Blessed is the country with only three television channels.
When the UK had only three television channels, and only a handful of radio stations and newspapers, it’s safe to say, at that time, as a country we probably felt more unity and peace as individuals and as a community; that we felt a greater bond with each other.
Because we had less choice, there was a sense of knowing what each other had seen and been told. We knew the same news, saw the same entertainment, and there was little enough of it, to be able to talk with others about it the next day. We had a sense we could perceive how each other viewed things.
One could say this was bad because the control of the news, or the morals portrayed in entertainment, was in the hands of only a few powerful people, and they were able to influence most of society. But there being so few influencers, made them easier to identify and possibly hold to account, and with variety comes a greater number of influencers and greater anonymity for them.
One could say that variety is the spice of life and that we’re better off with more choice and even more balanced choices. Human creativity was bound to flourish as it has, and perhaps that is as it should be. The purpose of this article isn’t to say we should go back to the “good old days”, but to raise awareness of the “cost” of choice.
Poverty, being poor, is said to be typified by a lack of options, or lack of choice.
Jesus said “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
If we consider this with the TV/Country analogy, it helps to make sense of this statement.
If you recognise you have a lack of choice, you turn to heaven immediately and more often.
If you think you have many options, heaven will be added to your “watch later” list.
And since the kingdom of heaven is better than “number one in the UK today”, missing out is a loss.
Also, the less we watch of heaven, and the less we think the majority of others are watching it also, the less we think we have in common, and the so the less unity we feel.
This leads to a related and perhaps more fundamental issue, addressed in Genesis chapter three.
· Adam and Eve’s action, as explained by God and confirmed by the serpent, gave the option to perceive or determine (have an opinion on) what was good or bad.
· Where previously there had been only one opinion (God’s) to consider, this instantly brought about three opinions (God’s, Adam’s and Eve’s) to any given situation or circumstance.
· Where you have more than one opinion, there is the chance of differences of opinion.
· Where there are possible differences of opinion, there is the fear of disapproval, due to those differences. The fear that others might have a different opinion than you, or about you. Or if you have a poor opinion of yourself, you might fear others concur.
· This is what shame is.
· The consequence of adding more than just God’s opinion to the equation of life, was shame.
· Nothing had changed about Adam and Eve’s nature or image, after they ate of the tree they were told not to, it was just that there were more opinions now to contend with.
· Those opinions caused shame, which destroyed Adam and Eve’s perception of their sonship, inheritance and intimacy with God.
· When you have shame, you cover yourself and retreat, from God and others.
· Unity is lost and quickly, killing and wars between humans were rife.
It’s at this point that three television channels, despite the perceived lack of control and options that we crave, becomes more appealing.
If you’re going to cede control of choices to anyone, it needs to be the creator. His opinion is truth. Not "his" truth, just truth.
If someone knows your thoughts about them, are run by God in your head first, they will feel loved by you; especially if they understand that God’s opinion of them is inordinately high.