The modern day television is a remarkable tool. In many households it is
turned on when the first person wakes up, and then turned off when the last
person goes to bed. And in some cases turned on in the bedroom. As a kid, I
had a TV in my room, my grandparents got me when I was six and sick. My whole
world revolved around my friends on it, spending more waking hours in front of
it than with my family. Maybe by design as a favor to them. But TV was our
friend, and with the three network channels, and three local stations, you had
limited choice. Kids shows were mostly on the local channels, while soap operas
filled the daytime line up for housewives. But at night, it was all about prime
time, and the talk the next day was catching up on your favorite show. In this
pre-VCR world, you had the choice of watching what your parents wanted to, or
not watch at all, reflecting in the next day’s conversation at school. A
typical week in 1969 would have you watching Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in, you
didn’t want to miss the newest joke or saying Tuesday morning. No Monday Night
Football yet, that was a Sunday only treat. Tuesday we could watch The Mod
Squad-not at my house, or Red Skelton-whatever happened to great comedy? And if
staying up late, Marcus Welby, where the future Mr. Barbra Streisand rode a
Triumph. Wednesday night it was Medical Center and the real Hawaii Five-O, or
in the cool households, Then Came Bronson-no motorcycles in my parents home,
that degradation was still a few years off. Thursday was Daniel Boone, and
Dragnet. Still can’t explain how someone so monotone as Jack Webb could be so
entertaining, but it was, and still is today. Friday nights, before dating was
Hogan’s Heroes, and I always wondered how WWII vets felt about that show, comic
relief of something that horrible-but at least we won! And staying up late for
various old movies like Million Dollar Movie on channel 9. I always thought
their theme music was stolen by Gone With the Wind, da-da-da daa...frankly
Scarlet...
And then Saturday mornings-up early before our parents, and with Bruce and
Barry watching Crusader Rabbit, Sky King, Fury, Roy Rogers, and wondering why
couldn’t late night TV be so good as Saturday morning? And then going out to
play all day. And now you have to tell kids to go out and play? Saturday
nights was Jackie Gleason, a great show. My Three Sons, and Green Acres and
Petticoat Junction. How could CBS have fallen so far today? Sunday nights was
Ed Sullivan keeping up with rock music, The FBI, sometimes Disney, we were
getting too old by then, and then Bonanza. Who wouldn’t like to live on the
Ponderosa, with only one thing missing-girls? And then off to sleep, school on
Monday, and repeat schedule-after homework, calls to girls, and out playing
until dark. It was tough being a kid, and it seemed the TV was always
there.
But then there was Sunday morning...nothing good on TV, yet in my childhood
years my parents never went to church, but they forced us to. The stream of
cars double parked outside of the church was a block long, all parents picking
their kids up from Sunday School. And I remember pretending to be sleeping when
I really didn’t want to go. But go we did, rather reluctantly, and would be
threatened with not having to go if we behaved. Which we always fell short of,
so we had to go. Now wearing a suit and tie vs. jeans and a t-shirt was and
still is a no brainer, but dressed up we went. And it was a learning experience
that I would not repeat on my own sons, we never forced them to go, we
encouraged them. And because we went, they wanted to also, eve into high
school. And we found that the time spent there helped to mold them into who
they are. Not relying on the church, but teaching them at home, and then
encouraging them at church. Something about being in church with God’s people
makes a difference, and it made a difference. Now I have nothing against TV,
but it influences us more than it should. And often conflicts of right and
wrong came down to TV vs. church. And for us, going to church was the right
thing, God was there, the Bible was taught there, and something we didn’t get
from prime time TV was there-love. The love of Jesus, manifested in
forgiveness, shown with compassion. Church attendance wasn’t used a threat for
discipline, but we wanted to go, and grew from it. Just like God says, “how
great it is to be in the tabernacle,” we live it today. Sunday mornings or
Saturday nights occupy our schedule, not football games or movies. And with so
many channels, with nothing on, the competition for your time, and ultimately
for your souls is a tough battle. One we never thought we would have to fight.
Church on Sundays, time off the other seven days. But a funny thing happens the
closer you get to God, you want to spend time with His people, and church is a
great place. Not just for church services, but we used to gather on Saturday
nights and fellowship, growing closer in Christ with each other. Sunday was
just the big get together, a special event, for every night we met we had
church. And soon came to realize we are the church, wherever two or three are
gathered, Jesus is among us.
Where is God in your daily schedule? Is it built around what is on TV, or
what soccer game, or PTA meeting you have? Or is it built around God, and then
all else falls into place. Where is He in your daily walk? Is He fit in
between your favorite shows, or is He your #1 with a bullet? Scripture tells us
that the wise man built his house upon the rock, and that that rock is Jesus.
What book do you spend more time in, the Bible or the TV guide? Do you change
services just to watch your favorite show or sporting event? Or do you miss the
shows that the others watch, and don’t know who or what is going on in the
latest sit com? TV should never be your #1 friend, or your source of
information or friendship. God planned things differently, but TV can be used
to grow in Christ. Too many good shows on...learn to filter the bad ones out,
self control, the fruit of the spirit starts at your remote. So what does your
world revolve around?
Try a different perspective of life, try Jesus. And attend church.
Something happens when believers gather, we gather around God’s presence and
prayer. The problems we struggle with can be answered by times in church with
Jesus. So what example are you setting for your wife and kids? Are you part of
the line of parked cars outside waiting, or are you inside being filled? Do you
quote Oprah more than the Bible? Something missing from your schedule...could
it be Jesus?
The company we keep tells a lot about us. I tend to find a better class of
people in church. And as far as it being full of hypocrites, it isn’t. We
always have room for one more. You’ll feel welcomed. Sunday mornings at church
can be the best time spent not in front of a screen. Give up your remote and
give it over to God. Besides, you can always record whatever you missed, don’t
be the one who wishes they hadn’t missed out on God. God is on every night,
same bat time, same bat channel. Who says there is nothing on Sunday
morning?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com