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Can a Christian Watch Tv and Movies?
Zac Poonen
0:00
0:00 9:28
Zac Poonen

Can a Christian Watch Tv and Movies?

Zac Poonen · 9:28

Zac Poonen emphasizes that true Christian living is guided by the Holy Spirit and spiritual life rather than strict adherence to rules regarding media consumption.
This sermon emphasizes that Jesus came to give us life, not just knowledge of good and evil. Those who have life will inherently know right from wrong, unlike those who rely on rules and regulations. Living by rules indicates spiritual death, while having life means being led by the Holy Spirit and not being under the law. The message highlights the importance of seeking life in the Holy Spirit to guide our actions and decisions, rather than relying on external laws and regulations.

Full Transcript

Jesus did not come to give us knowledge of good and evil. He came to give us life. And when you have life, that will always tell you what is right and wrong.

Otherwise we can have information in our head. See, many times in some of our conferences we have question and answer sessions. I find from the type of questions people ask, can a Christian do this? What is wrong in doing that? How much can we do this? What type of movies can we watch and we should not watch? That is like little children asking on a railway platform, how close can I stand to the edge of the platform when the train is coming in? Daddy, how close can I stand to the edge of the platform when this train is coming in? Three inches, six inches.

What will a sensible father say? Stay as far away as possible. But these people who ask, how much can I do without becoming worldly? They are not seeking for life. They are saying, how close can I go to the edge of the cliff without falling down? These are all babies.

Grown up people are not trying to find out how close to go to the edge of the cliff. So today we have a generation of Christians growing up saying, what is wrong with this, what is wrong with that? So today we have a generation of Christians growing up saying, what is wrong with this, what is wrong with that? They do not want life. They want some rules.

This man of God said, this thing is okay. So we can do it. They live by rules.

When you live by rules, it is a proof that you do not have life. It means you are in spiritual death. I will give you an example of this.

See, when people have leprosy, my wife used to work as a doctor for lepers and that is how I know something about it. And you know, when people have leprosy, they do not have sensation in their hands or feet or things like that. And so they can put their hand on a hot stove or something and do not feel anything.

You know, a burning hot stainless steel vessel. They do not feel anything because no sensation. Or a thorn can get into their foot.

They do not know anything. So we have to give them laws. Do not touch hot stoves, do not touch stoves without finding out if it is hot or cold.

When you see one stainless steel vessel in a kitchen, first find out if it is hot or cold, do not touch it. At night before you go to bed, look under your feet if there are any thorns there. So there are so many like that, many many rules we have to give because they have no sensation.

Do you need such a rule? Why? Do not you know you need a rule? Because as soon as you touch a hot steel plate, your hand will come off. Why? Because of some law? No, because you have life in your hand. When you have life, you do not need a law.

Why do you not have to check your feet at night if there are any thorns? Because if you walk somewhere and a thorn comes, immediately you will know because you have life. So where there is life, you do not need laws. But where there is no life, you need laws.

So when people have not come into the new covenant of life in the Holy Spirit, then you have to make laws for them. Like we make laws for children. Brush your teeth, change your underclothes, go and have a bath, finish your homework, eat the vegetables, so many laws.

Why is it grown up people do not need laws like that? Your father does not have to tell you now to brush your teeth. When we need laws, it is because we are babies. Or we do not have life.

That is the meaning of Galatians 5, verse 18. Galatians 5, 18. If you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law.

But if you are not led by the Holy Spirit, you do not seek to be filled with the Holy Spirit every day, then you need rules. Do not look at the cinema posters, do not go to the cinema theater, do not watch these television programs, you have to make a list of 30-40 television programs you should not watch. But one day they may add a new program which is not in that list, what do you do? Then you have to go to the man of God again and find out this new program, can I watch it or not? But when you have life, when you are watching something on television, the life inside will tell you, turn off that channel.

Just like if you touch a hot plate, immediately the whole life says, take your hand away. So, supposing you are on the computer and some pornographic channel comes up, immediately life will say, get away from there. Get up and run.

Or turn off the computer. Or change the channel. And if the computer is slow to change the channel, turn it off.

Sometimes computer takes some time to change the screen. 5-10 seconds. Pull out the plug, it will stop immediately.

Go straight and pull out the plug. Ok, 5 seconds is enough, let's see if it is less or not. When you touch a hot stove, you say, I'll just keep it for 5 seconds.

5 seconds is enough to burn your hand. And that's what happens. You watch this for 5 seconds on the computer screen.

It's burnt into your memory. And it will come out in your dreams. That's why you have those dirty sexual dreams.

Because you don't have life. You don't take out your hand immediately. And you don't even keep the law, which says, turn it off.

Sermon Outline

  1. I
    • Understanding the purpose of Jesus' coming
    • The difference between knowledge and life
    • The danger of living by rules
  2. II
    • Spiritual maturity vs. spiritual infancy
    • The analogy of leprosy and sensation
    • The necessity of laws for those without life
  3. III
    • The role of the Holy Spirit in guiding behavior
    • The inadequacy of rules without spiritual life
    • Practical examples of discerning right from wrong
  4. IV
    • The consequences of exposure to harmful media
    • Immediate reactions to temptation
    • The importance of acting swiftly against sin

Key Quotes

“When you have life, you do not need a law.” — Zac Poonen
“Where there is life, you do not need laws.” — Zac Poonen
“If you are led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the law.” — Zac Poonen

Application Points

  • Seek to cultivate a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit to guide your choices.
  • Avoid relying on lists of rules; instead, develop spiritual sensitivity to discern right from wrong.
  • Act quickly to remove yourself from tempting situations, just as you would pull your hand away from a hot stove.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Christians watch any movies or TV shows?
Christians should seek life through the Holy Spirit, which will guide them in discerning what to watch.
What does it mean to live by rules?
Living by rules indicates a lack of spiritual life and maturity, as it reflects a reliance on external guidelines rather than internal guidance.
How can I avoid temptation when watching TV?
When you have spiritual life, you will instinctively know to turn off or avoid harmful content.
What is the significance of Galatians 5:18?
Galatians 5:18 emphasizes that being led by the Holy Spirit frees one from the need for laws.

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