I noticed in
this Newsweek coverage that he also monitors what's on television (I do not have a television) and what's available in cinemas.
Quote:
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"Look at the spiritual rebellion that is in this country, the hatred of God, the hatred of the Bible … the filth on our TVs and our movies."
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That is a sacrifice he makes which many will appreciate. Occasionally I go to a cinema if asked but am selective about what's on. There is a good reason for this due to some years ago, when visiting friends for a few days, we went for an afternoon walk and someone said, "Hey, let's see a movie!" We all agreed and simply walked into the first cinema that turned up. Didn't even bother to check what was on, just bought tickets for the next film to screen and sat down. I noticed that there were a lot of funny looking people in the audience. It started off with Miranda Richardson in Ireland doing something and this man got run over. He'd had a picture of his fancy pants secreted away somewhere.
"H-h-h.. (gg gg gg) ..h-h-here," he croaks. "L- Lo- Loo.. (ow! ow! ow!) ..look after fancy pants after I'm g-g-g-gone (gurgle)"
I wasn't enjoying my afternoon. Things deteriorated when fancy pants was located and I don't want to encourage random cinema visits so won't include any spoilers. Had I been aware of Pastor Wiles' public service looking at the filth in advance this could all have been avoided.
The more important reason though, and why I've never owned a television, is what goes on peripheral to the story itself. Product placement is one example, where Blenkinsop pays to have packets of his oriental bile lozenges casually strewn around or the hero drives a Goggomobil. The same applies to values, the idea that certain attitudes are better than others never actually stated but necessary for the plot to work. They are rarely values a Christian could endorse and if someone saw me leaving that cinema they might have thought I did endorse the values implicit in the story. Too few Pastors go that extra mile.
Fortunately we have The Pastoral Team (and our deaconess) to advise us on similar matters here as God's plague progresses.
Luke 17:33-37 Remember Lot's wife. Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it. I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left. Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left. Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left. And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.