In Conflict with Our Confession of Faith

Beloved Congregation:

The wiles of Satan are becoming increasingly greater the older the world gets, the nearer the end approaches. Everything shows plainly that Satan has only a short time left. He is doing everything in his power to draw people away from God and from His Word. Even the great technological and scientific developments of the men of today are used by the Prince of Darkness to further his ends. He finds a ready response in our own heart because by our deep fall in Adam we have admitted the whole world into it.

Fully aware of this, our fathers have always taken a firm stand with regard to any new development which they were convinced was in conflict with the Word of God. Often these inventions have several so-called points in their favor in the opinion of the world and even of many “Christians.” However, our fathers were not afraid to “call a spade a spade.” God’s Word and only God’s Word must always be our standard, also in the conflict with the “spirit of the times,” which lifts its head boldly day by day and constantly continues to gain ground.

Well, then, whenever the world offers us a new invention, especially one that is particularly attractive, we must remember that the powers of darkness invariably try to employ it to draw us away from the true religion and to destroy us according to both soul and body.

Deeply conscious of this melancholy fact, our consistory feels impelled to warn our people concerning one of the new developments now being offered to the public, namely, television. I fully share their concern and am, therefore, eager to bring you this message.

Congregation, it is an undeniable fact that television brings the world right into our own home. It has been very correctly stated that the general public is eager to see everything which appears on the screen and has developed an extreme fondness for watching boxing matches, plays, ballets, etc., on the television. When we have a television set, we have the theater right in our own house.

In a recently published book about television by Professor Edward Cornell, the objections against television are stated, but also the so-called “good” which comes from it is explained. He writes that it is an excellent form of recreation for the entire family, that we can attain to a better knowledge of God’s Creation in this way, etc., but he concludes that the keys should be kept by the parents.

We have no need at all for such advice and enlightenment. Like our fathers, who were always definite in their statements, we today take a firm stand regarding anything we consider contrary to God’s Word. In this connection the consistory and myself heartily endorse the declaration made by our last Synod on this subject and have accordingly decided to inform each one of you about this Synodical statement by this means.

The declaration reads as follows:

“The Synod condemns the use of television in the home, judging it to be in conflict with the Word of God and with the confession of faith made in the presence of God in the church. The Synod judges unanimously that rigorous measures must be adopted to cope with the conformity to the world as regards television, since it can lead to nothing other than great detriment to the family. The consistories are to admonish with patience and forbearance, but upon continued failure to heed their admonition to proceed with censure.”

Compare this statement with the equally emphatic declaration of our fathers in Lord’s Day 35 of our Heidelberg Catechism with regard to the images in the Roman Catholic Church:

“We must not pretend to be wiser than God, who will have His people taught, not by dumb images, but by the lively preaching of His Word.”

If we are to condemn image-worship from the bottom of our heart, we must further condemn the use of television in our homes. The man of sin is revealing himself more and more, and people’s consciences are being seared as with a hot iron. Television programs recognize only the public’s craving for pleasure and entertainment, without any regard to what God’s Word declares, without any regard to the needs of sinful man in a state of misery, and without any regard to the brevity of the precious time allotted to man in his day of grace.

I repeat, modern inventions are controlled by the powers of darkness, drawing our generation away from the reading, meditation, and regard for the Truth, thus destroying man according to both soul and body.

People in whose heart the fear of God is found, and who have any respect at all for the Truth of God, will heed the testimonies of God. I hope this word of caution will make a deep impression in the heart of everyone, young or old, parents as well as children. Parents, soon we shall have to appear before God, and children, you too, to give an account of everything you have done whether it was good or bad. I sincerely hope the prayer of David may be or become yours, as wrought in your heart by God’s Spirit: “Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken Thou me in Thy way” (Psalm 119:37). Do not reject the advice and admonitions of those who watch for the welfare of your soul in accordance with God’s Word. Come faithfully to the house of God and attend the preaching and reading of God’s Testimonies. Never permit your place to be vacant without a valid reason. Search and study the Scriptures, and do not spend your valuable time watching television. Boys and girls, shun the paths of unrighteousness; seek the Lord and His strength. Do not tread on the heart of your father and mother, but always accept their warnings and reproofs in humility. Parents, let us always be mindful of the promise we made at baptism, a promise to which God will one day refer again.

Think these things over very carefully. It always seems so hard to be different from the rest, but remember, it is always pleasant to be right! Talk these things over, parents and children. It is my duty to shield and guard you against the dangers which beset you. Even more than the radio, television simply usurps still more of your precious time, time which is needed for preparing for eternity and not for watching programs which are all too often unprofitable, foolish, and sinful. When your friends invite you to join them or ask your children to come over for a television program, tell them what our position is. Show them this letter if you wish. Feel perfectly confident that our viewpoint is scriptural, and let them be the ones to prove that their actions conform to their profession, if they think they can.

I pray the Lord that He may bless and sanctify this message to your heart so that you may be given to walk in the ways well-pleasing to God, and so it may never be necessary for your consistory, whose office it is to take the oversight of the church, to employ the key of Christian discipline.

Ever seeking your welfare,

Your minister,

Rev. W.C. Lamain

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