The Telly: A Spiritual Health Hazard

Rev. Raymond O. Zorn. Trowel & Sword, June 1996

Preamble: Just under thirty years ago when this article was written, life was so much simpler than it is today. We only had the “evils of television” to worry about. Today we also have the internet, mobile phones and social media platforms multiplying rapidly. So while this article may seem somewhat outdated, the issues and problems that it raises are equally relevant when applied to today’s technologies. In fact, Prof. Zorn could not have imagined the extent to which technology has take over our lives, nor the effect it has had on our culture. Add to that the rapid development of artificial intelligence and one can only wonder, where (or when) will it all end?

The Telly: A Spiritual Health Hazard

The shortcomings of television have, over the years, been well-documented. That it encourages a passive, couch-potato mentality, treats subjects superficially, portrays a false sense of reality, is uncritically misused by the hour as a children’s baby-sitter and, worst of all, is too easily enjoyed even by adults whose critical perceptions have in the meantime all but disappeared, is virtually beyond dispute.

In addition to the above “health” hazards, however, TV too easily escapes detection as a spiritual health hazard for Christians. This is not to say that all TV viewing should be banned, which has been an extremist position adopted by some in the past but which has proved untenable – unless one refuses to have a TV set in the home and is able to keep the children from watching it on sets in the homes of other children the neighbourhood.

It should be recognised that the issue about watching TV is not just whether, instead of being a servant, it becomes a master. Nor is it that there is nothing worthwhile to watch on TV. In some instances, it can even serve a useful purpose, and these different levels of usefulness should be acknowledged and appreciated.

One useful purpose would be the viewing of news. While, admittedly, that offered by the local stations is often superficial and parochial (compare it for example with world news), getting the visible picture of TV is graphic if not powerful. Think of the plight of war victims, refugees, etc., which in being publicised by TV brought the refugees much needed relief aid.

Another level of usefulness would be the educational realm. “Sesame Street” for children has limitations with which parents by now are familiar. But there are travelogues, animal and nature studies, gardening tips, current affairs, etc., which increase the knowledge and understanding of the viewer.

A popular level of TV use is for sports. Those who like to be entertained in this way have a large variety from which they may make regular selections. The viewing of some forms of sports is perhaps questionable. Is the deliberate mayhem of boxing a sport? Do the frequent violent smashes which occur in auto racing make it a good sport to watch? Should the gambling associated with horse and dog racing be encouraged, even if only by viewing it on TV? However, sports-viewing is usually only a hazard when too much time is given to watching it. Like everything else in life, the exercise of self-control and moderation is necessary, especially in matters of entertainment and recreational pursuits.

Can the same be said for other forms of entertainment on TV? Here is where factors arise that need serious consideration. Not just the questionable pop psychology of some talk-back shows like “Oprah Winfrey” or the greed-promoting ones like “Sale of the Century”, even if the feelings of greed can only be satisfied vicariously. Matters are even more serious when it comes to virtually all “sit-coms”, for these shows uniformly present and promote a lifestyle that is inimical to that which should be the Christian’s.

The apostle Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world…” (Rom.12:2). If his original readers were in need of this warning, how much more this is true of the viewers of sit-coms. In many of these programs blasphemy (“My God” is one of the more milder but frequent epithets) is habitually used, vulgarity (think of the “Golden Girls” who one would think should know better) is promoted under the guise of comedy, immorality is worked out in fine detail (“L.A. Law” was particularly lawless in this regard, with its adultery, homosexuality, and shady ethics at the top of the list). The attack upon the family and its values is also a favourite target, a typical sit-com being, “Married With Children”, with its portrayal of father as a brainless oaf (or is it victim, one is never quite sure?), the wife as a brazen hussy, and the children as unruly, cheeky upstarts sadly in need of discipline.

More also needs to be said about a lifestyle in sit-coms that is commonly but unrealistically lavish. Money never seems to be an object of thrift nor is frugality even considered, let alone encouraged, as a virtue. Religion of course gets no mention, or where in rare cases it does, it is only the object of a joke or ridicule. Gambling, drinking, adultery, homosexuality, etc., seem to be part and parcel of most plots. Pervading the whole atmosphere of the presentation is humanism, with its teaching of man as basically good, independent and autonomous, free to do his own thing and not really in need of the restraints of discipline.

Oh, but someone may say, why be so critical? It’s only entertainment and therefore not to be taken seriously. Would that this were the case. Just one example proves the contrary, namely, marital break-ups, which were rare in the church a generation ago but which have become as much a problem in the church as in the world. The observation of the German philosopher, Feuerbach, aptly applies, “Man ist was man isst” (literally, “One is what one eats.”). In similar vein the English poet, Alexander Pope, pointed out, “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace” (from An Essay on Man).

It’s the old story of salt, instead of fulfilling its purpose of being salty, losing its saltiness and becoming worthless, as our Lord Himself reminds us (Matt.5:13). What our society so desperately needs today are Christians whose pattern of living is not shaped by the artificial and harmful reality of TV sit-coms but by the morality divinely prescribed in the Ten Commandments. Scripture warns, “Don’t be conformed”, because it’s an ever-present danger, and never more so than with the influential pressures of TV upon the lives of God’s people.

Are sit-coms without any merit whatsoever? One could hardly say this without first having sat through most if not all of them. Moreover, certain detective series (“Poirot”), and drama (“Shadowlands”), etc., might in a sense be classified with sit-coms, though in the former, the redress of wrong more than anything else is to the fore, while in the latter a true autobiographical story is portrayed. However, discerning viewing here is also required.

A good principle to be followed when watching sit-coms (whose specific aim is to depict, in some measure at least, a true to life situation) is, what if any is the moral basis of this program? Does it foster a morality in keeping with Christian principles, and if not, does make clear what the consequences are when these principles are violated? Or is its basis actually anti-Christian and the goals it portrays intended to magnify the humanistic spirit of arrogantly independent, seemingly self-sufficient man? If the latter is the case, such sit-coms should be avoided, not only for the sake of one’s Christian testimony, but because such are clearly a spiritual health hazard, not only to adults, but even more so to children and young people.

The secular and pluralistic spirit of our society has put TV beyond reformation in harmony with Christian standards, unless the Lord in his mercy sends revival to our society. Since this is true, it is also true that Scripture exhorts Christians not be conformed to the pattern of this world, not only for their spiritual health, but also that by their uncompromising lifestyle, they may be means that God is pleased to use for the conversion and transformation of increasing numbers in society.

Rev. Raymond O Zorn, Emeritus Principal and Professor, RTC. Geelong.

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