'm not in any kind of position of leadership in the church (I'm just a college student), but no - I don't do any of these things. It can make life a little awkward at times with my peers, but I really consider myself blessed to have been raised in a home where movies, television, etc, were just kept out. I know many who observed my family considered this too "legal", but when I see the effect that some of these indulgences of the age have had on other young people, I think a little legality can be good.So.... right, I'm not sure why you're asking this (I'd be interested to know too), but there's an answer for you.

Having a TV won't send you to Hell and not having one doesn't give you a place in Heaven. I have a TV. I do not have cable or anything of that nature. I get 2 channels sometimes 3. I probably watch about 5-10 minutes of public TV a week. I do use my TV for watching DVDs. Right now I probably watch DVD or so a night. I run into a lot of atheist and evolutionist in the street so I've been watching alot of creation science DVDs I have borrowed from a friend. It is very interesting. For me, it makes me realize how perfect God is and that is Word is true. It's true morally, theologically, geographicly, historicly, and scientificly. TV's can be a great tool to learn from. The problem is that most have made it an idol instead of a tool of learning and edification.

I will watch anything that is not obviously corrupt, which 99.something% of the entertainment industry is.I enjoy Way of the Master, Chuck Missler, and Creation Science Evangelism DVD's and any DVD that is constructive. I want to see The Apostle again.Regular programming is so ridiculous. We just went to basic cable, and I haven't plugged the cable up for a while out of laziness, and I haven't missed TV at all. I do like Discovery, History, etc, even though the information of Discovery is way off, I like to hear what the heathen are teaching. Even these shows are boring me in comparison with studying Him, and the things He has done to people in times past.Movies, same thing. I will occasionally watch movies, but get more and more offended spiritually by them. I watched a movie on a plane to the US from overseas that was so blasphemous it was ridiculous. Had Peter talking to a little boy and explaining that the miracle of the fish and loaves was contrived (heavily Catholic in reference).The internet is different, in my opinion, that you basically have the ability to choose what you participate in. Whereas almost all TV and movies are filled with worldly things (sex scenes/nudity, language, violene, etc). This site for example is highly constructive, as well as a list of other ones. I would classify internet as being very different from TV, though it can be used for good or evil just like a phone can be.

There is a TV in my living room that isn't hooked up except to use it with a DVD or VCR. With all the filth that is on TV I don't want it in my house. Movies are the same way. What do I want to sit and listen to someone curse my Lord or mock moral values with filthy jokes?In Christ,GaryE

We have a TV in our living room. We do not and have not had cable, almost since I've been married. We do get two channels, PBS and We get a station, that WAS family friendly, PAX, but they have changed to I and are running some bad shows, so we're gonna get rid of the bunny ears. We also have a VCR and DVD player we have a 2 year old who we let watch Chrstian Videos and the like. We do not go to the movies, I have to agree with most the it is really a waste of time and too expensive.We really don't watch a whole lot of DVDs either, unless they are Bible or educational. Just my two cents.

Greetings,My family and I got rid of our cable and only watch carefully selected DVD's that wont pollute us with immoral filth that just dont profit or edify a child of God.It doesnt make me more loved by God but it makes it easier to love and worship Him by not being distracted nor consumed with watching sitcoms, trash talk shows, or reality shows.Rednosepit

I was just interested because the people who dont are David WilkensonArt Katz said he didnt go to the moviesMose Stoflusdoes anybody know any more preacher who dontI was also interested in everyone else aswell,:) :-) :-) Could you share a bit why you are doing this survey?I was seeing if there is anyone like me!! curiosity more than anything elseWhat are your feelings about it?I just feel alot more free'er , I spend more time and money on books!!

I just feel alot more free'er , So true! When we free up our minds from the information overload and other invasive stimuli that come on the screen, it's awesome what our minds are free to do. I tell my piano students that TV rots their brains. So if they want to be good musicians, they have to sacrifice TV. In my experience kids who watch a lot of TV are not as disciplined, and cannot think as well as those who watch very litte TV/movies.I'm not a movie fan. I must admit that while I would prefer NEVER to see any movies, it is sometimes the thing I must do with my husband. He occasionaly has one for me to watch, and sometimes it is more unloving to refuse. Doing so could actually be a selfish thing - wanting to stick to MY rigid nvictions, MY desires. I have to admit that when this thread first popped up my eyes rolled a bit. I was wondering, "here we go again, more legalism". But your response indicates that you made your choice, not to get more brownie points with God, but because you feel liberated that way. For some, when it is a lifestyle rule that they are requried to follow, then TV abstinence may actually perceive as restrictive. These people (kis?) may feel that they are being controlled. So then their hearts desire may be that they become FREED up to watch what they want. Clearly one who never watches the screen is not necessarily more Christ-focused than one who does.And we need to accept that people have different convictions - not always the same as us or our spiritual heros. Diane

I like Veggie Tales. Even though the show has some real seedy characters, they remind me of my salad days. My only critique is that when it comes to teaching morals, they have no legs to stand on. They have no arms either, but that's for another discussion. Seriously I think the show teaches kids that it's not our ability that's important, but our vegetability. :lol: [image][img align=left]http://www.oklahoma.net/~silvrdal/boblarry.gif[/img]

Veggie Tales, only seeing their pictures make me laugh, they are great :-)

Dear Brethren,I do not watch TV and do not go to the movies! The last film I saw in the cinema was "Luther" and enjoyed it thoroughly. I do watch godly and upbuilding things on my PC. The most recent dvd I watched was a documentary on the life of Billy Graham. What a blessings! When I decided to get rid of the TV, I first cut off the cord and had it stand there for some time. Then I took it out. Since then, my marraige has become a greater blessing and our walk with the Lord has become deeper, more stable. In the first week or so, we didn't know what to do with all the time. We ended up singing hymns on our bed. Isn't that great?On Wednesday nights we started an Hour of Prayer, just the two of us. Some time ago we would've sat in front of the TV, polluting our minds. The Bible says, in whatever you do, give glory to God. Show me the one who can give God glory while watcing soaps, where they lust, envy, hate, steal, etc. and I will question that person's honesty.May the Lord expose our hearts to us.In His love,Gery

As I wrote earlier, I don't watch the TV or go to movies. When I was a child it was different. My parents had the cable when most families were using an antenna. The cable back then was three chanels then. Saturday was the day the kids went to the movies. Both TV and the movies did not have the filth on them that we have today. Comedians did not have to talk vile talk to be funny. The old Red Skelton, Leave it to Beaver, and Beverly Hill Billys etc. were really funny without a swear word back then.Things weren't perfect back then but we weren't in near as bad a spiritual condition as a people that we are today. Back then if you were a Christian teacher in the public schools, you still had the right to witness or even pray with a student. TV on Sunday mornings was full of Christian programing. Even if you were un-churched like I was, you ended up watching Christian programs because there often wasn't any cartoons on. I've met young adults today that never heard the gospel message.Where I grew up, public profanity was not very common when I was a child. Murder was almost unheard of. Today it is much different. I've often wondered if the media is affecting us or if the media is just a reflection of us. In either case, it would be nice if some things would go back to the way it was when I was a child.In Christ,GaryE

I agree with these words of GaryE, "Movies are the same way. What do I want to sit and listen to someone curse my Lord or mock moral values with filthy jokes?" We have basic cable here but all we really watch is some news, the weather channel, some basketball, and the odd documentary type show. I know as God is continually sanctifying me I now hate the things I once loved, Praise Him! I love these following Scriptures:Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Phillippians 4:8)And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. (Matthew 5:29, 30)But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (I Peter 1:15, 16)

I want to testify that I do not watch cinema, televition or go to the movies. If there is anything that I do watch in the nature is a sermon or a teaching.I would recomend thereading of the article by A.W. Tozer called THE MENACE OF THE RELIGIOUS MOVIE

What's interesting about Tozers' article is that he is not so much against movies and cinema per se, but against using the medium to convey the Gospel. He felt that the use of actors, sets, music, and special effects to create a dramatic illusion has the effect of diminishing the Gospel's utter and final reality. By bombarding the senses with the gospel, Tozer believed religous movies keep the heart from hearing and seeing the Spirit for onself. I'm not sure I'm convinced by all his conclusions. (edit: I believe this discussion is an extension of the centuries old debate over icons) I do think he makes some very insightful and important points.Television and movies are technologies that control the presentation of reality, and therefore limit perception of truth into mere reception.MC

If we give up something I do not want to give ground for anyone to say!! You have given up TV but you watch movies so that doesnt count. It is like in my christian life. I do not want to give ground for the enemy me to attack me on. Along time ago we did a study on corinthians about offending your brother if he is weaker than you, that you should give whatever your brother is finding harder so that he can continue on alot better in his walk. I have wanted to give my all for Jesus and everything and try to be perfect as he is perfect even thou my righteousness is as filthy rags.The issue of christian movies is a dodgy issue but I think it are capaticity to think and to experience life in a more fuller way that I have found to be helpful to me. Sometimes when giving things up, we think that you will not have the choice or you will cut yourself of from the culture but are we not to be living holy(Kadosh) Set Apart for him are maker.I need prayer for purity for the things that we get from of the highstreet and the surrounding areas and the internet. I guess my senses sometimes pick up things that some people do not pick up.I am just trying to note the effects on me and other people, I would have liked to have answered all the issues that have been raised in this post but for me personally I want to find more christians who do not and I am interested in even the small issues that you bring up.

I don't watch a lot of TV as such because there is a lot of rubbish on, like Big Brother, here in Australia where guys and girls pair off and it is basically a sex show, it breaks the 10 commandements and even then some... It is just trash.These are the only things i watch off TV:- Star Trek- Stargate SG-1 & Atlantis- Thunderbirds- JAG and the alike shows- M*A*S*H- News (sometimes)- Christian TV Channel, however some of their stuff apparently is biblically questionable- Documentaries (rarely)So basically i don't sit in front of the TV all the time. It doesn't worry me if i go for a week or two without watching TV.Cheers,Your Brother in ChristMichael H.

Tozer believed religous movies keep the heart from hearing and seeing the Spirit for onself. I know a lady who was saved (for real!!!! )watching the movie Jesus Christ Superstar. She saw her sins on the cross right there in the movie, and was totally broken. She surrendered her life to Christ. The depth of her faith ever since then has been amazing. If we are spiritually alert, we will see all kinds of divine messages relayed through movies. It may not be the intention of the movie producer, but God can superimpose his message anywhere he wants and any way he wants. He works to awaken the conscience. To God, using movies, etc, may get through better than any church could ever do. Once the Lord used the music of the Phantom of the Opera to show me that he wanted me to play my music for HIM (and not the crowds). It was a very genuine divine revelation. I obeyed (reluctantly) by preparing and playing a concert for an audience of one. God's presence was very real during that. One day I went to visit a friend and she INSISTED that I watch a nature show about birds. I was offended because I wanted to visit her, not watch TV. I had no choice, she was so insistant. I did not know that it was of the Lord, and he used one episode in it as a prophetic picture to reveal something very important. (too much to cover here)While we need to keep ourselves pure of the world, we also must remember that simply cutting out the pictures on the screen doesn't necessariy cut it. Because we need to be cleaned out of such things as fear of man, worry, materialism - all kinds of things in the heart. In fact, a movie may portray a character who has the same blind spots as us, through whom God may using us to bring conviction. I agree with Tozer in a sense that Christian movies can dilute or replace the power of the Spirit. They can also be too direct, and formula-istic, and portray the religous view point of the writer. But, for some a certain religous movie may "stike", even if it doesn't seem like much. I think Michael Moore's Farinheit911 and Bowling for Columbine has potential to bring deep conviction even if one feels he is not entirely accurate. Getting people to THINK, to quesition, to feel uncomfortable - that is what brings people to a step closer to God. And so, we need to be alert for the convicting voice of God - even where we least expect him. Edit: Most people don't go to church, but they watch TV. If they have a sensitive conscience, they may feel the conviction of such sins as racism, materialism, hypocrisy, dishonesty, dilsoyalty, etc etc in movies. Since I watch almost nil modern shows, I can't give too many examples. (not that there are many)Diane

I used to watch discovery channel and Home and Garden TV. I was starting to feel convicted about my time watching tv, not so much that what i was watching was bad, but that it was simply a waste of time. I don't watch any TV, but I am married to a TV addict!! Football, new, movies and everything in between. We have a sattelite dish and get probably 500 channels. I keep waiting on the Lord for the go ahead to throw the TV in the lake, but I don't think that will happen anytime soon. When I pray about it, the Lord just tells me to be an example and pray against this alter that my husband has set up in our home! I'd much rather do something drastic like cut the cord or smash it to a thousand pieces, but that won't work. Man's wrath never works to righteousness...I have to remember that!!

I don't watch any TV, but I am married to a TV addict!! Football, new, movies and everything in between. We have a sattelite dish and get probably 500 channels. I keep waiting on the Lord for the go ahead to throw the TV in the lake,I came across this poem if it is a poem? in a sermon by Moses Stoltzfus. The sermon is called Why I Don't Have A TelevisionThe StrangerAuthor unknownA few months before I was born my Dad met a stranger who was new to our small town. From the beginning Dad was fascinated with the enchanting newcomer and soon invited him to live with our family. The stranger was quickly accepted and was around to welcome me into the world a few months latter. As I grew up I never questioned his place in our family. Mom taught me to love the Word of God and Dad taught me to obey it, but the stranger was tour story teller. He could weave the most fascinating tales, adventure, mysteries, and comedies were daily conversations. He could hold our whole family spellbound for hours each evening and was a good to the whole family. He took Dad, Bill and me to our first major league baseball game. He was always encouraging us to see the movies and he even made arrangement to introduce us to several movie stars. The strange was an incessant talker. Dad did not seem to mind, but sometimes Mom would quietly get up while the rest of us were enthralled with one of the stories of faraway places go to her room and read her bible and pray. I wonder now if she ever prayed that the stranger would leave. You see my Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions but this stranger never felt an obligation to honor them. Prophanity for example was not allowed in our house not from us from our friend or adults. Our long time visitor however used occasional four letter words that burned my ears and Dad squirm. To my knowledge the stranger was never confronted. My Dad was a teetotaler who did not permit alcohol in his home not even for cooking. But the stranger felt like we needed exposure and enlightened us to other ways of life. He offered us beer and other alcoholic beverages often. He made cigarettes look tasty cigars manly and pipes distinguished. He talked freely much too freely about sex. His comments were sometimes blatant sometimes suggestive and generally embarrassing. I know now that my early concepts of the man woman relationship were influenced by the stranger. As I look back I believe that the stranger did not influence us more. Time after time he opposed the values of my parents. Yet he was seldom rebuked and never asked to leave. More than forty years have passed since the stranger moved in with the young family on morning side drive, But if I were to walk in my parents den today you would still see him over in the corner waiting for someone to listen to him talk and watch him draw his pictures. His name we always just called him T.V.

I'd much rather do something drastic like cut the cord or smash it to a thousand pieces, but that won't work. Man's wrath never works to righteousness...I have to remember that!!Tinluke, I've been there - when I was a teen, and my sister kept watching TV, I cut the cord. The results were not good. Now as an adult, she hardly ever watches TV. So, yes, let God deal with it. We can only control ourselves and our choices. When TV invades our home against our wishes, it can be a miserable existance. But it can't stop us from going on with God and finding joy in him. Perhaps it is a trial permitted in our lives to strengthen our endurance and determination to be faithful to God. May God be your greatest treasure. "Turn your eyes upon Jesus and the things of earth will grow strangely dim." (a song) ps Pray that the Lord will speak to your husband through what he watches. (It's happened before)I'm in the same boat as you are (in a sense), and believe me, I understand the frustration and the feeling of powerlessness over the problem of worldliness being brought into the home. Diane

last movie we saw was in 1994.(forrest gump)we do have videos but they are carefully selected. no t.v. at all. we do catch news online.

Concur; great takes!

i am not sure Passion of the Christ helped anyone.lifetime TV for women scares me allot, but i can understand the attraction of a network for women about abusive men.With the US administration so out of control and mum on real news, I think CSPAN is great.

Hi mloaks...!i am not sure Passion of the Christ helped anyone.I personally know of at least three unsaved people who were prompted to begin seeking God after having watched The Passion of the Christ. One of them was an assistant football coach at my school, who lived next door to me in the dorms. After watching the film, he told me that he could not sleep well for a couple of weeks. He could not shake the depiction of Christ suffering in his place as depicted in the movie. The film opened a door for him to begin asking questions. I explained the truth to him, including the discrepencies between the film and truth. He is now a believer, and he is seeking God diligently. In fact, during the summer, he asked me for a Strong's Concordance. He recently moved to another school, but he still calls for prayer and asks questions. :-)

- Stargate SG-1 & AtlantisI totally dig these shows :) I got rid of cable and my home internet. With my past porn and sexual addictions the last thing I needed in my house was "The Girls Next Door" on E! or any other show. I do miss my Stargate though :) I used to hate this conversation. Thought it belonged to the legalists.But it has helped my spiritual life and my marriage too. Plus I spend more time with my little girls.

Obviously, I am no preacher, but think will weigh in here...We have no tv so we cannot watch any programing. It is by choise we do not have one for reason mentioned on this thread. When my dad was in the hospital a few weeks ago we enjoyed watching the continous showing of Katrina's destruction. That was the first tv programing we watched in a long time.We do not attend theatres, either, unless you will consider the Imax which we did a few weeks ago when we visited the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI. While there our GD begged to go see "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory", which we all enjoyed. We have some videos and a few DVDs that we can view on this computer but nothing at present to view the videos. We do not have the time to watch this kind of stuff and I am not that anxious to get an instrument to make all this viewable for my grandchildren either. They need to learn to play with toys and not be entertained by a screen!!ginnyrose

I thoroughly plan on seeing "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe" :) And probably "King Kong". :) And when they eventually get around to making "The Hobbit"....

This is the big issue that we give up something we like rather that is pleasurable to us than something that is most disastrously a sin. When I gave up Television for me it was something I liked that I put to the cross and to me is only one of many issues in my life that need to be put to the cross.O God lead me to the crossI do believe that people can come through any means but if the people of god do not know there any bible god has spoken to me through the hamburgers stall at Mcdonalds and will use any means possible but disregarding his word to be entertained in the world this is a sin that I have been guilty of, I do not want any if or buts. Imagine if God did this to us if he died and rose again that we might live again so that we might live for a heavenly kingdom rather than an earthly one. I want to be wholeheartly live and die for him even thou I am a dismal failiure and I am!!I remember talking to my housemates telling them I am not watching television and saw their reaction, and how they hated the bible. If we are to be christians let us be wholly christians devoting are whole lives rather than just parts is are entertainment to short to lose to gain something alot better. I have not reached this yet and hope to gain and not get fat spending time polluting my mind. I am not perfect but this is all I have to say I want him to have the glory Jesus even thou as a christian I dismally fail caring for each other needs.

It was so neat to read the posts on this thread. I've wondered if there's anyone who doen't watch movies, etc. When I was 12 the Lord convicted me about the movies. We didn't watch bad ones, but somehow my heart felt as if I was choosing the good over the best - God's permisive will instead of His perfect will. (Somehow I felt less hungry for God, His Word, and just spending real time with Him.) Some people say that it's a matter of being weak or strong. Well, then I am weak ... hallelujah!! For in my weakness, HIS strength is made perfect.It has been a TRUE blessing to be free from all that. If only the time Christians watch movies (whether good or bad) was given to prayer and the study of God's Word...perhaps our world (and our land of America) would be different.I have pondered over the good of movies such as the Passion of the Christ and others, which I personally feel over emphasizes His physical suffering ... but His deepest suffering, grief, and agony was (at least this is how I believe) my sin, and His Father turning away His face from Him. I do believe that people have been saved, some have been healed, and lives changed. Some in Muslim and Hindu countries have heard of Christ through a movie and would not have heard of it otherwise. But I think A.W. Tozer is right in his book on the religious movie. I think how sad it is that people have to be reached through the movies because the lives of those who claim His name don't reveal HIM in such a way that the world is stunned and turned to hunger and thirst for Him by our lives.There have been times when I wish that God would just consume with fire every TV and movie somehow, but He has given men their choice. I really appreciated what someone said about movies molding us into what we are or movies being a reflection of what we are. I think that both are true.Well, I don't know if any of this makes sense, but I was encouraged and blessed by the testimonies and posts here as I have wondered if there was anyone else who doesn't watch TV, movies, etc. and do it just because they want to love the Lord with ALL their heart, mind, soul, and strength. So anyhow, I just want to thank you for seeking the Lord and His Kingdom first. Keep on keeping on and looking to Jesus!Phil. 3:7-14Hebrews 11-12

About twelve years ago, I had no fellowship with any Christians at all. This had gone on for fourteen years. At this time the Lord was bringing me out of this condition of bitterness towards Christians. Towards the end of this fourteen year period without fellowship, God started speaking to my heart again. At the end of this time, I was not doing a lot of worldly things that I had been delivered of years earlier, however, I had started watching a tv that was in the drivers room at a truck-stop. I lived in a truck and when the weekend came I had nothing to do so I ended up watching tv in this tv room. There were adult movies, violent movies, and movies that used a lot of profanity.As the Lord started dealing with my heart I became convicted of watching these movies and tv shows. It wasn't long that I had nothing to do with the trash any longer. I was brought to the place of choosing a time with Jesus or a time with the tv or movies. What I noticed was that I would be in the joy of the Lord then if I watched one of these shows I ended up being grieved. It made no sense to me to watch something for entertainment then end up being depressed after watching it. It was very obvious why these wicked shows would grieve me.One weekend there was a John Wayne movie that was going to be shown. I grew up with John Wayne movies and figured that this would be good entertainment that wouldn't harm me. When the movie was over that same feeling of grief came on me and I realized that even some of the stuff that seemed innocent to me really was not of God.How many tv shows or movies actually have spiritual values that edify the believer? On the other hand, how many tv shows or movies are nothing more than poison to a Christians spiritual life?In Christ,GaryE

"The good is the enemy of the best" Oswald Chambers

all4Christ wrote:But I think A.W. Tozer is right in his book on the religious movie. I think how sad it is that people have to be reached through the movies because the lives of those who claim His name don't reveal HIM in such a way that the world is stunned and turned to hunger and thirst for Him by our lives.Agree Whole Heartely!

I watch a bit of sport, but have to switch off the commercials these days. Even the news is designed to instil fear into people.

I struggle with lazyness, How many of you really need encouragement, I sometimes find it hard to communicate as everyone is watching television and my language and what I think about is completly different from what they think about. I find this language barrier really hard to deal with. I also want to break my laziness of staying in bed till the afternoon!!