Some have said that television is a devil in the room. Even so, many enjoy watching TV in their living rooms, bedrooms, and every personal room. They seem to have time to watch TV, but no time to study the Word of God. While television can provide us with some news and information, it also brings us many unnecessary things and even moral corruption, robbing us of the time and energy that belong to our Lord. And today TV has become a theater in the home, a medium of Satan to cause departure from the faith, causing people to give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. In the time of E. G. White, they did not have such a sophisticated medium as this, but even through the theater of those days many lost their faith. What did she warn about these dangerous things?

“Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school of morality and virtue, as is so often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination and debase the morals. Every youth who habitually attends such exhibitions will be corrupted in principle. There is no influence in our land more powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drinks strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater, the circus, and every other questionable place of amusement.”1

From this testimony we can clearly see why TV with all its dramatic sensationalism should be discarded. Watching TV daily is worse than going to the theater from time to time. It surely corrupts the moral atmosphere of the home.

We are living in a new era from which so many products proceed. A computer with internet access is an essential facility to the civilized society of today. But with this new technology other problems also occur. Computers are useful in our daily life by virtue of their speed and precision, providing us with a wealth of information from around the globe. But we also need to realize that this tool is sometimes more dangerous than television. From within this instrument, proceed evil throughts (adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness, and so forth), inspired by Satan and now flooding the world. All these evil things come from within and defile the human family. Therefore, even computers may pose a potential danger to us and our children if put to wrong use. Today this may be the greatest means in the hands of Satan to damage our spiritual life and to corrupt our young people and our children.

“The desire for excitement and pleasing entertainment is a temptation and a snare to God’s people, and especially to the young. Satan is constantly preparing inducements to attract minds from the solemn work of preparation for scenes just in the future. Through the agency of worldlings he keeps up a continual excitement to induce the unwary to join in worldly pleasures. There are shows, lectures, and an endless variety of entertainments that are calculated to lead to a love of the world; and through this union with the world faith is weakened. . . .

“[Satan] is in every sense of the word a deceiver, a skilful charmer. He has many finely woven nets, which appear innocent, but which are skilfully prepared to entangle the young and unwary. The natural mind leans toward pleasure and self-gratification. It is Satan’s policy to fill the mind with a desire for worldly amusement, that there may be no time for the question, How is it with my soul?”2

“The youth of today are a sure index to the future of society; and as we view them, what can we hope for that future? The majority are fond of amusement and averse to work.”3

Besides, our children are inclined to misuse the computer even on the Sabbath day. Therefore, we as Christian parents should give special attention to our children and educate them and pray for them in order to avoid this, and to set their affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

“Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing more than any other power to separate our people from God.”4

“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27).

We are the children of God and His people, and we have a duty not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. We have to help the needy, and be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven us.

We must be careful not to be of the world. We are forbidden to conform to its practices and fashions. By His prophet Isaiah, God shows us the corrupted condition caused by the influence of the world. “The daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet” (Isaiah 3:16). This condition can be seen also today. The professed followers of Christ are no longer a separate and peculiar people. The line of demarcation is indistinct. The people are subordinating themselves to the world, to its practices, its customs, and its selfishness. By their way of eating and drinking, by their outward adorning, and by their love of objectionable fashions, they show that they do not have Christ. The Saviour requires His followers to abstain from these evils.

“God will have a people separate and distinct from the world. And as soon as any have a desire to imitate the fashions of the world, that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to acknowledge them as His children. They are the children of the world and of darkness.”5

“While we should not conform to worldly fashions, we are not to be indifferent in regard to our outward appearance. We are to be neat and trim, though without adornment. The children of God should be pure within and without.”6

“Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners?” (Song of Solomon 6:10).

The most beautiful adorning that our sisters can show is the hidden personality of the heart, namely, the character, “in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price” (1 Peter 3:3, 4).

“I feel deeply over this leavening process which seems to be going on among us, in the conformity to custom and fashion. Not one penny should be spent for a circlet of gold to testify that we are married.”7

“ ‘The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God’ (Deuteronomy 22:5). God’s prohibitions are lightly regarded by all who advocate doing away with the distinction of dress between males and females. . . .

“God designed that there should be a plain distinction between the dress of men and women, and has considered the matter of sufficient importance to give explicit directions in regard to it; for the same dress worn by both sexes would cause confusion and great increase of crime.”8

“There is a terrible sin upon us as a people, that we have permitted our church members to dress in a manner inconsistent with their faith. We must arise at once and close the door against the allurements of fashion. Unless we do this, our churches will become demoralized.”9

“Our words, our actions, and our dress are daily, living preachers, gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. This is no trivial matter to be passed off with a jest.”10

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God” (1 Corinthians 11:14-16).

“Said the angel: ‘God’s people are peculiar; such He is purifying unto Himself.’ I saw that the outside appearance is an index to the heart.”11

“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:9, 10).

“A terrible picture of the condition of the world has been presented before me. Immorality abounds everywhere. Licentiousness is the special sin of this age.”12

“Many of the young are eager for books. They read everything they can obtain. Exciting love stories and impure pictures have a corrupting influence.”13

“I have been shown that persons of apparently good deportment, not taking unwarrantable liberties with the other sex, were guilty of practicing secret vice nearly every day of their lives.”14

“It is the special work of Satan in these last days to take possession of the minds of the youth, to corrupt their thoughts, and inflame their passions, knowing that by thus doing he can lead them to self-pollution, and then all the noble faculties of the mind will become debased, and he can control them to suit his own purposes. All are free moral agents; and as such they must bring their thoughts to run in the right channel. Their meditations should be of that nature which will elevate their minds, and make Jesus and Heaven the subjects of their thoughts. Here is a wide field in which the mind can safely range. If Satan seeks to divert the mind from this to low and sensual things, bring it back again, and place it on eternal things; and when the Lord sees the determined effort made to retain only pure thoughts, He will attract the mind, like the magnet, and purify the thoughts, and enable them to cleanse themselves from every secret sin. ‘Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ’ (2 Corinthians 10:5). The first work of those who would reform is to purify the imagination. If the mind is led out in a vicious direction, it must be restrained to dwell only upon pure and elevated subjects. When tempted to yield to a corrupt imagination, then flee to the throne of grace, and pray for strength from Heaven. In the strength of God the imagination can be disciplined to dwell upon things which are pure and heavenly.”15

There is a saying, “The family that prays together stays together.” Families whose hearts unite at the family altar morning and evening have a hedge thrown about them; a wall of protection from the onslaughts of the enemy. It is important also to stay together - deliberately and purposefully.

“It is wrong to allow children, at some expense, to visit at a distance, unaccompanied by their parents or guardians. It has a wrong influence upon the children. They come to feel that they are of considerable consequence and that certain privileges belong to them, and if these are not granted, they think themselves abused. They refer to children who go and come, and have many privileges, while they have so few.

“And the mother, fearing that her children will think her unjust, gratifies their wishes, which in the end proves a great injury to them. Young visitors, who have not a parent’s watchful eye over them to see and correct their faults often receive impressions which it will take months to remove. I was referred to cases of parents who had good, obedient children, and who, having the utmost confidence in certain families, trusted their children to go from them at a distance to visit these friends. From that time there was an entire change in the deportment and character of their children. Formerly they were contented and happy at home, and had no great desire to be much in the company of other young persons. When they return to their parents, restraint seems unjust, and home is like a prison to them. Such unwise movements of parents decide the character of their children.

“By thus visiting, some children form attachments which prove their ruin in the end. Parents, keep your children with you if you can, and watch them with the deepest solicitude. When you let them visit at a distance from you, they feel that they are old enough to take care of and choose for themselves. When the young are thus left to themselves, their conversation is often upon subjects which will not refine or elevate them, or increase their love for the things of religion. The more they are permitted to visit, the greater will be their desire to go, and the less attractive will home seem to them.

“Children, God has seen fit to entrust you to the care of your parents for them to instruct and discipline, and thus act their part in forming your character for heaven. And yet it rests with you to say whether you will develop a good Christian character by making the best of the advantages you have had from godly, faithful, praying parents. . . .

“The prevailing influence in the world is to suffer the youth to follow the natural turn of their own minds. And if very wild in youth, parents say they will come right after a while, and when sixteen or eighteen years of age, will reason for themselves, and leave off their wrong habits, and become at last useful men and women. What a mistake!”16

“Love is the key to a child’s heart, but the love that leads parents to indulge their children in unlawful desires is not a love that will work for their good. The earnest affection which springs from love to Jesus will enable parents to exercise judicious authority and to require prompt obedience.”17

From the time the children are quite young, parents would do well to have them unite with them in various goals and projects, both short-term and long-term. These youngsters are entrusted to you by God to be your companions; they are not merely passing strangers on their way to some other way of life. Treat them as companions! It is worthwhile to note that many of the world’s most fruitful and well-respected businesses - both large and small - are family businesses, those in which parents and children are united in a specific line of work. They work together, and the children and grandchildren carry on the tradition. People often have great confidence in patronizing such a business, for they know that it is usually characterized by a higher level of integrity and service than is generally found elsewhere. This benefits not only the community, but it also strengthens and reinforces the family bond at the same time. It is unlikely that any father or mother has ever regretted training and working with their own sons and daughters to accomplish a goal, task, or lifework.

Even in cases where the talent, ability, or natural inclination of the child widely differs from that of the parents, the overall goals can be the same. The ultimate goal of salvation is to be shared, and through creative thinking, determined effort, and much prayer, a great deal of good can be achieved, laboring together in united service both in this present world and for eternal interests.

“By precept and example parents are to teach their children to labor for the unconverted. The children should be so educated that they will sympathize with the aged and afflicted and will seek to alleviate the sufferings of the poor and distressed. They should be taught to be diligent in missionary work; and from their earliest years self-denial and sacrifice for the good of others and the advancement of Christ’s cause should be inculcated, that they may be laborers together with God.”18

“To every parent God says, ‘Take heed unto thyself’ - thyself, father; thyself, mother. Before you can do your children justice, you must surrender yourselves to God’s training. You must be filled with high motives and noble aspirations. Each day you must endeavor to make yourself more worthy of your trust. Then God will cooperate with you.

“The family firm should be well organized. Together the father and mother should consider their responsibilities. Together they should work for the highest good of their children. There is to be no variance between them. Never should they in the presence of their children criticize each other’s plans or question each other’s judgment.”19

“The work of reformation that is needed must begin in the home. There rests upon parents the most solemn obligation to train their children in the fear and love of God. In the home the purest morals are to be preserved. Strict obedience to Bible requirements is to be taught.”20

“Parents, shall your children be lost because of your lack of faithfulness? Neither you nor they will prosper in any other path than the path of obedience. If you have failed in your duty to your family, confess your sins before God. Gather your children about you, and acknowledge your neglect. Tell them that you desire to bring about a reformation in the home, and ask them to help you to make the home what it ought to be. Read to them the directions found in the Word of God. Pray with them; and ask God to spare their lives, and to help them to prepare for a home in His kingdom. Thus you may begin and continue a work of true reform.

“Be pleasant in the home. Restrain every word that would arouse unholy temper. ‘Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath,’ is a divine injunction. Remember that your children are young in years and experience. In controlling and disciplining them, be firm, but kind. Encourage them to do their duty as members of the family firm. Express your appreciation of the efforts they put forth to conquer their inclinations to wrong. Let the Word of God be your rule, and ever keep in mind the responsibilities for which in the great day of judgment you must give account.”21

“If the work of reformation be begun and carried forward in each family, there will be a living and prosperous church. Things must first be set in order at home. The cause needs those who can work at home, who will study the Bible, and practice its teachings, and who will train up their children in the fear of God. Then let diligent, persevering effort be put forth for others, with earnest prayer for the aid of divine grace and power, and great results will follow missionary labor.”22

“It is the privilege of parents and children to grow together in the grace of Christ. Those who comply with the conditions laid down in the Word will find full provision for their spiritual needs and for power to overcome.”23

“Parents are not left to carry forward alone the work on which so much depends. Christ says, Come unto Me. I will bear your burdens and your perplexities. All power in heaven and in earth has been given to Me. I will give you strength. Go to Him, fathers and mothers. Many of you cannot properly fulfill your trust until you are more closely connected with Christ. Some ask, ‘Why does not the Lord work miracles today, as He did when He was upon the earth?’ Let parents live in the home the life of Christ, and the transformation in the lives of their children will testify to God’s miracle-working power.”24