In Reply to: Re: the Apostle Paul quoting pagan poets & playwrights posted by Bryon on March 09, 2003 at 14:33:42:
So because of those shows which you listed you haven't watched TV in 4 years? Is that what you're saying? Byron, maybe you only received one channel with only those shows on it, but my TV has loads and loads of channels and I and my children watch all kinds of cool, fun, interesting, educational shows! The lists goes on and on and on. Including lots of kids shows that, tho they aren't Christian, teach good moral values I can heartily say "Amen!" to.
I think the fact that you've gone to such an extreme of not even watching TV at all that your stance does very little to advance your argument that Christians should have discernment.
And you still haven't answered my question as to whether you condemn the apostle Paul or not for watching Greek comedies and quoting from a hymn praising Zeus. You said:
"It is most certain that Paul was very well read and didn't hesitate to make use of pagan sources that managed to cross over and touch on the truth from time to time."
But it seems you're saying that WE should NOT be well-read. Paul read secular plays and poetry but all these things should be forbidden to Christians now. Hello? Plus tho Paul "didn't hesitate to make use of pagan sources" WE should not only hesitate, but utterly abstain. Hello?
You finish by saying:
"The Lord's says, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." The TV is a 'one way', 'their way' fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness."
Depending on what you watch. If you can't trust yourself to watch a TV and get the good out of it, well maybe you shouldn't have one in your house. But I think the ideal is for us to mature as Christians and choose the good and eschew the evil and enjoy simple, harmless pleasures and entertainment, even if they come from secular sources.
However, if you even consider Billy Graham to be "of the devil" it's small wonder that you would be aghast at Star Trek.