What's normal? What's normal for most believers? How does it usually work for you? You're bored. Or maybe you just want to sit down, relax, and be entertained. So, what do you do? You turn on the television. You flip through the channels to find something decent to watch. You've seen this one, you're sick and tired of that one. Finally, you settle on a rerun of CSI. There's usually something intriguing about what this or that criminal has done.

What's easiest to do is seldom the best. Natural inclinations and the regular routines are somewhat like gravity. Like water running downhill, they follow the path of least resistance. With this article, I want to help each of us evaluate our normal routines and perhaps add some greater discernment in our television viewing, to be reminded of the things we already know and perhaps be challenged to be more intentional. I am hoping each of us will consider these things and consider what if any changes should be made in our television watching routines.

Have you ever gone for an evening walk? You pass by house after house, neighborhood after neighborhood and what do you see? In almost every house there's a pulsating reflective glow. In almost every home you can see a television and a family gathered around. From the size of the latest LCD sets, you can sometimes even tell what people are watching. As you walk you wonder. What affect does so much television have on so many? Is there much discernment? Is there any? Are there better things that could be done? Or worse? We will consider this subject under a couple different headings.

Exercise Discernment

There are any number of relevant passages, but I will quote just two. First, Philippians 4:8-9:

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."

While I trust that most of us have heard or read this verse before, I assume it hasn't greatly hindered our normal television viewing habits. There is perhaps no greater window into our culture and world than what is represented on prime-time television shows. It would be foolish for us to think that such a window to the world doesn't affect us and our families. The danger is that we get so accustomed to our culture and its entertainment that we think it is somehow outside the scope or influence of biblical exhortations like the one above. This should not be.

The second verse is 1 Corinthians 10:23: "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify."

Once again there is the recognition that not all things are helpful or good for us. There are some things that we shouldn't do just because we can or may. The measure for how we spend or use our time, whether at work or at home, is whether it is edifying or encouraging us in our Christian walk. Some of this is counter to our natural inclinations, but if we let the Word of God be our guide, we will find ourselves blessed in the end. If you doubt whether this is true, why not put it to the test? Taste and see.

Live by Priorities

I remember a conversation I had in seminary with an upperclassman. He shared a bit of wisdom with me. He said, "I think one should always work hardest on their greatest weaknesses." In its context this statement was directed toward our academic studies. We should work hardest on the areas we struggle with the most. Well, I think the principle applies to all of life. If we are making time for the things we like to do at the expense of the things we should be doing, we have a problem. You see, we are always exchanging one time-consuming activity for another. As a rule there are always things that should, could, and would be done if we weren't dedicating ourselves to the time we spend in front of our televisions.

[Note: This part of the article doesn't just apply to watching television. It has to do with any activity that we spend an inordinate amount of time doing. It might be playing video games, surfing the web, watching videos, updating our friends on Facebook, it might even be reading fiction or cartoons, texting, or talking on the phone. It could be anything that hinders us from fulfilling our duties and responsibilities.]

We need to live more intentionally by the priorities that will over time yield the most benefit to ourselves, our families, and those around us. And just what should these "priorities" include? If our entertainment and amusements are hindering us from doing things that we know we should, we need to make some changes. Here are a few things that most people should spend time doing every day.

Spiritual Exercise: Spend 10-15 minutes reading the Word and 3-5 minutes (or more) in prayer.

Bodily Exercise: Paul says bodily exercise profits some. Our culture is physically and spiritually fat and lazy. We should not be.

Education: We should always be challenging ourselves to learn and grow. It's a good idea to dedicate an hour a day to such self-study. Becoming the best in your field isn't going to happen without consistent effort. Make a schedule and keep it. If you're in school, don't do the minimum to get by. Master the material and see what else there is to learn.

Friendships: Take time to correspond with friends and family. Write a letter or make a phone call to keep in touch.

Basic Upkeep: Make sufficient time to do our chores: basic upkeep of self and surroundings.

Hobbies: Be constructive and engage in fun activities by yourself or with others.

Projects: Busy yourself making improvements in and out of the home.

This is just a sample list. Not everyone's list will look the same, but the principle is clear. How can we best use our time? The answer we can probably all agree on is: by not spending so much of it in front of the TV.

Quality Family Time

Yes, you've probably guessed it. Quality family time isn't spending several hours together in front of the television. This doesn't mean that families should not have a movie night or sometimes sit together to watch a TV program, but it does mean that that's not all we should do together. Incorporate family activities into the list of priorities (above). Encourage the whole family to make time for the things that matter most.

Maybe together we can all become more conscious of our less-edifying habits and routines and begin to make better choices that over time will enable us to become more productive and increasingly faithful members of the body of Christ. What is easiest is seldom best. Those things worth having, with lasting value, come at a fair cost. Are you willing to pay for them?