"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Romans 1:28-32
It seems that any form of entertainment, I'm using literature for this example but the rule stands across the board, has to contain some sort of that garbage before we watch it. Why? Well, in the case which Paul speaks of in that passage, because God has given man over to a debased mind. Is that not the scariest thought to think? To think of God, who we cannot come to already because of our sinful nature (the other reason for our disgusting preference for entertainment), would leave us in our "helpless estate" so that we can only continue even further into our darkness. How can that not frighten and shake us at our foundation and bring us to our knees to lift up our wailing for God to have mercy? My Sovereign Lord, I pray that you soften and break our hearts. But this is the plight, nae, the very death and hell in which the lost dwell day-in and day-out.
It seems that any form of entertainment, I'm using literature for this example but the rule stands across the board, has to contain some sort of that garbage before we watch it. Why? Well, in the case which Paul speaks of in that passage, because God has given man over to a debased mind. Is that not the scariest thought to think? To think of God, who we cannot come to already because of our sinful nature (the other reason for our disgusting preference for entertainment), would leave us in our "helpless estate" so that we can only continue even further into our darkness. How can that not frighten and shake us at our foundation and bring us to our knees to lift up our wailing for God to have mercy? My Sovereign Lord, I pray that you soften and break our hearts. But this is the plight, nae, the very death and hell in which the lost dwell day-in and day-out.
This is a call to myself to throw off all that I find "interesting" or "entertaining." A call to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of [my] mind, that by testing [I] may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2) Next time you watch the TV, take an objective look at what you put in front of your face; does it bring to mind the grace of an awesome God? The next book you read in your free time; does it call you to draw near to a holy and righteous Lord? Think of the state of the one who wrote, composed, directed, produced, developed, and watched such material. Do they need a Saviour? Answer: Yes. But do they know that Saviour? What does that material say about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Gospel, the TRUTH?
Everything we watch, read, listen to, write, think of, observe says something about the Truth. Pay attention next time you watch TV. You'll notice it. This came from talking with my uncle and cousin. We all acknowledge that everything says something about the Gospel. Think about it. Any fiction story; worlds are created in which Yahweh is not God (i.e. Harry Potter, The Matrix, The Iliad, The Aeneid, even The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, though these may be taken separately). This may seem like a fundamentalist rant against anything that doesn't quote scripture, but it really isn't. It's just taking a look at that which we take a look.
That isn't saying that a good Christian cannot read fiction books, watch TV, pay to see a movie, or even be edified by such, I'm just drawing attention to the need to consider what you put in front of your face. That is a listen I hope I internalize. I cannot even begin to tell about how much that lesson would've helped me in my walk. It's such a struggle to war with those stains left by entertainment that was innocently intended to only kill the boredom. Thank God for the grace of Christ who offers to receive the surrendering of library of my mind for the sake of doing some cleaning, book burning, renewal, and consecrating.
Yep, that's my little sermon on that. There you go.
Everything we watch, read, listen to, write, think of, observe says something about the Truth. Pay attention next time you watch TV. You'll notice it. This came from talking with my uncle and cousin. We all acknowledge that everything says something about the Gospel. Think about it. Any fiction story; worlds are created in which Yahweh is not God (i.e. Harry Potter, The Matrix, The Iliad, The Aeneid, even The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings, though these may be taken separately). This may seem like a fundamentalist rant against anything that doesn't quote scripture, but it really isn't. It's just taking a look at that which we take a look.
That isn't saying that a good Christian cannot read fiction books, watch TV, pay to see a movie, or even be edified by such, I'm just drawing attention to the need to consider what you put in front of your face. That is a listen I hope I internalize. I cannot even begin to tell about how much that lesson would've helped me in my walk. It's such a struggle to war with those stains left by entertainment that was innocently intended to only kill the boredom. Thank God for the grace of Christ who offers to receive the surrendering of library of my mind for the sake of doing some cleaning, book burning, renewal, and consecrating.
Yep, that's my little sermon on that. There you go.
Amen to that sir! I praise that my major isn't too much about pop culture things because as much as i have to read it could be tough to shake! Amen to your challenge to look upon noble, upright, edifying things (Phil 4:8). Grace be to you brother in this area!
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