The Excuse We All Hear
“It’s just a TV show.”
That’s what people say when Christians raise concerns about what’s streaming in living rooms today. The assumption? That a series is harmless background noise. That it’s nothing more than casual entertainment after a long day. But the truth is, shows are often even more powerful than movies — because they don’t just last two hours; they shape our minds week after week, episode after episode, season after season.
The more time you spend with a show, the more invested you become in its characters, its worldview, and its values. Before long, these stories aren’t just “on the screen” — they’re in your heart, reshaping how you see reality.
The Biblical Lens
The Bible calls us to be sober-minded and vigilant (1 Peter 5:8), because the enemy is always seeking an opening. Our eyes and ears are gateways.
- “Do not be deceived: ‘Bad company corrupts good morals’” (1 Corinthians 15:33). The characters you “hang out with” on screen influence you as much as the friends you keep in real life.
- “The lamp of the body is the eye” (Matthew 6:22). Whatever fills your eyes will fill your life.
- “Do not love the world or the things in the world” (1 John 2:15). The world’s shows are not neutral — they carry a worldview.
The Trojan Horse of Television
TV shows are the enemy’s most effective Trojan Horse because of their slow drip of influence. A movie delivers its message all at once, but a TV series trains your mind over dozens of hours. At first it seems innocent: a laugh track, a cliffhanger, a quirky character. But behind the jokes and the drama is an agenda — one that normalizes sin, glorifies rebellion, and reframes morality.
Unlike films, TV shows create long-term relationships between viewers and characters. Audiences begin to empathize with flawed or sinful characters, slowly excusing their behavior because “we’ve come to know them.” This is how sin becomes likable — wrapped in humor, charm, or relatability. Story arcs that stretch across seasons gradually desensitize us, making rebellion seem heroic and godliness seem narrow-minded or irrelevant. By the time the series concludes, viewers are not only entertained but often reshaped in their worldview. It’s not accidental — it’s discipleship disguised as drama.
We must not forget: the devil doesn’t mind patience. He’ll disciple you through a show one episode at a time.
Real Examples from TV Shows
- Occult and Witchcraft
>The Owl House: Praised as a “progressive” kids’ cartoon, it literally teaches children witchcraft. The main character becomes the apprentice of a witch and learns to cast spells — something God clearly forbids (Deut. 18:10–12). What makes it especially dangerous is that it’s presented as whimsical, adventurous, and empowering, enticing kids to imagine themselves in the same role. By wrapping occult practices in humor and colorful animation, the show lowers defenses and makes what God calls detestable appear innocent.
>Wizards of Waverly Place: This Emmy-winning Disney sitcom followed the lives of three siblings training to become full-fledged wizards. While packaged as lighthearted comedy, it normalized spellcasting, magical duels, and the pursuit of power outside God’s design. The show ran for years and became a staple of Disney programming, meaning countless children grew up rooting for characters whose very identity revolved around witchcraft. By portraying sorcery as family fun and “just part of growing up,” Wizards of Waverly Place blurred the line between innocent fantasy and practices Scripture explicitly forbids (Deut. 18:10–12).
>Sabrina: A teenage witch openly embraces Satanic worship, with scenes that directly parody Christian rituals. What was once Bewitched comedy is now straight demonic indoctrination. For example, the show has scenes where characters mock baptism by pledging allegiance to Satan instead of Christ, turning holy sacraments into blasphemous spectacles. Viewers are meant to sympathize with Sabrina’s rebellion against authority, framing her defiance of God’s design as liberation.
>Wednesday: Marketed as quirky teen drama, but layered with occult practices, séances, and normalization of spiritual darkness. Its appeal lies in its dark aesthetic and witty dialogue, drawing in young audiences who may overlook the constant exposure to witchcraft and necromancy. What begins as lighthearted spookiness quickly morphs into desensitization, where darkness becomes normal and even cool. This type of messaging subtly trains viewers to see occult practices as harmless fun rather than the doorway to bondage.
>Agatha All Along: Spinning out of WandaVision, this series centers on the witch Agatha Harkness, a character whose entire identity is built around dark magic and manipulation. Instead of treating her sorcery as dangerous, Marvel frames her as witty, entertaining, and even sympathetic. By giving a witch her own star vehicle, Disney and Marvel elevate the occult from supporting element to central theme, encouraging audiences to identify with and even cheer for a character rooted in practices condemned by God. The show is a clear example of how modern entertainment is not just featuring witchcraft, but celebrating it as mainstream.
- Satanic and Demonic
>Lucifer: In this series, the Devil is reimagined as a charismatic, witty anti-hero—a nightclub owner who rebels against God, seeking connection and meaning rather than chaos. This portrayal inverts the biblical narrative entirely and encourages viewers to empathize with someone Scripture identifies as the ultimate enemy (Isaiah 14; Revelation 12). Rather than a figure of evil, he becomes a relatable character with emotional depth, whom viewers are invited to root for.
>Little Demon: This animated sitcom normalizes Satan as an affectionate, even goofy, paternal figure who is more “cool friend” than cosmic adversary. The show centers on the Antichrist, Chrissy, and her demonically fathered antics—making the devil approachable, funny, and somehow emotionally redeemable. A creator even admitted, “I love that we are normalizing paganism. Laura is a pagan. She’s a witch.”—a chilling commentary on how entertainment shifts taboo into trend.
>Good Omens: Based on Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s novel, this series depicts the demon Crowley and the angel Aziraphale as quirky best friends trying to stop Armageddon. Crowley, though a servant of Hell, is witty, stylish, and endearing — often portrayed as more loyal and compassionate than the humans around him. The line between good and evil blurs as audiences are invited to cheer for a demon who defies God’s plan, making rebellion look not only harmless but noble.
>Supernatural: Across its 15 seasons, Supernatural introduces Lucifer as more than a villain — he’s given a tragic backstory, sardonic humor, and even occasional alliances with the heroes. His rebellion against God is framed through the lens of family conflict, making him appear misunderstood rather than malevolent. Viewers are encouraged to empathize with him, softening the biblical reality that Satan is not a victim of circumstance but the deceiver of the whole world (Revelation 12:9).
>Stranger Things: While praised for nostalgia, it heavily features demonic dimensions, psychic powers, and role-playing rooted in occult themes. Young viewers not only watch — they imitate. What begins as a sci-fi adventure quickly becomes an introduction to realms of darkness, with children in the show battling monsters by tapping into psychic abilities. This has led many fans to dress like the characters, mimic the supernatural elements, and embrace fascination with the “Upside Down.” While marketed as harmless retro fun, it disciples young minds to view the demonic as exciting and cool rather than destructive and dangerous.
- Sexual Immorality and Normalization of Sin
>Euphoria: Targeted at young people, this series graphically depicts drug use, promiscuity, and sexual perversion. Rather than warning against destruction, it glamorizes it. The characters are presented with depth and relatability, pulling viewers into empathizing with destructive lifestyles instead of rejecting them. By making chaos look artistic and self-indulgence look liberating, Euphoria conditions an entire generation to see sin as not only normal but appealing.
>Game of Thrones: Famous for its violence and explicit sexual content, it blurred the line between storytelling and soft-core pornography — yet became one of the most celebrated shows of the decade. The series’ cultural dominance desensitized millions to graphic sexual sin and brutal violence, while rewarding ruthless ambition and moral compromise. Viewers weren’t just watching a fantasy world — they were being taught to cheer for vengeance, lust, and power at any cost. By the time the show ended, entire audiences had been discipled in values that stand in direct opposition to God’s Word.
>Riverdale: Marketed initially as a teen drama based on the wholesome Archie comics, it quickly devolved into a parade of sexual immorality, occult symbolism, and glorified rebellion. The characters, all portrayed as high school students, are regularly entangled in explicit relationships and perverse situations. This show is particularly dangerous for young viewers because it wraps adult-level immorality in a teen-focused package, discipling youth to accept sin as not only normal but expected.
- Redefining Family and Identity
>Modern Family: Hugely popular, it normalized same-sex households for millions of viewers. What once was a punchline on sitcoms became an applauded, award-winning standard. By portraying alternative family structures as warm, functional, and admirable, the show reshaped public perception of what “family” means. Viewers who once may have hesitated to accept same-sex marriage were softened over 11 seasons of watching it celebrated as normal and even superior. In many ways, the sitcom became one of the most effective cultural tools for shifting attitudes on sexuality and family.
>The Fosters: This series portrays a same-sex lesbian couple raising a blended family of biological, adopted, and foster children. While praised for inclusivity, it normalizes a household structure that directly contradicts God’s design for marriage (Genesis 2:24). The show promotes the idea that love and family are valid no matter the form, discipling viewers into believing that the biblical family model is outdated or unnecessary.
>She-Ra and the Princesses of Power: A children’s animated reboot of the 1980s classic, this series introduces openly lesbian relationships among its main characters and heavily promotes themes of gender role reversal. Heroes and leaders are frequently portrayed as female warriors, while male characters are often sidelined or depicted as weak and comic relief. By doing so, the show reinforces feminist and LGBTQ ideologies, teaching children that strength and identity are self-defined rather than rooted in God’s created order.
>Transparent: This award-winning drama follows a father who transitions into a transgender woman, centering the story on how the family navigates the change. Rather than presenting the confusion and brokenness that comes from rejecting God’s design, the show celebrates the father’s transition as a journey of authenticity and liberation. It reframes rebellion against biblical gender roles as courageous and progressive, redefining what parenthood and family look like for audiences.
The Spiritual Consequences
The danger of TV isn’t just in what we see but in how much time we give it. Hours of binge-watching don’t just entertain; they disciple.
- Normalization: We stop being shocked by sin.
- Empathy Shift: We begin to sympathize with sinful characters because we’ve “gotten to know them.”
- Worldview Change: Little by little, God’s standards feel “too strict” compared to the fictional morality we see on screen.
Paul warns in Romans 12:2: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Binge-watching may conform you to the very world God calls you to resist.
The Call to Discernment
The next time you hear, “It’s just a TV show,” remember this: shows are slow, steady sermons. They shape what you believe is normal, who you sympathize with, and what you laugh at.
Instead of letting Hollywood disciple us one season at a time, let’s commit to filtering every show through Philippians 4:8 — asking if it is true, pure, and honorable.
TV is not “just” entertainment. It’s a training ground for the heart. The question is: who’s doing the training?