This is true and is ironically, one of the ways groups like the Baptists are as NI put it, "distancing themselves from the influence of Hollywood". ("Hollywood" being used as a derogatory term) One way to limit influence is change the enviroment.

Actually, I am totally opposed to tv. I do not and will not own one again.

Let me share a little something here:
I was so engrossed in Hollywood prior to church that friends would call to find out how we liked recent movies. We literally were there on opening night or at worst the next day. My wife and I were avid fans of movies and tv. It was a lifestyle for us that took much of our time.

After coming into truth, we got rid of tv. It was nice to have peace and quiet and we found that it was more conducive to prayer and godly living.

Several years went by and some family members came to live with us for a while. They brougth their tv which I allowed, provided it stayed in their room. And it did for a while.

I found myself standing in the doorway becoming engrossed in it once again. It eventually was brought out to the front room and prayer was now secondary.

Our family became situated in their own home and our house was once again somewhat quiet, except for tv. It never left. They graciously allowed us to keep it with us, surround sound and all.

After DVD, our library began to grow. We had dozens of movies within weeks and were steadily buying new ones since it was so much cheaper to stay home and watch the movies and the popcorn was better and also much cheaper.

Our friends at church began to buy their own tv's since we had one. Their libraries also grew and outpaced our quickly. We would go to luch together after church and discuss the latest films and all of that stuff. Until...

One sunday afternoon, one sister who we used to pray regularly with made this comment: "We used to talk about the things of God. Now we talk about the latest movies. Isn't it funny how things have changed?"

My heart was pricked for it was then that I realized what tv and movies were doing to our walk with God. I literally quit watching it. My wife would sit there and watch it alone. This went on for six months until she came to me and told me to get rid of it.

I will never forget the first night without it. The peace that settled in our home was alomost tangible. Our friends would come over and often remarked on how peacefuly it felt in our home.

Our prayer lives came back into focus. Our walk with God became stronger than ever. Our convictions about separation also strengthened. It was here on this sacrifice of worldly pleasure that a minister was born.

I am that man and my wife is that woman.

I am thankful that God opened our eyes to the damage that Hollywood has done and is still doing in the lives of good church folks. I sincerely hope that He will continue to open other's eyes as well so that the church will once again become separated from the devices of this world. as it is, so many are ensnared with this junk and think that all is well.

Samson thought he was okay. He toyed with the world through Delilah.
Look at this:
Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

He had gotten so far along with playing with Delilah that he did not realize that God had left him. That is what is happening to those who think they can live closer to the world and still think they are doing right. They have no clue that God is pulling His spirit back from them.

Oh, they can shake rattle and roll, but they wist not that the Lord has departed from them.

Maybe that is why the Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

He understood that God could and would withdraw from man if man wanted to follow evil. God will not stay close to sinful hearts and lives.

I fully disagree with you here.
The rot of Hollywood is not environmental as you seem to be suggesting but spiritual. It is not something that we can just go in and Voila!! it's clean. It was never clean to begin with.
Early films showed ungodly things, though much less vulgar than today. It has never been truly a medium for godliness.
Some early films were considered okay by many, but the far reaching implications of it is that it still promotes ungodly lifestyles. The earlier films showed smokers and made it cool. Consequently, a generation wanted to be just like their movies idols. This is still going on today. It hasn't changed in its import, merely how open it all is now.
I do not believe that it will ever become godly. Even the films that are being promoted as having "christian values" are not something that I would want to watch. The term is very broad in the eyes of producers.
I guess we should just all go watch Evenalmighty and laugh it off as he scoffs at truth. Or any other film.
I guess it is okay to watch something like that even if it has a couple of bad words in it since that is real life.
I can not follow this line of thinking. It just isn't biblical.

NI, this is a great and moving story. I am happy for you and would not in any way want to remove your testimony. But before you condemn others for your own struggles and declare the Spirit is departed from others please consider this.

1. There are many people that have stored and cataloged video (much of it is porn) on there computers very much like you did the DVDs. I hope you are not one of them but I have no way of knowing for sure, since you do have a computer.

2. You were not likely spending as much time on the computer when you were into those movies. If time for prayer is the issue, I question whether you are making the best of it on-line or even on an Apostolic Forum.

Brother Hoover,
I spend alot of time online doing biblical research and even take multimedia classes.Its not the same.I haven't seen the local tv station offering classes.I
don't have tv.Its not a one is better than the other.One takes a bit of work on
your part.The other is sheer entertainment.We also like Brother NI had tv for years.Honestly I find it boring and would much rather watch dvds of church
teachings to hear the things my pastor said that the surroundings at the
time distracted me from.I don't think its as much of a tv or no tv issue but more
of a stewardship issue.I think a camping trip would have been better than a movie
but hey maybe they aren't the camping type.Interaction is so much nicer than sitting side by side staring at a screen.If someone has tv I don't condemn them but its my choice not to.

Thanks. I was not saying they are exactly the same. Though some of the programing is exactly the same... And the fact is the gap between the two is rapidly closing.

I agree actually. And rarely ever watch TV myself for the reasons you mention as well as others.

Keep thine HEART in order and neither Hollywood or internet will affect your walk with God...
I think what we fail (as a whole) as Pentecostal people to preach and teach about is the heart. Far to long we have screamed "charismatics" when the heart or love is mentioned thus many places (not all) I have visited we see evil hearts walking around in long robes. (and no one has a doubt the way I dress) I am from the "old Order" ha.... but on this subject I am very serious.
It is NOT the outward that will clense the inward. Our hearts must be a garden for God and us to cultivate. I am going to start another thread entitled...THE Heart...

Wow, what understanding, and an attitude of vision instead of defeat! Well said.

I choose to be among those who believe God is greater that all that the enemy can throw out. The "creation is going to hell in a handbasket" crowd I place with the "fearful and unbelieving".

The scripture tells us there will be a day when "the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas." Sounds like the church triumphant!!!!

Amen.

In response to question #1. I am not careful to answer. The truth of the matter is that I one time was fully into online porn. God has been faithful to take me out of it and set my feet on a good path. I am thankful for His delivering power.
#2. You will find that I will post things and then not come on here for periods of time. It is for this very reason since the internet can be so time consuming and there are many other ways that are much better in which to spend that time. Prayer is but one of them.

We would all do better to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

Regarding tv, I do not believe that we should be involved in worldly entertainment. That kind of stuff only leads to more degredation. It is subtle and alluring in its efforts to cause us to stray from the path of separation.

Do I believe that God is able to keep us? Most certainly.
Do I believe it is okay to tempt Him with things like that? Absolutely not.
Grace is not guaranteed.