2.  The Social Aspect
TV presents social issues and interviews with famous writers and thinkers in  which  family  and  public matters are discussed.  It also shows us all sorts of delinquent behavior, for we see disloyalty, theft, brutality, and divorce for the simple reason one partner is in love with someone else, etc.  We live with all these and in time they become an acceptable reality in our homes in spite of the fact that they are far removed from Christian purity.  The  older people might resist this influence because of their wisdom and the solid upbringing they have had, but the young only imitate blindly what they see.  Current trends in hair styles,  smoking,  clothes,  and even certain expressions all attest to the influence of what we watch on our lives.

3.  The Cultural Aspect
 Writers and thinkers complain bitterly about the triviality of the ideas presented on TV.  In addition it has weakened the faculty of reading, for they sit passively waiting for what the program sponsor will present.  When we examine   TV  programs,  we   are amazed at the fact they seem to indicate a lack of thinkers, of humanitarian   stories   or  of    social guidance.  We only see superficialities whose origin is a network of profiteers who write and produce without any depth at all.  Thus the Egyptian identity is in great danger from these trivial programs and from the aberrations of foreign lifestyles.  Our children memorize TV advertisements, songs, and silly expressions, so why doesn't TV offer religious, cultural, scientific, and patriotic themes?

4.  The Behavioral Aspect
 There  is  no   doubt   that the violence that dominates TV and the movies is reflected in people's behavior.  The Los Angeles police noticed that a certain type of crime increased in the few hours following a film showing it on television; a person watched it and then went out and committed it.  The cinema these days, now that television has attracted many of its viewers,  makes its living out of two kinds of films only: sex and violence.  It degrades man by addressing those two instincts in order to take his money without doing anything to build him up.

A novelist once wrote a book about a person who committed all kinds of crimes then felt that they did not fulfill him and so repented and started leading a good life.  The cinema producer, however, only took the first part and made a great artistic effort to show the man's evil deeds and omitted the last part in which he repents.  The film was shown all over the world bearing the name of the wronged author.

B.  How to Face These Influences
We  can  face   the  effects of television in three ways:

1.  Spiritual Fullness
There is no doubt that "A satisfied soul loathes the honeycomb, but to a hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet" (Prov. 27: 7).  When we fill our children with Christ, the Bible, the lives of saints, church, hymns, service in the city and villages, and spiritual readings, they will have personalities that are easy to separate from the tyranny of television and who will find it easy to overcome the harmful values in its programs.

Christ is a great power Who saves man from the power of the flesh,   the world, and   the devil.   He gives us victory over evil in all its forms, and enables us to resist forbidden pleasures, no matter how tempting they may be.

We need to restore the fallen family altar and gather our children round the Bible, hymns, and prayers.  We need to go with them to partake of Holy Communion and to attend church meetings.  We should watch over  their  spiritual  growth.   Then it will be easy for them to make the right choices.

Inner emptiness is the reason behind  the   excessive   attraction   of television.  The person who is full of grace will watch the little that is useful in it and will reject what is useless.

2.  Cultural Fullness
 We used to see in our homes libraries that contained many books in many areas.  A father would read a book then leave it for the son or daughter  to  read and   then discuss it together.  Now we are culturally superficial, waiting for newspapers, magazines, and television to dictate to us.

We need to make a new push towards reading in   order to stimulate our minds and fill our lives with holy enthusiasm for constructive pursuits, leaving youth little time for wrongdoing,  A cultured person possesses an inner wealth that makes him shun superficialities and choose only those useful programs and books that will build him up.

3.  Constructive Selectivity
 When the heart is full of Jesus Christ and the mind is full of culture, it is easy to discriminate between what is of value and what is not, to choose the programs, friends, books, and magazines that will improve and to reject those that will not.

The Christian possesses an inner enlightenment through the Spirit of God which makes us "Test all things; hold fast to what is good" (1 Thes. 5: 21). He weighs matters in the light of three verses:
 

• "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful" (1 Cor. 6: 12).
• "All things are lawful for me, but all things do not edify" (1 Cor. 10: 23).
• "All things are lawful for me ... but I will not be brought under the power of any: 1Cor.6:12).

Let us lead, with our children, a fulfilling spiritual life, a life that builds them up culturally.  Let us have with them a dialogue that will form their consciences and their personalities in Christ, so that they are not like a feather that the wind blows every which way.  Instead they will be filled with the fullness of God and will lead   a life  of  faith and holiness that will be a witness to Christ their Savior.

And to our Lord be glory for ever, Amen

END