Begin with the End in Mind

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TV today is challenging to discern.

In our "Fellowship Breakers" series at church we've looked at issues that tend to break fellowship among believers. Included were pride, gossip, and anger. Ironically, watching 3 back-to-back episodes of Community had glorified each of these.

At first glance we can watch and say, "This is unwholesome, I'm going to turn this off." And that's fair, if that's what you're going to leave with.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. - Ephesians 4:29

I find that the first half of any TV show, no matter how funny it is, is always worse than the second half. The reason being because the character has not learned his or her "lesson" yet. They are still gossiping, still angry, still proud in the first and even second act.

Actually it isn't until the third or final act when we see them turn over a new leaf or changed their perspective for the better. Sometimes. The character is better than when he started. She learned something that she can pass onto others.

This is why engaging with television takes more discernment than simply "I think this is good, let's watch this." The bigger challenge is figuring out what you are walking away with after a 22-minute investment.

If the show has no redeeming attributes, and has a consistent pattern of going deeper in its depravity, those are obvious red flags.

TV today is challenging to discern, because it requires you keeping your brain on for more than just the first five minutes.