His statement stirred my soul to write a little bit about
being careful with what we watch and listen to.
Sure, an enrolled student at this school is to submit to
their governing authorities (Rom. 13), but I’m more concerned
with what we watch and listen to, how we are influenced, and how God’s Word
guides us in this matter.
This is an ongoing struggle in my life and I have been a
Christ follower for over 35 years and a pastor for 13. In my lifetime I have
certainly seen shows with excessive foul language, graphic sexual scenes, and
extreme violence not to mention a smattering of condoned immoral behavior but,
praise God, I have been improving over the years at avoiding such things. And
here’s why, God’s Word for God’s people.
For example, in short phrases; be holy as God is holy (1
Pet. 1:14-16), do all to the glory of God (1 Cor. 10:31), be perfect as God is
perfect (Mt. 5:48), be imitators of God (Eph. 5:1), become more like Christ
(Rom. 8:29, 2 Cor. 3:18), walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing
to him (Col. 1:10). Are we considering these passages when we watch TV-Internet-Movies-Videos?
How about a more specific verse; Ps. 101:3a ESV I will not set
before my eyes anything that is worthless (belial:
wicked, evil, ungodly, good for nothing). This is the sort of high standard that God expects from His people, that pleases and honors God and
I struggle to meet it consistently. Maybe we know these verses and what they mean
but do we put them on the shelf, so to speak, when it comes to our precious
entertainment habits?
Sometimes I feel like a slave to entertainment viewing. It
has its grips in me and won’t let go. Some shows can be addictive in our flesh and
we seek to justify that it’s okay to view questionable content so we can keep
feeding these desires. This is an ongoing struggle in my life and maybe you can
relate.
I remember when I was heartbroken back in early 1996 from an
ended relationship and I turned to God with an “all in” submission like never
before. It was soon after that God called me to fulltime pastoral ministry. For
several weeks I totally abstained from entertainment viewing. Then, I slowly
returned to watching some shows but with much more discernment than before. For
example, I remember watching one late night weekend show and thinking no way
should I be watching this foul content because I was convicted that it was not
honoring to God for me to be entertained by this immoral junk and I did not
want to have memories of it linger.
I have cut back on watching shows and videos in recent
years. It helps to discontinue the cable or satellite TV packages, although I
miss that NFL Sunday Ticket (Go Bucs!). There are plenty of redeeming things to do instead. I do have Internet streaming ability
for free and pay per viewing is available and I occasionally rent videos, or go
to the theater but usually with God-honoring discernment.
1 Thessalonians
5:21-22 ESV but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
I like to look for written reviews for shows ahead of time from
a Christian perspective like at www.pluggedin.com which points out foul
language, sexual content, negative content, spiritual content along with
positive content. I have turned away from many shows/videos based on these
reviews. Sometimes I don’t agree with the reviews and their advice and
sometimes I regret that I viewed something whether I had prior knowledge of red
flags or not.
Sometimes I’ll watch a show, but over time, I sense that the
content is a negative influence on me that is a hindrance to me becoming more
like Christ, so I stop watching it. Recently, my wife and I began streaming a
SciFi show that we thought was original and creative. After a few episodes, a
whorehouse, lesbian/adulterous affair, and a lot of one woman’s skin in the
bath tub were all being highlighted. I told my wife, “I am really bothered by
this content . I will be tempted to lust after this character if I keep
watching. I’m not going to watch this anymore.” So, we both dropped it. I see
this type of decision making as our proper response to the Holy Spirit led convictions
within us.
It bothers me down deep to hear certain foul language, the
Lord’s name in vain, suicide scenes, sexual scenes, various immoral behaviors,
victimizing of people, the occult at work, and stories that are void of God and
have no redeeming characters, no hope, etc...
I think this sort of stuff contaminates the soul, at least a little bit
at a time.
I think this Bible verse can be applied to what we view and
listen to. Some TV shows, movies, and videos are just plain bad company and
they will contaminate our minds and hearts. I think we are spiritually naïve to
think they don’t or won’t.
I read a couple good chapters recently about this overall
subject. Not Even a Hint; Guarding Your Heart Against Lust, Joshua Harris,
Multnomah Publ,; Chp.7 and Soul Detox; Clean Living in a Contaminated World,
Craig Groeschel, Zondervan Publ., Chp10
Here are some quotes from Joshua Harris:
“If you can’t bow your head and sincerely thank God for a
movie….then for you that activity is wrong.” Pg121
“Jesus Christ died to rescue me from darkness and sin. How
can I willingly immerse myself in that darkness for the sake of entertainment?
What a tragedy it is that I’ve sat idly by during movies and television shows
and watched the very sin for which Christ had to die being laughed about, even
celebrated.” Pg124-125
“Just because something doesn’t bother you doesn’t mean that
it shouldn’t.” Chp10
“Am I being entertained by sin? Is this pleasing to God?
Does this lure me away from Christ?” Chp10
These verses and these quotes really stand out to me, to
invoke change in my life that I am more careful and God-honoring about what I
see and what I listen to when it comes to my entertainment choices. How about
you? How are you careful and God-honoring about what you see and hear when it
comes to entertainment?
Mike
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