See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

I do not watch much television, only occasionally go the theater, and, for the most part, do not watch YouTube videos. Among the various genres of television, films, and video streaming I especially avoid comedy, such as Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and the various sitcoms that occupy television network lineups. Why do I do this? I am somewhat picky, feeling uncomfortable with sensuality and adult humor. What causes me discomfort is how comedy presentations will employ suggestive innuendo, cussing, and crass behavior, making light of these things to provoke laughter, and that, practically speaking, if these broadcasts are consumed they can make an impact on one’s thoughts and behaviors. I understand that others are not bothered by these things, and Scripture could be seen as suggesting that some of this media is alright and acceptable. One of the most familiar passages that appear to endorse this view is from the Gospel of Matthew:

And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man (Matt. 15:11).¹

Jesus wanted people to speak in love and kindness, right? He was focused on what they consumed so much as what they did. So why am I unsettled still? Am I too sensitive? It was not until recently that I came across something that gave my concerns Scriptural basis. As I was flipping through the pages of the New Testament I came across Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:

But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks (Eph. 5:3-4).

The fourth verse caught my attention. It is fairly common knowledge that the Word of God teaches against immorality, but I was not aware of any particular passage that suggested that crude conversations and humor were inappropriate. I searched out other passages and found similar warnings in other Pauline epistles, such as Colossians 3:8, 1 Thessalonians 5:22, and 2 Timothy 2:16, the last one reading, “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” (2 Tim. 2:16). Even looking back to the Gospel of Matthew we can see Christ speak to his disciples about keeping their eyes from darkness (Matt. 6:22-23).

The language Paul denounced included dirty jokes, vulgar innuendo, crass discussions, and irreverent talk. It is clear that he was against unwholesome speech, but does watching programming like Family Guy and South Park allow these sins to come too close? How should we judge what is too much?

Forming a proper perspective of where entertainment ought to fit in our lives is difficult, but there is another teaching that the Apostle Paul imparted in his letter to the Philippians that, I believe, is necessary for a Christian’s engagement with the media:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8).

What we set our eyes upon we will dwell on, deluding the light of Christ that is to be inside of us. Let us strengthen ourselves with media that is filled with virtue instead of vice. That which has not entered through our sight or our hearing will not come out of our mouths; see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

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1. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version. KJV. Public Domain.

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“See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil triptych” by Ruth Flicker is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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4 responses to “See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil”

Ben Cabe

July 1, 2014

Thanks, Stuart! What we take in is very important and very much does affect our lives. I recall, about six months after getting rid of our television in 2012, going out to see a movie—we had to walk out. Normally we would have been fine but since we had gotten rid of our television and were no longer desensitized to the violence we had to walk out. I was amazed how differently I viewed things like movies and such. Thanks for this reminder

Jody Byrkett

July 1, 2014

“What, you too? I thought I was the only one…”

I don’t own a TV, am frequently gaped at when I say (for a countless time), “I haven’t seen that,” and I get frustrated at crude humour (even if something *is* witty, that doesn’t pay off in the end).

Glad to know that I am not only in good company, but also that a *man* is willing to stand up for virtue in the things he sets before his eyes and ears. Thanks!

chriscamsmith

July 1, 2014

I love sports too much to get rid of the TV, but just now as I’m trying to watch the USA in the World Cup with my daughter I had to change the channel quickly because a preview for some new comedy called “Sex Tape” came on (at 5 in the afternoon on ESPN!). This in addition to promos for other shows glorifying adultery and “male-enhancement” ads. It’s so frustrating….

Lila Toney Fair

July 4, 2014

Well said. While there is a “time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance,” (Ecc. 3:4 KJV), I think we often give a “pass” to inappropriate dialogue and entertainment when they seem funny. We have no trouble saying “no” to angry diatribes full of vulgarities, smut, or racist rants, but we give a “pass” to ethnic, “dirty”, or gender-bashing “jokes” and “uncomfortable laughter.” We may not always repeat them, but we don’t repudiate them; we allow them into our minds and memories.

I don’t like tossing out the phrase “what would Jesus do?” as I believe it’s been overused and lost most of its original meaning and relevance, but here’s a case where it might be well-applied…would Jesus tell this joke? Would he sit happily and enjoy this TV sitcom? Would you feel differently if Jesus were sitting on the couch next to you as you watch it? Would you “Share” this joke or You Tube video with Jesus? If the answer is no, that ought to tell us something.
Comedy today seems to rely more and more heavily on crude but clever dialogue. It is sharp, biting, and aggressive. Recently, Jerry Lewis was involved in a controversy when he talked about his dislike of women doing “crude” comedy (http://time.com/61560/funny-women-jerry-lewis/). Critics jumped all over his comments as misogynistic, old-fashioned, irrelevant, etc., but I think there is a core of truth in his comments that unsettles people. Lewis talked about the “aggressiveness” of comedy, and that it bothered him to see women using coarse language as they attack people in their monologues. But he was no less complimentary of the current crop of male stand-up comedians. His main point of criticism was that the newest breed of comedian/comedienne lacks originality, integrity, and basic respect for others. Their monologues are sniper attacks at straw-man targets. Their goal is to get a laugh, but they don’t care how or why you are laughing. It comes off as bitter and mean.

It reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from an old movie with Jimmy Stewart. In “Harvey”, Stewart plays a man whose sister is trying to get him committed because his antics embarrass her. The ensuing chaos has everyone else tearing their hair out. Jimmy Stewart’s character is truly the only calm in a great storm of misinformation, greed, and ambition. At one point, he is talking to one of the psychologists and a nurse, who are trying to determine whether he is sane. They have asked various questions, and he offers his life philosophy. He says that his mother once told him there were two ways to go through life– you can be clever, or you can be nice. And then he says, “I’ve tried clever; I recommend nice.” I have thought about that often in the years since I first saw that movie, because I think most people would like to think they are clever AND (at least on some level) nice. Certainly, “Clever” has the more positive connotation in our society. We want to be “good”, but not too “nice.” “Nice guys finish last,” they say but can’t one be good and clever at the same time?

No. You can be smart, wise, intelligent, and still be nice, but clever and nice are incompatible. The clever person is looking for ways to win– to come out on top at someone else’s expense. The clever person may bring others with him, but he/she will never be truly nice, because that would require putting someone else’s wants or needs first.
And that is what gets celebrated in much of today’s comedy– it is not noble, pure, or lovely. It is self-satisfying, and usually at someone else’s expense. It is also escape from a reality that is not in the least funny. We (and here I am including many Christians who think they are nice people) tune in to shows where comedians rip up people with whom they disagree. It is not uncommon for me to see blogs, videos, and posts ripping into politicians, entertainers, and others who have been “caught” saying or doing something stupid or unethical. While I’m not suggesting that I don’t want to be informed, I’m really tired of being encouraged to laugh and rejoice in their mistakes and/or wickedness.
There is a time to laugh, and to share joy in a way that is noble and of good report. This isn’t it.
Back to your original point. My husband and I don’t watch television, either, and not necessarily for the reasons you mentioned (although it is a bonus). We have found that it distracts us from other, better, things. Again, you refer to Paul’s advice to the Philippians, and while it doesn’t seem like it, it is a call to action. Sitting in front of the TV or computer screen is passive– the thoughts, the images come at you, and you don’t have to do anything but take them in. But Paul is asking us to think deliberately and with discipline on certain things. We can’t do that surrounded by outside images and talk that focus on self. Instead, we need to choose images and talk that encourage, uplift, and point to the Truth.
Thanks for the great reminder.

Ben Cabe

July 1, 2014

Thanks, Stuart! What we take in is very important and very much does affect our lives. I recall, about six months after getting rid of our television in 2012, going out to see a movie—we had to walk out. Normally we would have been fine but since we had gotten rid of our television and were no longer desensitized to the violence we had to walk out. I was amazed how differently I viewed things like movies and such. Thanks for this reminder

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Jody Byrkett

July 1, 2014

“What, you too? I thought I was the only one…”

I don’t own a TV, am frequently gaped at when I say (for a countless time), “I haven’t seen that,” and I get frustrated at crude humour (even if something *is* witty, that doesn’t pay off in the end).

Glad to know that I am not only in good company, but also that a *man* is willing to stand up for virtue in the things he sets before his eyes and ears. Thanks!

Loading…

chriscamsmith

July 1, 2014

I love sports too much to get rid of the TV, but just now as I’m trying to watch the USA in the World Cup with my daughter I had to change the channel quickly because a preview for some new comedy called “Sex Tape” came on (at 5 in the afternoon on ESPN!). This in addition to promos for other shows glorifying adultery and “male-enhancement” ads. It’s so frustrating….

Loading…

Lila Toney Fair

July 4, 2014

Well said. While there is a “time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance,” (Ecc. 3:4 KJV), I think we often give a “pass” to inappropriate dialogue and entertainment when they seem funny. We have no trouble saying “no” to angry diatribes full of vulgarities, smut, or racist rants, but we give a “pass” to ethnic, “dirty”, or gender-bashing “jokes” and “uncomfortable laughter.” We may not always repeat them, but we don’t repudiate them; we allow them into our minds and memories.

I don’t like tossing out the phrase “what would Jesus do?” as I believe it’s been overused and lost most of its original meaning and relevance, but here’s a case where it might be well-applied…would Jesus tell this joke? Would he sit happily and enjoy this TV sitcom? Would you feel differently if Jesus were sitting on the couch next to you as you watch it? Would you “Share” this joke or You Tube video with Jesus? If the answer is no, that ought to tell us something.
Comedy today seems to rely more and more heavily on crude but clever dialogue. It is sharp, biting, and aggressive. Recently, Jerry Lewis was involved in a controversy when he talked about his dislike of women doing “crude” comedy (http://time.com/61560/funny-women-jerry-lewis/). Critics jumped all over his comments as misogynistic, old-fashioned, irrelevant, etc., but I think there is a core of truth in his comments that unsettles people. Lewis talked about the “aggressiveness” of comedy, and that it bothered him to see women using coarse language as they attack people in their monologues. But he was no less complimentary of the current crop of male stand-up comedians. His main point of criticism was that the newest breed of comedian/comedienne lacks originality, integrity, and basic respect for others. Their monologues are sniper attacks at straw-man targets. Their goal is to get a laugh, but they don’t care how or why you are laughing. It comes off as bitter and mean.

It reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from an old movie with Jimmy Stewart. In “Harvey”, Stewart plays a man whose sister is trying to get him committed because his antics embarrass her. The ensuing chaos has everyone else tearing their hair out. Jimmy Stewart’s character is truly the only calm in a great storm of misinformation, greed, and ambition. At one point, he is talking to one of the psychologists and a nurse, who are trying to determine whether he is sane. They have asked various questions, and he offers his life philosophy. He says that his mother once told him there were two ways to go through life– you can be clever, or you can be nice. And then he says, “I’ve tried clever; I recommend nice.” I have thought about that often in the years since I first saw that movie, because I think most people would like to think they are clever AND (at least on some level) nice. Certainly, “Clever” has the more positive connotation in our society. We want to be “good”, but not too “nice.” “Nice guys finish last,” they say but can’t one be good and clever at the same time?

No. You can be smart, wise, intelligent, and still be nice, but clever and nice are incompatible. The clever person is looking for ways to win– to come out on top at someone else’s expense. The clever person may bring others with him, but he/she will never be truly nice, because that would require putting someone else’s wants or needs first.
And that is what gets celebrated in much of today’s comedy– it is not noble, pure, or lovely. It is self-satisfying, and usually at someone else’s expense. It is also escape from a reality that is not in the least funny. We (and here I am including many Christians who think they are nice people) tune in to shows where comedians rip up people with whom they disagree. It is not uncommon for me to see blogs, videos, and posts ripping into politicians, entertainers, and others who have been “caught” saying or doing something stupid or unethical. While I’m not suggesting that I don’t want to be informed, I’m really tired of being encouraged to laugh and rejoice in their mistakes and/or wickedness.
There is a time to laugh, and to share joy in a way that is noble and of good report. This isn’t it.
Back to your original point. My husband and I don’t watch television, either, and not necessarily for the reasons you mentioned (although it is a bonus). We have found that it distracts us from other, better, things. Again, you refer to Paul’s advice to the Philippians, and while it doesn’t seem like it, it is a call to action. Sitting in front of the TV or computer screen is passive– the thoughts, the images come at you, and you don’t have to do anything but take them in. But Paul is asking us to think deliberately and with discipline on certain things. We can’t do that surrounded by outside images and talk that focus on self. Instead, we need to choose images and talk that encourage, uplift, and point to the Truth.
Thanks for the great reminder.

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