Television

"And through his shrewdness He will cause deceit to succeed by his influence; And he will magnify himself in his heart, And he will destroy many while they are at ease. He will even oppose the Prince of princes, But he will be broken without human agency. - Daniel 8:25

The advent of photography and other recorded media is fairly recent. Its impact on modern culture is profound.

Where once imagery and audio was confined to single memory, with the advent of recorded media imagery may be viewed repeatedly, at great length, at will, and apart from its original context.

Where once a given image was confined to the locale of the subject, it may now be cast upon many subjects at once. Broadcasting, as it has accompanied the development of media, has also had a profound impact on modern culture.

For what purpose is most audio-visual material produced and distributed? Why do people take photographs, make movies, and record audio? The predominant purpose is self-satisfaction, with secondary concern toward ones' neighbor who may or may not accede favorably to the results.

Modern media is capable of driving a great deal of fear, greed, envy, and lust. One may deny all he wants that he is capable and culpable in these regards, but it remains a fact that these ubiquitous forms of entertainment bear close scrutiny in terms of a life of, or lack of, faith in the true and living God.

Ancient ancestors were once easily engrossed in animism - attributing various levels of life and intellect to any and every inanimate object. Our current engrossment of choice seems to be the animation and satisfaction supplied by devices that allow us to experience imagery and audio almost at will.

How have new media realms effected your character? Your relationships with your neighbors? Your relationship with your Creator?

Imagine what a mess you would have if Christ Jesus had been born in this age of recorded media, when images can be manipulated and broadcast in such a way as to spread disinformation and lies as so often happens today.

One may think our current age is one of great improvement and fulfillment, but it appears the Creator is not so enamored of media capabilities that He chose to enter human history, suffer, and die, and rise from the dead for you in front of cameras and recorders. Instead He is personally joined to you in preaching and sacraments.

Keep deception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.

No matter what attempts may be made at gaining self-satisfaction, and no matter what the age, the order of Creation remains subject to the Prince of Princes, who has arranged things in such a way that you partake of Him and His resurrection from the dead. He will preserve you from the deceit so prevalent in this modern age.
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