Is your living room the site of daily murders? Do you routinely entertain guests who swear at you and make fun of your faith? Have you ever had somebody drop by and try to convince you that sexual sin is a joking matter and that violence is entertaining?

You've had all these things happen in your house if you've watched many of the programs on TV. This is not late-breaking news. The moral content of television has been on the decline for years. But that doesn't mean we have to go down with it.

The psalmist, who knew as much about TV as most of us know about tending sheep, said, "Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things" (Ps. 119:37). That's a good verse to post over our TV set.

For the most part, the entertainment world is serious about casting off restraints. Just as seriously, we should protect our minds. These guidelines can help:

• Avoid jokes about sex (1 Cor. 6:18; Eph. 5:3-4,12).
• Don't listen to vulgar language (Eph. 5:4).
• Don't let ads cause you to covet (Ex. 20:17; Col. 3:5).
• Don't let your eyes cause you to sin (Mt. 18:9).

Honor God with your viewing habits. When it comes to entertainment, watch what you watch.  — Dave Branon