Wednesday, 23 July 2008
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Oprah Stole My Time With God
Last February, I realized that I spend more time watching TV than with God. I would actually schedule my "Bible time" around my favorite shows! I thought I was sacrificing when I included in that the hour Oprah was on.... TV had become my idol, so it only made sense that I gave it up for Lent. I spent the week after the 41-day period of abstainment with my eyes glued to the black-box. I had purposely set about avoiding television so I could grow closer to the guy who died for me, yet after Easter I couldn't rouse myself from the couch and remote-control. I felt as if I hadn't accomplished anything.
I've been wondering why empty and unsatisfactory entertainment is more enjoyable than reading good books and the Bible, than praying and writing. When I gave up television for Lent, I expected something really great to happen, but nothing did. I'd set aside all TV time to read the Bible and work on my relationship with God, but instead, I spent it watching various ministers on the internet, reading Christian fiction, and sleeping a lot.
What's behind the addictive-ness of TV - and of reruns at that?! I can beat anyone at Friends trivia, I love watching Lifetime movies, and I will not plan anything for a Saturday because of some Discovery Channel or Animal Planet marathon... It's an addiction.
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:15-20
How much time do you spend on TV or mindless entertainment? Do you ever find yourself neglecting your spiritual life in order to catch some marathon or TV special?
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Comments (30)
How about addiction to Xanga?
I rarely watch TV.
a little too much time and less time spending time talking to God and reading the Bible
I definitely spend way too much time in front of a computer. I'll stream videos from Hulu while trying to do my homework, and not think about God at all for hours and hours on end until I go to sleep at night.
I spend entirely too much time online. But in turn I do spend quite a bit of time reading revelife, and http://bustedhalo.com
I think a little mindless entertainment is good..because it shows us the value of true entertainment. =)
I'm not an expert by any means however..
I always thought that Oprah was the anti-Christ. Or the person who will bring the anti-Christ ;P
I rarely watch TV. Most of the tripe on TV is utter garbage.
Oprah's starting her own religion, so why don't you just subscribe to her spirituality? That way you'll be religious, AND you won't miss your favorite shows! :P
I'm joking, of course.
i don't really watch much tv, but i do spend a lot of time online,
though it's usually on here and on different Christian sites, though.
however, facebook is slowly becoming a way of life. lol :)
i've taken to reading novels written by Christians, thrillers by the
likes of ted dekker and frank peretti to be specific, but that's not
really spending time with God.
i do, however, have a time everyday where i journal/read the Bible/pray and just generally bask in the glory of God.
i also try to listen to Christian music as much as possible in whatever
i'm doing. and as i've said before, that's when i feel closet to God,
when listening to a good worship song, regardless of what i'm doing.
but all in all, sometimes i do give in to mindless entertainment, which
i don't think is necessarily a bad thing, as long as it isn't life
consuming.
everyone needs a break from TV and giving that time to God is a great idea......I might do that for the next Lent.......
@VersaGratis@xanga - Me too!
I could have written this post. I wish I could "get it together" when it comes to spending time with God but it just seems there's never a good time... every time I set aside a time for God or decide "ok I should spend time with God" I come up with some reason why I shouldn't "I'm too tired" "I can't concentrate right now" "It would be empty and I can't focus" etc. So I fool myself into thinking that I am watching TV or playing online instead because there isn't anything else I'm up to doing at that moment. Blah.
yeah i def spend too much time in front of the tv. i'd like to justify it by saying i don't watch trash (go discovery channel!), but it's still probably too much. tv, netflix, and internet are 3 things i think are awesome, but i love a little too much. :T
I spend too much time on the internet. I can cut out the television..mostly because my roommate and I have a tense relationship right now and I don't care to be around her.
I need to cut time on the internet, but I've been gloriously failing lately.
I've never actually set specific times in my day to fellowship with God. I spend quite a bit of time in my car going to and from campus. I usually have some music playing, but I have caught myself lately tuning it out and just talking with God.
i so know what you mean.
I just came back form missions and after about 3 weeks with out internet or tv and other stuff, I find myself doing nothing but watching tv and going online....
i need help
lol!
i'm hooked on media!
I can identify. I spend Way way too much playing a certain MMORPG and not enough time getting reacquainted with God. Just lately I've begun spending time with God before I even think of logging in. But I do completely understand.
Isn't it amazing how we talk about making time for God when we have Him with us all the time? It's like having a brother or sister with you 24 hrs a day and never acknowleding or talking to them.
I have to stay away from TV. It's too addicting. And it's not edifying. I have a neighbor who does not let their children watch TV but very rarely. They don't seem to miss it.
I once heard a paster say that the devil works through children and infants at church because anytime someone is connecting with God a baby will start to cry and the person loses focus.
So i guess the devil working through Operah. You should probably just send her on the hell train with all of us non-moral athiests.
What's wrong with Animal Planet and Discovery Channel?
That's good television.
got rid of my tv last year so i could improve my studies.. and it's worked for the most part. i also stopped reading the newspaper and listening to the news because of all the negativity. helped my mood a whole lot too.
Oprah is giving away 400 hours with God on her next show. Maybe you'll get lucky.
i used to schedule everything around oprah show, cause she used to be my hero...erm..actually she is still one of my heroes :)
but i realized, God and studies must come first..other things can wait...
I think it's because basically we're lazy. To read and spend time with God takes effort, esp. mind effort, and it's effortless to watch TV or to spend time on the internet. The only solution I have found is to force myself to spend time reading, praying and meditating; when I do this, I find that I want it more and more. It becomes a time I really look forward to, and the Bible comes alive. God rewards us for our efforts to know Him better. "Knock and it shall be opened....seek and ye shall find...."
I almost never watch TV. I think it's media vomit. I'd rather write or read.
The addictiveness behind TV is the addictiveness behind ANY thing--it fills a void.