Television has become a tool in which violent material can infiltrate our homes, and minds. In fact an alarming statistic is that a child will see over 8,000 murders and 100, 000 acts of violence before they even finish elementary school. For this reason I have chosen to discuss violence in the media and a Christians response to it.
             To begin let's look at the staggering increases in crime rates. Between 1986 and 1991, the number of child abuse victims increase 40%. Children were 244% more likely to be killed by a gun in 1993, than in 1986. These two statistics alone show that, though our culture might be moving ahead at a rapid pace, we are also becoming more and more corrupted as we go. In fact, the amount of violent crimes occurring in the US is 560% more than in 1960. Something is happening to our country. Why are violent crimes, abuse, and murder up so much in such a short amount of time? Well, in Proverbs 23:7 it talks about "...what a man thinketh in his heart, so he is..." Essentially it is saying what you think and say fits you to a 'T'. If you think about, and dwell on violent things, you will become a violent person. People who push violent advertising often say that violence on television in no way affects a person, however they are convinced that a 30 second advertisement will affect people enough to get them to go out and buy something. What is the difference, except that they give more time to the violent acts on TV than they give to commercials. Thus it could be stated that if a 30 second commercial will affect you, then a 30 minute television show will affect you even more.
             As we look back over previous cultures the most lasting and interesting items they leave behind are their works of art. It can be said that we have a sick society based on this view, for the amount of violence in our movies is just staggering. In Robocop 32 people are killed, but in it's sequel 81 are killed. This just shows...