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.
-Philippians 4:8
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
-Romans 12:2
We are not supposed to look like the world. We are supposed to be holy, set apart. We are supposed to think on the things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. We are supposed to renew our minds.
How do we do all of that?
I think everyone would agree that what you feed your mind, soul, and spirit will eventually reveal itself and grow in your own life.
So, we should be careful what we watch, read, listen to, etc.
What about movies?
I am not going to hit on movies like Saw V right now, though it has been categorized as “torture porn” and I believe no Christian should be filling their minds with that garbage. I want to hit on the movies that seem harmless. I’m going to pick a few movies that were formerly my favorites.
You’ve Got Mail (PG):
The classic chick flick. Right? PG rating. Harmless. Or is it?
Both main characters are living with someone outside the bonds of marriage. Both characters are having an intimate emotional relationship with someone that is not their significant other through the internet. It has over a dozen profanities and also jokes about cybersex and lesbianism.
There are marriages broken up and affairs had because of “harmless” on-line relationships that turn into more through the ease of on-line chatting and e-mails. This movie romanticizes this. How many of us girls tend to place ourselves in the middle of a chick flick wishing our lives could be that romantic? Adultery is never romantic. It destroys. Think of the foothold and thoughts planted by this movie into our minds. Not so innocent.
The Bourne Identity (PG-13):
Nothing like a good action-spy movie. Right? That’s what I used to think.
Stop and consider what you are feeding your mind. Frequent killings, an implied sex scene that leaves our imagination to fill in the blanks, and much language. There are approximately 30 profanities or crude expressions, including five s-words, an f-word and 16 exclamatory uses of the Lord’s name (seven of them abusing the name of Christ). Not that bad right? Hmm. How would you feel if Jesus was sitting right beside you while you were watching it, while they were cursing his name 16 different times? Just a question to think about.
The Office (TV on NBC):
Good for laughs. Right? Of course. But what exactly are we laughing at.
It has an endless supply of inappropriate jokes, sexual innuendos, and occasional profanities. We applaud when Jim and Pam finally kiss even though she was engaged when the kiss happened. We constantly laugh at the absurdness and cluelessness of Michael, cringing as he speaks because who knows what will come out of his mouth next. We begin to joke around with each other and other “Office” watchers by slipping in the line, “That’s what she said.”
Are these things holy? Are these things benefiting your walk with God?
“But Michelle, this is nothing compared to what I could be watching!”
I answer with this: “And do not be conformed to his world…”
We were never called to look like the world. We are not to measure ourselves by the world’s standards. We are measured by God’s standards. If you are constantly feeding your mind with ungodliness, ungodliness will come out.
I am just asking you to think about what you are watching. Don’t allow those things to go into your mind without considering the consequences.
I pose a question that we should all ask:
“How holy, how set apart, how close to God, how pure can I become?”
Input = Output.
For more information on TV shows and movies see: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/
-Philippians 4:8
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
-Romans 12:2
We are not supposed to look like the world. We are supposed to be holy, set apart. We are supposed to think on the things which are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. We are supposed to renew our minds.
How do we do all of that?
I think everyone would agree that what you feed your mind, soul, and spirit will eventually reveal itself and grow in your own life.
So, we should be careful what we watch, read, listen to, etc.
What about movies?
I am not going to hit on movies like Saw V right now, though it has been categorized as “torture porn” and I believe no Christian should be filling their minds with that garbage. I want to hit on the movies that seem harmless. I’m going to pick a few movies that were formerly my favorites.
You’ve Got Mail (PG):
The classic chick flick. Right? PG rating. Harmless. Or is it?
Both main characters are living with someone outside the bonds of marriage. Both characters are having an intimate emotional relationship with someone that is not their significant other through the internet. It has over a dozen profanities and also jokes about cybersex and lesbianism.
There are marriages broken up and affairs had because of “harmless” on-line relationships that turn into more through the ease of on-line chatting and e-mails. This movie romanticizes this. How many of us girls tend to place ourselves in the middle of a chick flick wishing our lives could be that romantic? Adultery is never romantic. It destroys. Think of the foothold and thoughts planted by this movie into our minds. Not so innocent.
The Bourne Identity (PG-13):
Nothing like a good action-spy movie. Right? That’s what I used to think.
Stop and consider what you are feeding your mind. Frequent killings, an implied sex scene that leaves our imagination to fill in the blanks, and much language. There are approximately 30 profanities or crude expressions, including five s-words, an f-word and 16 exclamatory uses of the Lord’s name (seven of them abusing the name of Christ). Not that bad right? Hmm. How would you feel if Jesus was sitting right beside you while you were watching it, while they were cursing his name 16 different times? Just a question to think about.
The Office (TV on NBC):
Good for laughs. Right? Of course. But what exactly are we laughing at.
It has an endless supply of inappropriate jokes, sexual innuendos, and occasional profanities. We applaud when Jim and Pam finally kiss even though she was engaged when the kiss happened. We constantly laugh at the absurdness and cluelessness of Michael, cringing as he speaks because who knows what will come out of his mouth next. We begin to joke around with each other and other “Office” watchers by slipping in the line, “That’s what she said.”
Are these things holy? Are these things benefiting your walk with God?
“But Michelle, this is nothing compared to what I could be watching!”
I answer with this: “And do not be conformed to his world…”
We were never called to look like the world. We are not to measure ourselves by the world’s standards. We are measured by God’s standards. If you are constantly feeding your mind with ungodliness, ungodliness will come out.
I am just asking you to think about what you are watching. Don’t allow those things to go into your mind without considering the consequences.
I pose a question that we should all ask:
“How holy, how set apart, how close to God, how pure can I become?”
Input = Output.
For more information on TV shows and movies see: http://www.pluggedinonline.com/
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