Scared will start watching too much tv again after Lent is over

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crenfro

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Hello.

Lent is officially over this Holy Thursday. I haven’t watched tv for all of lent, but I’m scared I’m going to return to what I used to do, and self-discipline is not one of my strong points.

Any suggestions or support?
 
Throw the TV out the door
(I would do that in a heartbeat but husband and kids would never allow it)
 
The kids are turning toward iPad & smartphones for their entertainment.
 
My Dear Christian Friend, as a member of the Church of Christ, I don’t subscribe to Lent…so to speak, but as a fellow Christian, if something causes you to fall…such as TV or the internet…don’t do it…or limit …aka…use self control… to stay away from stuff that calls you to sin…aka Cable news, Facebook, whatever…even after “Lent”
 
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Hello.

My husband really likes that I gave up TV. He’s been watching all these shows and is glad he can watch them any time he likes.

If I could just think of an incentive that would work, or maybe God will help me, or maybe someone will suggest something or a reward for not watching TV or maybe I could replace it with something useful.

I dunno. I don’t want to go back to how I was doing things.

Please pray for me.
 
Think of it this way, you ready gave it up for 40 days. If you really don’t want to start watching again, don’t. Do exactly what you do now when you feel like watching, eventually it will get easier.

I gave up what I called “mindless” TV a few years ago. I had the TV on all the time, for background noise. Usually some incarnation if Law & Order or some hospital drama. And lots of TV Land, the mindless comedies of the 70’s-90’s.

I limit myself now to a couple shows per week and maybe a movie or documentary now & then, but for the most part the TV is off.
 
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One thing to remember, we are supposed to give up things that are good for Lent. To give up something sinful is not a sacrifice.

Now, one year I gave up all TV/Radio/Internet “news”. I read the Vatican News Service and the local weather report. You know what? I realized that much of what I’d been watching was not good, that it had been poisoning my mind. That was years ago and I still rarely turn on the “news”.

So, give up what is good, and if you find out you are better without it then use that as a stepping off point.
 
Hello.

I don’t understand about the giving up of something “good.” Can’t giving up something “bad” be useful? I know quitting drinking if you’re an alcoholic is very good. If an alcoholic decided one Lent to attend AA meetings and subsequently stopped drinking, I think that would have been one Lent well spent.

I don’t quite understand your post. I feel sort of like maybe you’re saying because I quit watching TV, and because TV is mostly useless junk, thus making it “bad,” that I wasted Lent. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
 
Giving something up as a sacrifice for Lent is one kajillion percent voluntary. We are required to pray, fast and give alms during Lent. Those are the only requirements and some of those have “out clauses”.

A sacrifice to be a sacrifice is to give something good. In fact, in the Old Testament, only the best animals could be sacrificed, it was a sin to bring a sick or malformed animal for sacrifice.

You gave up TV. I am guessing that is because you like TV. TV is morally neutral, so, you gave up the enjoyment and relaxation that you get from TV.

You know the one jerk who says “I’m giving up Brussels sprouts for Lent” because he hates them anyway, that is “wasting Lent” or to be more accurate making a mockery of Lent.

Alcohol, cigarettes, these are morally neutral things. To give them up for Lent means to give up the enjoyment and relaxation one gets from these things.

Imagine your neighbor said “I’m giving up beating my kids” or “I’m giving up my adulterous affair” for Lent. You would be appalled because those are not worthy sacrifices.
 
Hello.

Maybe it would be helpful to you if I worded it that I was “fasting” from TV for Lent.

I understand that giving up something for Lent is voluntary. I gave up this particular thing because I knew “fasting” from it could well bring me closer to God.

As I’m trying to understand from what you’re saying, it sounds to me like you’re saying I did nothing for Lent, when this giving up TV has been a bit of a trial for me.

What it sounds like to me is that you’re saying giving up TV isn’t a worthy sacrifice.

If this is the case, then I disagree with you. Turning away from doing something unworthy, is a positive step. We are all at different places in our faith, and perhaps someone who doesn’t have a problem with watching excessive TV can’t relate to this.

If I’m again misunderstanding you I apologize.

I started this post for support in continuing to abstain from TV, and I don’t see the support here when I’m being told what I did for Lent didn’t matter at all.

Also, I disagree that TV is morally neutral. I think it has a profound effect on the population, and on me, which is why I tried to give it up.

Again, if I am misreading what you’re saying I apologize. But if I’m not, I feel a bit demoralized by someone saying what I did for Lent didn’t matter.

Also, giving up beating your kids or an adulterous affair would be an excellent thing to do for Lent. It could mean the difference between Heaven or not. Maybe I would be appalled if I heard someone say this, maybe not. If it is a complete turning from sin to God then it was well worth it to do during Lent.
 
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No one has said your abstaining from TV “does not matter at all”.

TV is morally neutral. If TV were inherently evil we would have teaching from the Church. We are permitted electronic entertainment, to read books, to listen to secular music, etc.

To give up sin is to repent of sin, it is required of everyone.

Good things given to God are sacrifices.

If you want to give away, sell or smash your TV, that is your prerogative.
 
Hello crenfro 🙂 What works for me is to just order dvd’s from the library that I really like,and use them as an incentive to watch at the end of the day after doing chores.
When I think back to when I was a teenager living with my family,the best tv experiences were that,watching something at the end of the day like a reward.It was exciting to have it to look forward to.
You have started something great for yourself ! Keep it going if you can by regulating using that screen time as a reward dear crenfro.
Just some months back I was struggling to get off the couch,feeling depressed and I knew if I didn’t push through it ,it would only get worse.
I’m so glad for you that the warm weather is just around the corner…being outside helps so much to get away from tv and forget about it.
God bless and take care.
 
Hello.

I am quoting verbatim from one of your posts: “A sacrifice to be a sacrifice is to give something good.” I think abstaining from some things, as you yourself mentioned, by fasting, is also a sacrifice. I don’t think this is an either/or thing. Also, as I see it, by saying that something can only be given in order for it to be a sacrifice is very limiting.

Also, by saying “A sacrifice to be a sacrifice is to give something good,” implies that fasting, which is taking away from something, in my point of view, doesn’t matter.

I don’t understand why you are saying these things to me, but I feel hurt by them. I hope I am misunderstanding.
 
Hello again.

No, we are not required to repent of sin. We have free will and can choose - I hope none of us do, however - eternal bliss, or not.

I’m not talking about destroying the TV here. My husband enjoys it and has no issue with watching too much. I have to consider him. That’s like the cliche of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. The topic is my concern about returning to watch too much TV where in this thread I’ve asked for support.
 
Hello.

Thank you. It’s forced me to make better use of my time. I’ve been watching it for hours and hours every day for many months and has been quite a shock this Lent. I don’t think I could have stopped it without God’s help.

I actually sewed 3 little projects in addition to my courses I’m taking, and have been reading books. Books of all things!
 
Yes, I think not watching TV is a very good thing for one’s spiritual life. God Bless You for persevering in this mortification.
 
Hello.

I can relate to having trouble getting off the sofa. Once was so depressed after missing a dentist appt. and being charged the missed appt. fee I literally couldn’t leave the house for 3 days. Couldn’t sleep. I had to make an appt. with the therapist and find a new dentist, which turned out to be the best thing in the end, so God does move in mysterious ways, even in the mundane. Some people can’t relate to feeling like this.

Glad you pushed through it, though sometimes it’s okay to ask for help when you can’t push through. You are in my prayers.

Looking forward to some spring weather here. Can’t wait to get on my bicycle on a nice warm sunny day the good Lord willing, and with all the snow we’ve gotten this year, the creek probably will rise.
 
That sounds promising 🙂 I’m hoping to get hold of a bike too,and ride.And perhaps start swimming at the local pool .
I don’t know if you have a garden crenfro,but sometimes I get so carried away out there I forget about time,and worries.There’s something very therapeutic in nurturing plants,growing things from seeds or seedlings .If I couldn’t have a garden I would definitely try growing things in pots.
 
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