I know I've been posting "deep" blogs a lot lately AND this one is no exception. I am also well aware that my view isn't very popular... but then again, Jesus wasn't very popular with the "religious" crowd.
This is NOT a blog for a pat on the back or exaltng ourselves. This is, however a blog to challenge you and encourage you through Christ, not the world.
This may be a long post.. bear with it and let God speak to you. This will begin a series.
I am also aware that this particular topic is something I am constantly challenging people on (or at least just talking to them about). I don't understand why it's such an issue for me but it seems that we're ignoring a bigger picture.
What is my topic? ENTERTAINMENT!
I read the book, "Sex is not the problem, Lust is." by Joshua Harris. I did not realize how inundating and sneaky sin is to creep in until I read this book. (I do recommend it...don't let the title scare you... I read it just because of the author, not the topic. Little did I realize there was a God reason to the read.)
In this book, Mr. Harris says something to the effect of (can't remember exactly), why are we getting entertainment from the very things Christ died to save us from? That stinking sentence stuck! It got lodged in my heart and still affects me. I share this with Alex and suddendly we were tumbling down a path of wholeness in Christ... cleansing of entertainment choices.
Take a deep breath now. Does that statement not prick your heart?
Tonight's part is focused on movies/tv shows.
Occasionally, we would go to the theater to see a movie that was questionable. We'd waste our money on something that we knew God wouldn't be pleased to watch yet we'd not think twice about it. These days, we do. We have a new ritual. We look up the review on PluggedinOnline and if there's no review, we'd reread the synopsis on a site like IMDB and why the movie has the rating that it does. There are now definite boundaries we do not cross.
We no longer justify our need for entertainment around a few sex scenes thrown into a movie for no apparent reason just because we're married people nor do we tolerate profanity.
The steps we take to guard our hearts and minds may seem a little over-the-top or ridiculous.
We talk a lot these days about having a Biblical Worldview but why have we left out entertainment? We need to put it on the platter and fully dissect this part of our lives.
(You may begin to think that I'm stepping on toes or calling people out but this is going to be merely examples.)
How many times in the past week have you sat down in front of the tv to watch a show OR commercial that you saw any one of these things... sex, alcohol abuse, murders or dead people, violence, profanity, disrespect to God and/or Christians?
If you answered at least to one of those instances, you may need to think twice about watching that show or whatever it was again.
Here's a great article to go along with this topic... Link
There's an old nickname for the television that really does fit... the boob tube. It's not just about the imbecile who's glued to the screen, it's about what we're viewing too.
Back when Desperate Housewives first aired, I was a huge fan. I wouldn't miss an episode. I didn't realize until some time later that DH was NOT a God pleasing show. Think about it, the story line normally revolves around deception, adultery, alcoholism and countless other things that we couldn't even consider doing in God's presence. So, why do we chose to watch?
Another stumblingblock for me was CSI and those types of shows. While the good guys were putting the bad guy to justice, we were exposed to bloodly scenes, shotting, rapes (while not fully), abuse and many other things. Oh and you may think those big ticket action movies where people and property can be utterly obliterated for the cost of being a "hero" and/or where hatred can be the running fuel for "action" or those "we believe God doesn't exist but we're not directly saying that although we hint at it" Sci-Fi movies are exceptions but you'd be wrong. They expose us for who we really may be - selfish, self-centered, conceited and the list goes on! Did we pick up the remote and press the power button or get up and leave the theater?? No. Why? Because Satan put that little seed in our hearts that said it's okay, it's only a show.
Well, there you have it... the seed of sin. Yes, they're only shows but they're also reflections of real life. A real life that Satan has so blinded us to think is normal and fine. It's time we take off the blinders and look around. The realities of life, the rampant sins, murder, lust, adultery, sexual impurities, hatred, deception and deceitful natures have inundated our lives and hearts. There's no reason to continue to allow ourselves to find that entertainment in those horrible things - things Christ died to cleanse us from.
Some people want to tiptoe around the issue without getting to the root of the problem - SIN.
We decide that we want to pick and chose the areas that we'll allow God into - to cleanse us from. We'll walk in church and say we're headed to heaven all the while we're pulling our sins in a barrel behind us. We need to address this issue.
Recently an episode of Lighten Up and Live with Ken Davis (on the radio), that grabbed me (I may or may not remember verbatim but close). He was describing a conversation he had with his father-in-law. He claimed that his FIL was at his house while they were watching a tv show. Somehow (can't remember this part) but his FIL asked Ken if he'd allow someone to come into his home, act like that, use that foul language in front of his family and so on. Ken exclaimed, "Absolutely not..." His FIL, with tears in his eyes said, "That's exactly what you've done."
Does that not hit home? If we wouldn't allow the behavior in our presence why should we watch it on tv or a movie? Wow! That's not EVEN getting to the God part.
Now, I ask you to prayerfully consider pleasing God with your television and movie choices. Remember Christ died for the sins of the world, to cleanse us from them. He lays out explicit no's in the Bible and we should remember that if it's not right for us to commit those sins, we shouldn't be entertained by them either!
I also want to quickly point out that this is not taking into account what we're allowing children to view and hear, what impressions they're getting from the evil on tv and so on. I will link an article that is focused on this topic. LINK
It is possible to strive for godliness at all costs... you just have to try. Then let God lead and bless you! He loves you! He wants you to be His and not attached to the world in the area of entertainment.
Philippians 4:8 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
Colossians 3:2 (NKJV)
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
I'm going to do something I rarely do in type.... pray. (You do not have to read it if you do not choose.)
Father, You are worthy of all praise. You are high above everything! You've made us to please You and worship You, not our own selfish desires. Help us to keep our eyes on You and chose entertainment choices that would be in Your favor. Open our eyes to the sins we entertain ourselves with. Help my friends to not see me but to see this issue through Your eyes also. Please encourage them through Your Word and promises. Thank you God for this opportunity. In Jesus Name, Amen.
