The Bible Speaks to You January 3, 1970 Issue

[The above is an abbreviated, postproduction text of the program released for broadcast the week of December 26—January 1 in the radio series, The Bible Speaks to You." Heard internationally over more than 1,000 stations, the weekly programs are prepared and produced by the Christian Science Committee on Publication, 107 Falmouth Street, Boston, Massachusetts, U. S. A. 02115.]

RADIO PROGRAM NO. 404 - What Determines What You Read and See?

Robert McKinnon with contributions from Jack Krieger

[The speaker is Jack Krieger. The questioner is Robert McKinnon.]

Questioner: There are many things that determine the books we read and the films we see. Often those that are the most heavily promoted and advertised are not the ones that should be. The best seller isn't necessarily the "best" book. It's hard at times not to be taken in. On the other hand, people don't want to be told what books to read or not to read or what films to see and not see, and I don't think they should be. How do you feel about it?
Speaker: I agree. Everyone wants to think for himself. It's right to be in control of our own thinking and to make our own decisions. But if we're really responsible, we'll see the need to be more selective, to examine our motives, to support things that are worthwhile, values that are constructive.
Questioner: But in this highly permissive age, I'm wondering what guidelines one can turn to. Individual conscience, perhaps, or the opinions of respected friends and critics?
Speaker: If we really want to be more selective, to determine what we read or see rather than have it determined for us, if we want to be in control rather than to be controlled, I think we need a more dependable guideline than our own conscience or that of others'. Conscience alone isn't enough, because it's subject to rationalization. As startling as it may sound, there are wonderful guidelines in the Bible that have helped many contemporary, active people become more selective. Christ Jesus, for example, declared (John 7:24), "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment."

Jesus revealed the relationship between God and man and our ability to judge righteously from that standpoint. This might lead to the importance of not judging a book by its cover or a film by the ads—in other words, to go beneath the surface of things and see what kind of thinking is involved, what the author is trying to say.

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