Scripture Warnings that Apply to Television Viewing
The following Scripture passages have a direct application to this issue and are a loud warning to those who have ears to hear. Parents need to teach their children these scriptural principles and guide them in learning how to apply them to their daily lives. It is not enough to have a list of do’s and don’ts.
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me (Tehelliym 101:3).
This verse single-handedly forbids a child of The Most High to watch the vast majority of the movies and television programs that are made today. Consider just a few of the wicked things that you or your children will see:
* The breaking of Torah (every show on tv)
* Flaunted boastful immorality
*Constant drinking and drug usage (validated and promoted)
* Drunkenness and lewdness portrayed as humorous
* Sexually alluring fashions
* Sexually enticing dancing
* Violence and mayhem
* Casual dating and petting (Parents, do you want your children to date after the fashion portrayed in most movies and television programs?)
* Mockery of the things of YAHUAH
* Mockery of The Children of the Most High
* Pagan religions depicted as absolute truth
* Situational ethics
* Occultism, paganism, humanism, evolution, and New Age error (even in cartoons and in a large number of Disney movies)
I cut a covenant with my eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of ALUAH is there from above? and what inheritance of AL SHADDAI from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Does not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot has hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that ALUAH may know my integrity. IYOV (JOB) 31:1-6 אתCEPHER
This verse is similar to the one in Psalms 101:3, but it warns more specifically about looking upon women to lust after them. The King says this in the Besorah “But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matt 5:28). These verses are solemn warnings to men and boys NOT to watch Hollywood movies, whether in the theater or at home. In public, most men will not stare at a woman very long because he is self-conscious about doing that, but when he is watching a movie he can ogle an indecently-clad female, even if his wife is sitting by his side. Many years ago a preacher friend asked me this, “Why do you think so many pastors are committing adultery?” My complex one-word reply: “Television.”
“But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes the qodeshiym; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of MASHIACH and of YAHUAH. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things comes the wrath of YAH upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were in time past darkness, but now are ye light in YAHUAH: walk as children of light: EPH'SIYM (EPHESIANS) 5:3-8 את
This is an accurate description of the vast majority of Hollywood productions today. It also describes the dark magick music industry that goes hand in hand with practically all of today’s movies. The child of Abba is not to participate in such things, even by proxy.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; QOLASIYM (COLOSSIANS) 3:8-9 את
Not only is it dangerous to watch evil things but it is equally dangerous to hear evil things. We are to be responsible stewards of the temple and guard the gates in which these things are granted or denied entry. There are occasions in this wicked world in which we do not have control over what we see and hear, but when we are in our homes, we do have control. And we do have control over where we go and what we do with our own time. Television programs and movies are literally filled with unholy wretched abominable speech, with the things specifically and solemnly forbidden in Colossians. The ear is a gate to the heart and determines how we live. Proverbs warns, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The very first thing that is mentioned in that connection is to“put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee” !
Movies and television programs are steeped with the things that Colossians 3:8 instruct us not to do. Yet we actually pay to have people entertain us in sin.
A few years ago Calvary Contender reported:
“Foul language, including curses, offensive epithets, scatological language, sexually suggestive or indecent language, and censored language increased by 94.8 percent during the Family Hour between 1998 and 2002” (Calvary Contender, Dec. 2003).
Foul language on television has exponentially increased since 2002.
And YAHUAH saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 6:5 את CEPHER
“Because that, when they knew YAHUAH, they glorified him not as YAHUAH, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible YAH into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore YAHUAH also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 1:21-24 את
“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through YAH to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of YAH, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of MASHIACH; QORINTIYM SHENIY (2 CORINTHIANS) 10:4-5 את CEPHER
The Word of ALAHIYM warns the believer to cast down every evil imagination, because the imagination is the battle ground for the soul. Proverbs 23:7 says, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” The imagination can go from bad to worse. The flesh is never ever satisfied. Sin, which began in such a “small” way in the days of A’dam, had so permeated man’s mind by the days of A’dam’s great grandson Noach that man’s thoughts were “only evil continually.” That describes multitudes in our day, which is not surprising in that YAHUAH warned, “But as the days of Noach were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be” Matt 24:37
In The Epistle of the Romaiym, Pa’al tells us that the imagination plays a great role in the downward spiral that results in homosexuality and other moral perversions. It is impossible to have freedom from the bondage of sin, if one allows the imagination to dwell upon evil things. It is not difficult in this connection to see the danger of television programs, music and movies, and to see the role they have played in the moral downfall of modern society. They fill the imagination with vivid images that linger and that return even if not purposefully encouraged. They feed the fleshly nature, but it is never satisfied and it only desires more sensuality, more excitement, more exposure of flesh, more, more, more, and is thus led ever deeper into moral perversion. The real “Deep State” is in every living room in America
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of MASHIACH; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by YAHUSHA HA'MASHIACH, unto the glory and praise of YAHUAH. PHILIPPIYM (PHILIPPIANS) 1:9-11 את CEPHER
This passage teaches the child of The Most High to choose the most excellent things in life, not those things that are borderline and questionable. It teaches him to be without offence before YAHUAH. The believer should ask himself, “Would I be embarrassed for Ha’Mashiach to walk and find me doing this thing?” We are to be filled with the fruits of righteousness, and that means we have to be emptied of the fruits of the flesh and the world. The child of The Most High has two natures, the old and the new, and the one he feeds is the one that will dominate his life.
And he that doubts is damned if he eat, because he eats not of belief: for whatsoever is not of belief is sin. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 14:23 את CEPHER
This verse warns the child of The Most High not to participate in anything that is questionable. If you cannot say for sure that something is His perfect will, if it creates doubts, you should 💯 avoid it.
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. TASLONIQIYM RI'SHON (1 THESSALONIANS) 5:21-22 את CEPHER
Not only are we to abstain from evil itself but even from the appearance of evil. Attending the movie theater today has, at best, an appearance of evil, because the vast majority of the movies shown there are morally vile. The same is true for watching most Hollywood movies at home. If our friends see that we watch questionable movies, they will be encouraged to watch them as well, and they that are lack in discernment will almost assuredly, not even be as “discriminating” as we are. He who has eyes, let him see.
Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. ... It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor anything whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 14:19,21 את CEPHER
Even if I could go to a movie theater and see a movie that was 100% wholesome by scriptural standards and not see any movie trailers for wicked movies, I would still be giving a bad example to others. If I go to watch a G-rated movie, I might encourage others to go and watch an R-rated one and thus sin against YAHUAH. The same is true for what I watch in the home. Can u say stumbling block?
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; TIMOTHEUS RI'SHON (1 TIMOTHY) 4:2 את CEPHER
The conscience is a tender thing. It can easily be hardened by unrepentant exposure to evil. This is why television programs and movies have gotten ever more wicked with each passing decade. If one of today’s PG-13 movies had been shown on television 40 years ago, it would have been condemned broadly even by many unbelievers. The same is true for the wickedness and debauchery in our music. Eminem or Marilyn Manson would not have been allowed on the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s, but there has been a steady searing of the conscience by exposure to the ever increasing moral vileness of the entertainment industry. When true believers allow themselves to watch programs and movies that they know are wrong, the conscience becomes seared so that eventually they can watch things without so much as a twinge of conscience that once would have shocked them deeply. (Apostasy,reprobate)
For I know him, that he will command את eth-his children and את eth-his household after him, and they shall guard the Way of YAHUAH, to do justice and judgment; that YAHUAH may bring upon Avraham את eth that which he has spoken of him. BERE'SHIYTH (GENESIS) 18:19 את CEPHER
YAHUAH commended Avraham because he would command his children to keep the way of ALAHIYM. Every parent needs to take this to heart. Contrary to the tenets of modern psychology and pop child training philosophy, parents are responsible to command their children and to show them the right way in life. Love is the key to making this work, of course. Faith, Hope, and love, but the greatest of these is LOVE. The father is accountable before Yah to be the righteous head of the home and to oversee all things under The headship of Ha’Mashiach . The mother is responsible to work alongside the father as his “helpmeet” in the home, and should never be guilty of undermining (usurping authority) any holy thing that the father wants to accomplish. Each believing father and mother will stand before YAHUAH and give account for how he or she lived in the home and how they raised their children. How wonderful it will be to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Father” (Matt. 25:23).
Nothing this world has to offer is worth losing your place in the Lambs book of Life. I truly believe no one desires to hear these words: I know he not, depart from me, ye that partake in iniquity.
There is an axiom that what parents allow in moderation, the children follow to excess. If parents are even a little careless about what television programs and Hollywood movies they watch, the children will, without question, move much farther into the realm of moral temptation.
The Deceptive Rating System
In the United States and many other countries, movies and television programs are rated by content; many so-called “Believers” parents use the rating system, but it is an unwise and unspiritual standard.
In America, the movies are rated by the Motion Picture Association of America as follows:
G- General Audiences
PG- Parental Guidance Suggested
PG-13- Parents Strongly Cautioned
R- Restricted - No children under 17
NC-17 - No one 17 or Under Admitted
The television ratings are similar, as follows:
TV-Y - Directed at young children; appropriate for all children
TV-Y7 - Directed to children 7 and older
TV-Y7-FV - Directed to children 7 and older with more violent content; e.g. Power Rangers
TV-G - General audiences; deemed appropriate for all ages.
TV-PG - Parental guidance suggested (may have “suggestive dialogue, mild coarse language, sexual situations, moderate violence”)
TV-14 - Recommended for people 14 or older (may have “highly suggestive dialogue, strong coarse language, intense sexual situations, intense violence”)
TV-MA - intended for mature audiences
The problem with the ratings is that they are invented by men and women who are not measuring the programming against Torah. Instead, they are applying humanistic standards.
When measured against the precepts in the scripture, even nearly all G-rated movies and television programs are not wholesome. They flaunt immodest and unisex fashions that influence children. Child actors are often depicted in a favorable light while being disrespectful to parents and elders. It is supposed to be “cute” and entertaining, but this type of thing influences children and has degraded society.
Beyond this, a great many G-rated and children’s programs are steeped in occultism, New Age, unholy fantasy, evolution, narcissism, mockery of holy things, malevolence and pushing the envelope of childhood innocence.
Disney is grossly, by far, one of the worst offenders. The author of the book entitled “The Gospel According to Disney” observed that Walt Disney preached a religious message through his cartoon characters, a message that “faith is an essential element--faith in yourself, and even more, faith in something greater than yourself, even if it is some vague, nonsectarian higher power” (Mark Pinsky, “Finding faith in the house of the mouse,” The Washington Post, Aug. 14, 2004, p. B7).
Disney’s animated classics are filled with pagan images and things strongly denounced by the Scriptures, such as witches and demons, sorcerers and spells, genies and goblins. Like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, the Disney cartoons present the damnable concept that there is good and bad magic. Disney often depicts witches and sorcerers as likeable heroes.
The 1940 animated movie Pinocchio depicted a man who brings a puppet to life by wishing upon a star; the puppet is subsequently visited by a Blue Fairy who advises, “Let your conscience be your guide.” The Disney fairy also preaches a works gospel that “the gift of life” is attained by “choosing right from wrong.” The fairy is attractive and likeable, but a false Besorah is cursed of Yah .
I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of MASHIACH unto another Besorah: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the Besorah of MASHIACH. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Besorah unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Besorah unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. GALATIYM (GALATIANS) 1:6-9
The Word warns that Satan appears as an angel of light in order to deceive people in 2nd Corinthians.
Very few entertainment productions continue to have as profound an impact on young children as Disney’s animated features and millions of children around the world know from Disney much of what they do about the practical application of right and wrong.
Some years back the Southern Baptist Convention called for a boycott of Disney, but that boycott was based on newer, more morally edgy Disney productions and ignored the false New Age gospel preached through Disney’s earlier movies, movies that are found in most Southern Baptist homes in the land!
When Disneyland opened in 1954, Time magazine featured Walt Disney on its cover and called him “the poet of the new American humanism.”
Even many of the old Western movies are indecent when weighed by scriptural standards. The women typically wear tight, revealing clothing. The likeable heroes drink and gamble and are irreligious. Immoral bargirls are portrayed as innocent, good-hearted people, the salt of the earth, while Yah-fearing Believers are depicted as weak hypocrites and fools.
The Andy Griffith Show is one of the most wholesome shows that has ever been produced for television, at least the early black and white programs. It teaches some basic moral lessons and presents wholesome marriage relationships. But consider the worldview. One reader who responded to our survey wrote,
“Not too long ago I realized that even the so called moral programming I watched as a child (such as Little House on the Prairie, Andy Griffin, etc.) portrayed a good life without salvation. Never once did I ever hear the Gospel and it was assumed that everyone went to Heaven.”
We must not forget that moralism is not the gospel of Yahusha Ha’Mashiach , that people don’t go to heaven because they are “good.” Even “Otis,” the town drunk, was depicted as a really nice guy who would clearly go to heaven if such a place existed. Andy certainly never quoted that the word says “drunkards shall not inherit the kingdom of Heaven.”
And we should make certain that our children do not become Andy Griffith/Ole Yeller experts, that they spend more time hearing the Word than immersed even in so-called “innocent” entertainment. They should know more about the Scriptures and truly profitable things in life than they do about some shallow Hollywood program.
Consider another “innocent” G-rated program, The Cosby Show. Unlike most other television series today, Cosby depicted an intact family, with a man and a woman living together that were actually married! But the fashions and attitudes and philosophy are not wholesome from a scriptural perspective. A love for worldy music is one of the show’s themes. One of the Cosby programs dealt with the subject of whether one of the teenage daughters should have pre-marital sex, and the advice was merely to wait until she was “ready” and “in love.” These programs have a powerful effect on young people because the actors are so likeable and believable. And because they are so much more decent than the average television fare, they seem wholesome by comparison, and parents let down their guards.
When it comes to the PG rating, even the secular reviewers deem “parental guidance” to be necessary with these particular programs and movies, which should be a loud warning to the people of Yah.
Consider “Monk,” one of the seemingly less evil shows. This PG-rated program features the exploits of a psychologically damaged police detective. Though it is less offensive than most TV offerings, “Monk” is far from innocent. The women are dressed very provocatively and the program is literally filled with exclamations of “Oh My God” and other profanities. The philosophy is anti-scriptural and anti-Mashiach. It promotes the popular myths of humanistic psychology, operates in a culture largely devoid of thoughts about Yahusha and eternity, and when ALAHIYM is mentioned it is either to profane His name, to debunk the miraculous, to mock religion, or to promote the paganistic gnostic view of Catholicism.
This example is sadly about the best that Hollywood has to offer, and it is typical PG fare.
The situation comedies are almost universally designed to brainwash the audience toward moral relativity. As Ken Matto observes in his report entitled “The Dangers of Television”:
“Television programs are designed with the purpose of reprogramming your mind by breaking down your defenses so you will accept a lie as truth. Many of the anti-Believer and immoral precepts are bellowed forth in situation comedies. They get you to laugh, then they put forth their principles and you have accepted their teachings without reservation. This is why much reprogramming is done through comedy.”
As for PG-13, even pagans recognize that great moral dangers lurk there and that the line between PG-13 and R is effectively non-existent.
USA Today published an article entitled “PG-13 can lull folks with false security.” It is a warning about the filthiness of PG-13 movies by a humanistic secular newspaper! The article contains the following important statement:
“PG-13 was designed, I believe, to apply the friendly PG symbol to movies that have no business even being considered for viewing by most young teenagers and preteens. The age of assignment for the rating is deceptive, and it lulls parents into a false sense of security” (Joe Zanger, editor of PG-14, USA Today, Nov. 22, 1999, p. 2D).
This is an important warning. The article also states that there is often no difference between PG-13 and R-rated movies, and even when there is a difference, it is only minor. Both types of movies routinely contain nudity, immorality, gratuitous and graphic violence, and foul language. From the standpoint of a Follower who wants to obey the call to holiness, there is no real difference. Immodesty is immodesty. Cursing is cursing. Blasphemy is blasphemy. Extramarital sex is extramarital sex. If one movie contains a little less of these things than another, that does not make either movie acceptable before YAHUAH.
The ratings have become more lenient with the passing of years. Movies that would have been rated R a few years ago are routinely rated PG-13 today. Further, the category of NC-17 (meaning no one under 17 may be admitted) has been added to replace the old filthy X rating. There is a Satanic agenda to put increasingly more godless content into increasingly more widely distributed movies.
Also noted in the USA Today article is the fact that many directors and producers actually want their movies to be rated PG-13 today, as opposed to an R rating or a PG rating. This is because young people are admitted to the PG-13 movies as opposed to the R or restricted movies and they consider them more desirable and grownup than PG movies. PG-13 movies are raking in huge receipts at the box office. Of the top 21 films that have grossed more than $200 million, 13 are PG-13, while only three are PG, two are G, and three are R.
If secular people can see the danger of PG-13 movies, why can’t we, are we Yah’s people! We must understand that the Hollywood-New York entertainment business is not now and never has been the friend of Torah and righteousness. From their inception, motion pictures and television have pushed the boundaries of morality in society increasingly farther from the standard of The Word. Yet more members of so-called Scripture -believing churches watch unwholesome television and movies today than ever, and there is less plain preaching on this matter today than ever.
We must remember that the movie and television ratings systems were not devised by godly people who are committed to obeying the Bible, but by secular people who are controlled by the philosophy of this world. In reality, ungodly movies are not wholesome fare for children, young people, OR for adults. PG-13 things such as nudity and foul language are not acceptable before Yahuah for adults any more than for young people.
Like the frog in the gradually-heating pot, Believers who are careless about separating from Hollywood’s filthy fare become desensitized by it.
The following are typical quotations from reviews of PG-13 movies by professional secular critics:
A CHEF IN LOVE -- PG-13 “violence, rape, sex, nudity, profanity -- it’s pretty raunchy”
MEN IN BLACK -- PG-13 “violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity”
ANACONDA -- PG-13 “violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, sex, nudity”
BIRD ON A WIRE -- PG-13 “considerable mayhem, as well as sex, profanity and some nudity”
BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY -- PG-13 “sadistic, graphic violence, as well as sex, profanity, vulgarity and some partial nudity”
CLUELESS -- PG-13 “violence, vulgarity, profanity and drugs … the film’s cavalier suggestions that casual sex is perfectly acceptable for 15-year-olds
PARENTHOOD -- PG-13 sex, “profanity, vulgarity, raunchy … Some of the material is so adult that an R rating doesn’t seem unreasonable”
RESCUE ME -- “is rated PG-13 but has an awful lot of R-rated material, including violence, profanity, sex and nudity”
Signs of Television Addiction
The Word also says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. ROMAIYM (ROMANS) 6:6
Multitudes of professing Believers today are enslaved to television and movies.
A few of The following signs of enslavement is listed as such:
(1) You actually enjoy the sinful scenes on the show.
(2) You consistently eat your dinner in front of the TV.
(3) You willfully neglect your spouse or family for a TV show.
(4) You look forward to a TV show much more than seeking first his kingdom and service.
(5) You defile the Shabbat with debaucherous television programs
(6) Your conversation is replete with TV reviews and anecdotes. Your actor idols as well.
(7) TV replaces your Scripture reading or devotion time.
(8) The family altar has been replaced by a TV program.
(9) You know more about TV than Scripture.
(10) You meditate more about things on TV than about Mashiach and His will for your life.
(11) You begin to start empathizing (emulating even)with the characters the actors (liars) are portraying.
(12) You rush home so you will not miss a program.
(13) You watch TV late into the night consistently.
(14) When company visits, the TV remains on.
(15) You turn the TV on the moment you enter a room.
(16) The TV is on when you are doing your chores.
(17) You do not want people to visit when your programs are scheduled to come on, and when people do visit, you wish they would leave so you could watch your programs.
(18) You laugh at the very sins which sent Yahusha Ha’Mashiach to the cross.
(19) You continue to watch even when your fathers name is used in vain.
(20) You have every premium cable channel like HBO, Cinemax, etc.
(21) You begin to adopt ideas and attitudes contrary to Scripture.
(22) You find more pleasure watching TV than being with the people of YAHUAH.