When I was a teenager in the 80’s I had a 1 hour soap opera I had to watch each day after school, Santa Barbara.  Later, when I was married with my first child, I, like millions of other women…and now men, invited into my home each day 2 to 3 hours of soap opera drama.  I reasoned it didn’t slow me down on my daily task as they were in the afternoon by that time RJ was ready for either a quiet time or a time to play by himself and the shows  kept me “company”.   I had a tv in the living room so I could do my household duties in that part of  the house and catch who cheated on who, who died and came back to life with a new face, who was getting married and then wasn’t getting married etc.

I had a little portable black and white set in my kitchen so if I had kitchen chores while my soaps where on, those chores wouldn’t go neglected.  It was a win win, I was entertained, productive and kept company by my favorite shows.

The women on the shows were so beautiful, how I had strived to be so attractive in my teen years. The men where so handsome, brave and masculine and they all lived such romantic lives, who wouldn’t want to be them?

In 1993 when Ron and I were converted to the wonderful saving grace of Christ truth, a veil was rent from my eyes.  Without any effort I quickly saw the atmosphere those shows were creating in homes across America, including mine.  They produced within people what 1 John 2:16 says: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

It was shortly after that that we removed our TVs from our home. I have wondered over the years, shows such as soap operas, how many marriages and families they have destroyed or at the very least how much discontent and unhappiness have they caused in homes and marriages and even with ones self.  Breeding discontent with oneself, with  ones marriage, with  one’s home, with one’s family, with one’s life in general.

Don’t get me wrong, soap operas aren’t the only culprits in this destruction. Shows as innocent and funny as I love Lucy can create such issues. Let’s face it, Lucy was NEVER happy with what she had, she always had  to have more, better and different! She desired to keep up with the “Jones”.  Ricky, Little Ricky, her home, etc. all had to be  the best, the newest.  Sure it was one of the best shows ever, sure it was just plan funny, sure it was clean humor, but if we broke it down we can see where Lucy repeatedly demonstrated deception, manipulation, lust of the flesh, pride of life and discontent and not only did she display all those things, she got away with it, week after week.

Let’s not forget the comparison she always did, to Ricky, about his provisions for her and Little Ricky, but she also compared Ricky to every man that came their way. Why couldn’t he give her this, give her that? Why didn’t he take her there, take her there? What he provided was horrible, what he gave wasn’t enough, what she had she was never content or happy with and on and on…..I’m sure you get my point here.

I understand, it was just a show. Everyone knows that and wouldn’t take it seriously….or would they?  If we invite one friend, each week for  ½ hour into our home who is just like Lucy, we might be able to come out unscathed by their discontent but what happens when we invite a dozen friends each week into our homes for ½ each, day after day week after week, can we keep their life view from infiltrating our own view of life? 

I guess my point is, no there isn’t a big bad boogie man hiding around every corner waiting to devour us, but on the other hand everything we want to deem as a benign influences in our lives is seldom benign, especially when we are repeatedly exposed to it and we believe there is no arm that can come from it. Everything we come into contact with influences us in some way, be it people, music, viewing entertainment and the list goes on and on. This is where we have to be able to line things up with what the Word of God says in Philippians 4:8: 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.

I know many homes have televisions still and if it isn’t a television then it is the internet with its endless sources of entertainment that sit there to entice and lure.

As the Keeper of the Home, the homemaker, everything we do throughout our day influences our homes and their atmosphere, chose wisely what and who you invite into your home, your family is depending on you!