Faithful Friday - "Taking Control of the TV"

After today's Faithful Friday post, you may decide that we are a really strange, radical, or extreme family.  But that's okay.  Because in fact, I guess in many ways, we kind of are, especially when judged from any worldview other than a Biblical one. 

Today I'm sharing what's on my heart and if you do things differently, I want you to know that I'm not being judgemental.  I know every family's convictions are different.  I'm just sharing what's on my heart for our family.   This is just what we've found works for the well being of our family as a whole.  We haven't always been this way.  It's sort of come over time, especially as Hollywood's standards and morals have declined (and society's in general too).

We can't control what movies Hollywood puts out or what TV shows the networks air, but we can control what we allow into our home.  Over the years, we've filtered what types of movies/shows we watched but as time went on, we've found it more and more difficult to find appropriate ones.  Sometimes objectional material was just right-in-your-face, and then sometimes, and more often times, more subtle, but still not what we wanted coming into our kids' minds (or ours either).    After all, whatever you think on gradually becomes the accepted and normal. 

Five years ago, we cancelled our Direct TV leaving us with local channels only.  I thought we'd really miss it, especially me and my HGTV, but we didn't.  (Well Colt might disagree a little with that).  If we could have chosen three or four channels and pay for only those, we probably would have opted for that.  We've suggested that to the company, but so far Direct TV hasn't offered that option.

For awhile, we just rented movies (that met our approval), then we tried Sky Angel, but found there wasn't enough channels on it that we really watched to warrant that monthly expense either.  So...now we get one local channel (which we basically only watch when we need weather updates).  The extent of our movie watching consists of Netflix instant views and DVD mailings of our choice.  This has worked best for us, since we are in control of what comes into our home.

We have three TVs in our home - one in our living room (behind the doors of this cabinet)....

One in our bedroom (behind those doors)....

And Colt has one in his room.  Sorry no picture of that one....it was too dusty!  :)

But honestly, we don't even put that much importance on even DVD watching either.  Luke likes a few DVDs - Bob the Builder, Barney, and Caillou, which he watches off and on.  Through Netflix, we enjoy family movies, documentaries, inspirational, and educational movies.

Unforunately, we live in a  society where we are constantly confronted and even hammered with values and issues that we don't want in our lives.  As Christians, it is important that we take charge of what we allow in our homes.  After all, if we don't decide or define our bounderies and values that we desire for our family and home, we'll fall prey to what society calls "normal" and it will be decided for us.  As Christians, we aren't supposed to conform to this world, but are to be set apart.

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

1 Peter 3:15:  "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."


It's definitely not easy.  We have to be constantly on our toes. (At least that's how I feel).  We're always emailing or calling about issues that arise that AFA (American Family Association) calls to our attention concerning what's being aired on TV and flooding into our homes.  But it's worth the trouble and effort.  I pray for wisdom for our family and yours.  May we always strive to be set apart as Christian families living for the glory of God in all we do.

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If you have something you'd like to share for Faithful Fridays, please visit Joy's blog, Doodlebug, and let her know in a comment that you participated, so we can visit!  

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Have a great weekend!  :)