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The 23rd Channel

The T. V. set is my shepherd.  My spiritual growth shall want.

It maketh me to sit down and do nothing for His name's sake, because it requireth all my spare time.  It keepeth me from doing my duty as a Christian, because it presenteth so many good shows that I must see.

It restoreth my knowledge of the things of the world, and keepeth me from the study of God's word.  It leadeth me in the paths of failing to attend evening worship services, and doing nothing in the Kingdom of God.

Yea, though I live to be a hundred, I shall keep on viewing my T. V. as long as it will work, for it is my closest companion.  It's sounds and its picture, they comfort me.

It presenteth entertainment before me, and keepeth me from doing important things with my family.  It fills my head with ideas which differ from those set forth in the word of God.

Surely, no good thing will come of my life, because my T. V. offereth me no good time to do the will of God; thus I will dwell in spiritual poverty all the days of my life.

by LIFE MESSENGERS, Seattle, Washington.  Note: this ministry no longer exists, but the message of this little poem ought to be preserved for posterity.

 

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For those who say this is just too legalistic I have these verses to share (we always emphasize the first part but take a close look at the second part):

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God;
not as a result of works, that no one should boast. 
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.   Ephesians 2: 8-10 NAS

Its not these verses alone, there is a pattern here.  Look at the following verses in the same manner.  We emphasize the first part, but what about the later part?

He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
whom He poured upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
that being justified by His grace we might be heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 
This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God may be careful to engage in good deeds.  These things are good and profitable for men
.   Titus 3: 5-8

A quick word about preparation for service follows.  It was written by Andrew Murray in his book Abide in Christ.  (Pages 107 and 108, published 1979, Whitaker House, Springdale, PA.)

"It is not enough that, when once you are truly converted, you have an earnest desire to have all these (in context:  He is talking about abilities and giftings given to each of us from God) devoted to the service of the Lord.  The desire is good, but it can neither teach the way nor give the strength to do it acceptably.  Incalculable harm has been done to the deeper spirituality of the Church, by the idea that once we are God's children the using of our gifts in His service follows as a matter of course.  No; for this there is indeed a very special grace.  And the way in which the grace comes is again that of sacrifice and surrender.  I must see how all my giftings and powers are, even though I be a child of God, still defiled by sin, and under the power of the flesh.  I must feel that I cannot at once proceed to use them for God's glory.  I must first lay them at Christ's feet, to be accepted and cleansed by Him.  I must feel myself utterly powerless to use the aright.  I must see that they are most dangerous to me, because through them the flesh, the old nature, self, will so easily exert it's power.  In this conviction I must part with them, giving them entirely up to the Lord.  When He has accepted them and put His stamp upon them, I receive them back, to hold them as His property, to wait on Him for the grace to use them aright day by day, and have them act only under His influence.  And so experience proves it true here too, that the path of entire consecration is the path of full salvation.  Not only is what is thus given up received back again to be doubly our own, but the forsaking all is followed by the receiving all.  We abide in Christ more fully as we forsake all to follow Him.  As I count all things loss for His sake, I am found in Him."
 

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