"To Tell the Truth"

YES, that's the name of a television program that Adventists can view without fear of contamination, or can they? "It is such an interesting and innocuous pro gram," said one of our conservative members. Yet the basic element of the show is blatant lying. One nonreligious psychologist claimed that it subtly undermines the viewer's code of honesty. It actually glorifies lying. The format is simple. Three people are marched onto the stage and each introduces himself. All three claim to be the same person. A panel of experts attempts to determine which one is telling the truth. If the two who are lying perform their parts so well as to deceive the panel, then a monetary reward is given. The reward given is in proportion to their guileful accomplishments. The more the panel is deceived, the more dollars exchange hands. It is quite an interesting departure from the usual treatment a child or even an adult would receive when caught lying.

But this is only one of the many problems with today's TV programming. Church leaders are concerned over the inroads television is making in the realm of spirituality of our membership. There seems to be no shortage of rationalizations on the subject. One might even get the impression that the text which urges believers to think on those things that are honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious does not apply to TV viewing (see Phil. 4:8, R.S.V.). About the only answer this writer can think of for the vast majority of rationalizations is the fact that "a man who is unspiritual refuses what belongs to the Spirit of God; it is folly to him; he can not grasp it, because it needs to be judged in the light of the Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:14, N.E.B.).*

What rating would the communication vehicles of the nations in our world receive if they were judged in the "light of the Spirit"?

The chorus of voices that talk about the pros and cons of TV to day are much more unanimous in their "cons" than they used to be. It has been a source of amazement to me to read reports from seemingly intelligent individuals who claim that no harm is done to the viewer of violence and crime. Or that there is little or no effect upon a man's lustful nature when he views provocative sex scenes. The truth of the matter is that a person receives far more than a vicarious "kick" when viewing violent scenes on the screen. He may think himself a nonparticipating viewer, but the facts are that every cell in his body responds adversely to scenes of suspense, assault, and lust. The Adventist concept of man as a total being of mind, body, and spirit supports this last point.

Even those who approve anti social scenes admit that all of us are capable of antisocial behavior. To view evil can only increase our tendency toward evil. All human tendencies, good or evil, can be strengthened by ministering to them. The one great principle of Christian growth is nourishment for the spiritual nature at the same time the evil nature is being starved. Both natures cannot be fed without resultant severe conflict.

The problem is that far too many Adventists are resolving the conflict by feeding mainly just the one nature the evil one! Banqueting on TV instead of the Scriptures is perhaps the main way many of us are bringing about spiritual starvation.

We urge our readers to pay special attention to S. I. Hayakawa's article, "TV Sorcery," and Roland Hegstad's article, "Mind Manipulators." TV's devastating impact on our society today is undoubtedly one of the main factors in impeding our church from responding as it should to the call for revival and reformation.

Of course, someone will come along and point out that even the Bible is full of violence, murder, rape, and incest. Quite true! But if a person is earnestly seeking God, he does not take lustful delight in devouring those distressing pas sages. He knows that the purpose of Biblical records is not for entertainment but rather for guidance and instruction in the Christian pathway. The Bible describes evil deeds in order to deeply impress upon the reader that what a man sows he not only reaps in a present harvest but in a future one as well. "No truth does the Bible more clearly teach than that what we do is the result of what we are. To a great degree the experiences of life are the fruition of our own thoughts and deeds." --Education, p. 146.

There is a second reason for recording the failures of man. It gives hope to the hopeless. Repentance on the part of Jacob, Levi, and others resulted in reformation, and reformation resulted in marvelous benefits. Curses were transformed into blessings.

Then, too, there is a spiritual awe that possesses the true seeker when he opens the Scriptures. The furtherest thought from his mind is that of seeking out and reveling in some juicy passage of gore and horror. But such is not the case when one slips through the door of television's Sunday night movie theater. The mind is set for excitement, entertainment, and conflict, not for truth and spiritual elevation. The two attitudes are as opposite as east and west. In the one instance a man's spirit seeks strength and fortifying knowledge. In the other, man's spirit seeks intrigue, laughs, and thrills.

What is the solution? A thorough surrender of the will to God on a daily basis is the only permanent solution. When the Spirit of Christ takes control of the life, then and only then will television be controlled. What do I mean by controlled? The answer is simple for those who consider television a poisonous snake. Some will take exception to the idea of permanently exiling TV sets, but this writer has a strong conviction that this is the best way of solving the problem for most of us, especially if children are in the home. Those who advocate control are able to make a convincing and logical presentation. But the vast majority of Adventist homes I have visited have little or no control over their sets.

"Everything that can be done should be done to place ourselves and our children where we shall not see the iniquity that is practiced in the world. We should carefully guard the sight of our eyes and the hearing of our ears so that these awful things shall not enter our minds. When the daily newspaper comes into the house, I feel as if I want to hide it, that the ridiculous, sensational things in it may not be seen. It seems as if the enemy is at the foundation of the publishing of many things that appear in newspapers. Every sinful thing that can be found is uncovered and laid bare before the world." --The Adventist Home, pp. 403, 404.

If this be true of a turn-of-the-century newspaper, what would the prophet say today concerning our television programming? Victory regardless of cost should be our aim. To rid our homes of TV sets may be branded a fanatical stand. But ask yourself the question, "What will it take to build a Christlike character?" Anything that contributes to the deadening of our spiritual sensibilities must be laid aside.

If we decline to take Christ's burden in exchange for the world's burden, it is proof that our relationship with Him is weak. If by beholding we become changed, if we are to think upon the pure, just and holy, if we are to set our affections on things above, if Christ, the hope of glory, dwells within us, what intense protective care we should give our eyes and ears. Let us as workers take the lead in revival and reformation in this matter. Let us willingly and courageously determine by our actions as well as our words "to tell the truth."