TV Watching and Risk of Death

“Japanese scientists say that watching TV for hours can raise the risk of dying from a blood clot in the lungs. Researchers studied the viewing habits of 86,000 people between 1988 and 1990—then monitored their health over the next 19 years… for every extra two hours of TV watched per day, the risk of [death]… increased by 40%. Watching five or more hours of TV programmes each day made people more than twice as likely to die than those watching less than 2.5 hours” (BBC, July 26, 2016).

God praises the person “who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, and shuts his eyes from seeing evil” (Isaiah 33:15). The Bible also proclaims the benefits of exercise (1 Timothy 4:8)—something that is missed with much TV and movie watching. The Scriptures have many warnings for the “lazy” person (Proverbs 10:26; 12:24, 27; 13:4; 19:24). While occasional TV and movie watching may be OK, too much of anything has its consequences. TV watching can squander time instead of “redeeming it,” as God commands (Ephesians 5:15-16). Today, there is credible research to support these biblical instructions. To use your time even more effectively, listen to our helpful sermon “Redeeming the Time.”