What The Bible Says
“What The Bible Says - Vol. 4 / No. 16”
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What The Bible Says
Vol. IV - No. 16 / January 2, 2022
IS TELEVISION SAFE TO WATCH?
This is a legitimate question in view of the facts: 1) Television has a definite influence. It is stated that "modern visual technology is now perhaps the single most influencial means of molding public opinion and changing moral values", and I am in total agreement. 2) Ninety-eight percent of homes have one or more television sets and DVRs. 3) The average child will have watched 21,000 hours of television by the time they graduate from high school. (Compare this to the 13,000 hours they are in school!)
Television is a CONSTANT form of advertisement. (Not just only when there are commercials.) Television promotes situation ethics, fornication and adultery, alcoholic lifestyles, humanistic values, and materialistic values. There is no denying that we buy the advertising because our nation has the highest percentage of divorce and violent crime of any other nation in the world, television keeps our society highly stimulated sexually, and television is the largest single cause for the rise of sexual promiscuity, pornography, homosexuality, unwed couples, marital infidelity, divorce, teen-age pregnancy, and venerial disease.
All these things being true, television has DESENSITIZED us morally and has contributed to the breakdown of the family. Programs that would have been turned off years ago are left on, and gradually we have become "hardened through the deceitfulness of sin" (Hebrews 3:13). Instead of being ASHAMED, BLUSHING, and being REPULSED, we have learned to "tune out" obscenities and profanity with our minds instead of the channel changer or the on-off switch. Most folks would not allow family members to use any type language and engage in indecent or violent acts in their home but still we sit and watch and listen to total strangers curse and commit almost every form of ungodliness on the TV screen! (Isn't that being hypocritical to say the least?) Anymore, being able to find a decent program or movie to watch is about as rare as thinking we can go to the garbage can and find something sweet to eat.
There are definite Bible principles we need to follow when viewing programs on television. We must deny "ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly" (Titus 2:11,12). We become like what we associate with. "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners".(1 Corinthians 15:33). We must guard our minds, for what we put into our minds is what we get out. "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Proverbs 4:23). We need to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8). Therefore, what we view on our television screen should help us to think on the right things.
—E.R. Hall, Jr.
COLLEGE PROFESSORS AND CHRISTIANITY
Have you ever wondered why there seems to be so few college professors that are Christians? The Bible gives us the answer …
Many college professors are like the Greeks of I Cor 1:22 who sought after the “wisdom” of men. God goes on to say in verse 26 that “not many wise men after the flesh” (college professors) “are called.” Then God gives us the answer to our question of why in verses 27-29. "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence." According to these verses, the reason not many of the so called intellectuals among us have obeyed the gospel is because God planned it that way! He chose a foolish thing in the eyes of the world (“the preaching of the cross” - verse 18) to save them that believe (verse 21). He did this so no one could glory in themselves (verse 29). The implication is that had God chosen a way for people to be saved that appealed to the intellectual (like working calculus problems), the intellectual would have bragged that his great intelligence brought about his salvation. So God chose something simple in the eyes of the world (preaching the cross), so "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (verse 31).
What about each one of us? Are we trusting in our own wisdom, or are we trusting in God's wisdom (His word)? We are trusting in our own wisdom any time we try to explain away the plain meaning of a verse. Are we doing the doing the will of the Father in heaven (Matt 7:21)?
—Patrick Donahue
BEFORE WE CRITICIZE...
There are times when mistakes are made and things need to be pointed out. And, unfortunately, we all know that offering criticism can sometimes make a bad situation even worse. Serious thought needs to go into what we will say. Maybe it would help if we would ask the following questions before offering criticism:
1. Why am I doing this? Do I really want to help this person, or am I just doing this to make myself feel better? Am I trying to improve the situation, or do I just want to say, "I told you so!"? What is my motive? "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil. 2:3-4). Regardless of what the world believes, we don't have the right to let off some steam at the expense of another. Criticism that is only going to make us feel better needs to be kept to ourselves.
2. Do I have a right to criticize? Was I available when this person could have used some help before? Can I sympathize with what they are going through? Can I offer some positive suggestions to go along with the criticism? Some people like to just sit on the sidelines and criticize the labors of others. Such people really have no right to criticize.
3. Have I examined myself? It is not right for me to give criticism that I am not willing to take. Jesus says that I must make sure that the log is out of my eye first, then I can offer to help my brother get the speck out of his eye (Matt. 7:3-5). Criticism is respected when it comes from a respectable person, but no one appreciates a hypocrite.
4. What will I say, and how will I say it? This is very important. I must choose my words very carefully. They have the power to build up or to destroy (Proverbs 12:18, 16:24). As Paul said, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6). What we say, and the way we say it, will make all the difference in the world.
5. Will it glorify God? “…Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor. 10:31). Who's glory am I seeking? Am I saying something to help the cause of Christ or just to be heard? If it is just to be seen and heard by men, then truly I have my reward (Matt. 6:1-6).
—Heath Rogers
WHO ARE WE?
The East Albertville church of Christ is not a part of any denomination (1 Cor. 1:10-13). We are simply a local body of Christians (1 Cor. 1:2) who meet together to worship the Lord (Acts 20:7) and do God’s work collectively (1 Tim. 5:16) through the use of funds donated on a free will basis by our own members each first day of the week (1 Cor. 16:1-2). We have no clergy (Matthew 23:8-12). We follow no human creeds or human doctrines (Rev. 22:18-19). We strive to give scriptural authority for all we believe, teach, and do (Col. 3:17). The worship is not according to human traditions (Matthew 15:7-9) but is in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23-24). Members of the church are expected to live holy lives (1 Pet. 1:15-16). Our one hope is a home in Heaven. (1 Pet. 1:3-5).
"What The Bible Says” is e-mailed twice a month. If you know of others who might benefit from the articles contained in this bulletin, we would be glad to have you submit their e-mail addresses and we will include them in the next mailing. If you are receiving this bulletin and do not wish to continue to do so, please e-mail us with your desire to be removed from the mailing list and you will be removed promptly. Continue to the bottom of this page for further instructions as to how you may contact us.
--- E.R. Hall, Jr.
SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
For The East Albertville Church Of Christ
meeting at
4777 U.S. Highway 431
Albertville, AL 35950
Sunday
Bible Classes …………..….…………… 9:30 AM
Morning Worship ……..…….….……… 10:30 AM
Evening Worship …………………........ 5:00 PM
Wednesday
Bible Classes …………..………........... 7:00 PM
Radio Program
Sunday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 8:30 AM
Monday - Saturday
WBSA 93.5 FM/1300 AM ………………………….. 11:15 AM
Website: www. EastAlbertville.org
