I appreciated the question a dad asked following a recent Seriously since it might be one others have as well. His question was: Should TV/movies be a forbidden fruit to be completely avoided or would it be better used to teach self-control (moderation)?

When someone uses the term “forbidden fruit” I take it they are implying that by making something forbidden, we are actually enticing someone to want it. A further implication is that by not forbidding it completely, it isn’t as desirable (as when forbidden) and it can be avoided more easily.

Let’s consider this concept. The Garden God created in Genesis was perfect. Agreed? God placed the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the midst, and He said, “Thou shalt not eat of it.” It was forbidden fruit if you will.

God didn’t leave it un-forbidden to make it less appealing. He knew it was appealing, and for His children’s protection gave them a set boundary with no middle ground, no balance, no moderation. Simply, “No!”

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16,17).

Steve