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TV is our household god!

Discussion in 'Travel Forum' started by procyon, Dec 5, 2005.

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  1. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    So, procyon, what evidence is there in Ezekiel 14 or the surrounding passages that these idols of/in the heart are anything different from what the typical person thinks of when he hears the word "idol?" Why can not these idols simply be Baal or Ashtoreth or the other idols worshipped by backsliden Israel?

    In Ezek. 6, the idols are clearly "images." In Ezek. 20 it is the "idols of Egypt," clearly false gods. In ch. 23 it is the idols of Assyria, and so on. So how can the idols in ch. 14 be anything but the false gods of the heathen?

    I see no evidence yet that people worship TV. It can be used to waste time, show immorality, teach bad doctrine, etc. But no one worships it as an idol.
     
    #21 John of Japan, Dec 9, 2005
  2. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    JohnoJapan, Ezek 14.3 is talking about idols in our hearts. The focus is on the heart. Idolatry was such a big problem that the prophets continually inveighed against it! Check out Hosea, Ezekiel, etc. When we come to the New Testament, Paul says, Flee idolatry, 1 Cor 10.14; and John says, Little children, guard yourselves from idols, 1 John 5.21. The warnings to the churches are to believers [born of the Spirit]. It is quite obvious that spiritual idolatry is one of the greatest sins in America - and that can be exemplified in i. love of pleasure; ii. love of food [their god is their belly]; iii. love of sports [we have a sports forum right here in baptistboard]; iv. love of TV-watching [and Internet-surfing]; iv. hero-worship; v. following vain customs and traditions [check out Ezekiel 8 to recognize some of those vain traditions!]. A lot of evangelical worship in America is Baal-worship; they go to church to 'please themselves'. They please themselves at home, they please themselves at church; self-gratification is their biggest sin. Lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes - and all that can be had on modern television. No wonder the next generation [youth] live only for their bodies, having totally killed the spirit within them. When will a prophet rise up to show us the wickedness of our own heart [Jer 17.9]
     
    #22 procyon, Dec 12, 2005
  3. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Procyon, we are going to have to agree to disagree on this. I believe only in literal (grammatical-historical) interpretation of the Bible, but you evidently (correct me if I am wrong) believe in allegorical interpretation and "spiritualizing" the Bible. So we will never be able to come to a middle ground on the subject of idolatry.

    God bless. [​IMG]
     
    #23 John of Japan, Dec 13, 2005
  4. Songbird

    Songbird New Member

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    This thread has taken a tone of a debate. I don't think it belongs in this forum.
     
    #24 Songbird, Dec 13, 2005
  5. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Actually, it kind of had the tone of a debate from the start, Songbird. I am bowing out before I make it more of a debate--as is my nature, unfortunately. [​IMG]
     
    #25 John of Japan, Dec 13, 2005
  6. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    "I believe only in literal (grammatical-historical) interpretation of the Bible" Johno'Japan.

    If we are born again, our eyes will be opened, the Spirit of God will show us what is of the flesh and what is of the Spirit, what is of the world and what is of God's kingdom, what is idolatry of the heart, what is of the 'self', etc. May our eyes be opened to the amazing truths revealed in God's word - and may we not be blinkered by various interpretations of the Bible!

    I certainly am not 'spiritualizing', nor 'allegorizing'. I am just living by God's word, Matt 4.4, and hearing God's word can be a wonderful experience, Rom 10.17
     
    #26 procyon, Dec 15, 2005
  7. John of Japan

    John of Japan Well-Known Member
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    Thanks for the clarification. God bless.
     
    #27 John of Japan, Dec 15, 2005
  8. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    John, thanks. Suggest you read the Life of Charles Cowman, missionary to Japan. And the books of his wife, Mrs Charles Cowman. They will surely help you in Japan.

    God bless.
     
    #28 procyon, Dec 16, 2005
  9. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    Procyon: //I junked my TV more than 3 years ago, and I felt 'liberated'.//

    I didn't use TV from 1961 through 1975. When you hit 14 years
    of no-TV please check back in with us. BTW, we didn't have
    computer monitors back then (in homes) which is a form of
    TV which many workship. Real Christians probably don't let
    the internet/TV corrupt their testimony.

    I missed nearly the whole Vietnam era TV - what did I miss?
     
    #29 Ed Edwards, Dec 17, 2005
  10. Paul of Eugene

    Paul of Eugene New Member

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    Hmmmm - Gilligan's Isle?

    There is a fundamental difference between the cmputer and TV. TV is totally passive. With the computer and the internet, there is interaction, the mind is involved, not just zoned out.
     
    #30 Paul of Eugene, Dec 17, 2005
  11. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    TV began to attract when it became color TV. It became a greater source of attraction with multiple bands and then cable TV. I don't think we miss anything in life by not having a TV in our home. Unless, of course, you crave for the artificial excitement, a kind of 'fever' introduced to the viewers by glib TV show artistes and presenters. The worst thing is to see little children hooked to the TV and becoming addicts! :( Yes, the TV is a household god, worshipped by husbands [sports], wives [romance], children [cartoons]...And now you have AXN and extreme TV!!! :mad: and FashionTV which is a kind of pornography! :eek: [Note: This is from an Asian perspective!] :rolleyes:
     
    #31 procyon, Dec 17, 2005
  12. gb93433

    gb93433 Active Member
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    That is certainly not what I have seen among college students.
     
    #32 gb93433, Dec 17, 2005
  13. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    There are now two household gods: the TV and the Internet. [​IMG] [​IMG]
     
    #33 procyon, Dec 17, 2005
  14. computerjunkie

    computerjunkie New Member

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    While some may think doing away with their TV is liberating, I haven't seen anyone reference this:

    "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires."
    Gal. 5:22-24

    Through the Holy Spirit, we do have some measure of self-control over what we do.
     
    #34 computerjunkie, Dec 17, 2005
  15. Bro. James

    Bro. James Well-Known Member
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    We can also take our gods with us to the malls to use our god called: Mastercard.

    Selah,

    Bro. James
     
    #35 Bro. James, Dec 17, 2005
  16. Ed Edwards

    Ed Edwards <img src=/Ed.gif>

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    The two prongs on the same fork
    have a fundamental difference also: one
    is left oriented and one is right oriented.
    But still, both prongs belong to the fork.

    BTW, most mindless violence games can be
    played on the TV also. They require lots
    of hand/mind co-ordinations, but i wouldn't
    call the part of the mind involved the part
    a Chrisitan wants to be developing.

    The only place the regular TV is appropriate
    is in geriatric centers. Oops, maybe not,
    my wife says that the citizens of the
    geratric centers are likely to confuse the
    TV programs with reality.
     
    #36 Ed Edwards, Dec 17, 2005
  17. procyon

    procyon New Member

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    I would like all the readers of this thread to list out their household gods. I find that
    1. Yes, the TV is the #1 household god. Some families spend at least 3 hours worshipping it every day.
    2. The Internet [computer with broadband] is a close second. More and more surfers are entering the Internet, and chat-addiction and porn-addiction is increasing.
    3. A small teraphim [household god] is the ubiquitous cell-phone that has captured the hearts of young people through sms, etc.
    4. I-pods, discmans, etc are also some tiny gods that have a powerful hold over all kinds of people.
    5. Can you add any more?

    [​IMG] :cool: [​IMG]
     
    #37 procyon, Dec 18, 2005
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