It’s easy for this world to say it’s okay to partake of darkness when it is meant in a fun way.
Christians a lot of time struggle in this, and the temptation only continues to grow.
I was just talking to a friend about this and she mentioned how if we could not do something with Christ being present with us, then we probably should not do it at all. It made me wonder about how many shows, movies, books, and things we do often that Christ would not be okay with.
Horror? It focuses on fear and making people uncomfortable. Fear is not something we are meant to have, and encouraging it in our life seems to go against scripture.
(ESV) 2 Timothy 1:07, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Horror also tends to focus much on themes that go against Jesus as well. Death, violence, gore, demonic and supernatural topics.
Anytime we invite something in our life, even if watered down, it desensitizes us. For example, some believe curse words are okay.
(NLT) Ephesians 4:29, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
The world accepts darkness. Cursing is wicked because it is not meant to be uplifting. It is not wholesome. There are many things we try to hide behind, even when we know it is not wholesome. But our curiosities are pulled in. Our desire for pleasure (in all senses) are tempted.
Watching a show like Game of Thrones or movie like Fifty Shades of Grey is not wholesome. Would you be comfortable with Jesus sitting beside you watching that? I know there are some supernatural YouTube videos I’ve watched that are not good. Focusing on ghosts, spirits, and hauntings.
Would you be okay if He read out loud what you were reading? I know He wouldn’t be with some of the things I’ve read in the past.
There are videos that because of language and topics of sexual themes they are not wholesome. I’ve worked on giving up a lot to God and He’s helped me. But there are more “watered” down ones that though I felt in the past were more “okay” they really aren’t.
It does not matter how much “less” something partakes in for us to make it seem like it is okay.
A little horror is still horror.
A little nudity is still nudity.
A little cursing is still cursing.
A little wickedness is still wicked.
Evil is evil no matter how big or small.
Something that has really been convicting me, the YouTubers I watch especially if someone takes God’s name in vain is that really acceptable? If I say it is, can I honestly defend my actions to God on Judgement Day? The cursing? The supernatural themes that are not of Him? Sexual talk?
Can I defend these actions to Him?
Don’t feel pressured to defend your actions to me, it’s not about me. Can you defend your choices to Him?
Can we use scripture to defend and support what we are doing?
Who are we choosing more in our life?
Ourselves or Christ?
How Is God Pricking Your Heart?
Monthly Scripture – (NIV) Psalm 139:23-24, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
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This reminds me of a story my youth group leader once shared. There was a father whose son was saying that certain movies were okay because there was only a little of that “bad stuff” in them. The rest of it was fine! So the father made his son brownies. And when serving them, he told his son, “There is a little bit dog droppings in it, but I’m sure it’s fine.” The son, of course, was horrified. “What? It’s just a little. I’m sure it won’t hurt anything.” Still the son refused to eat the brownies and regarded them as disgusting. “But it’s only a little! The rest is fine!”
Will we allow things a lot more disgusting and destructive than dog droppings into our souls? Or will we adopt the attitude of heaven and reject in disgust (though in some cases with love toward those offering) anything not fit for Christian consumption?
Thanks for the post, T. R.!
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That is a great story! Thank you so much for sharing it! We need accountability, and we need to know the reality of what we do. It is not easy to talk to about but hopefully it sitrs someone’s heart.
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Great post TR. A little horror is still horror. A little nudity is still nudity, etc. You make an excellent point here TR. And it’s a great reminder!!
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🙂 may we hold these reminders to our heart.
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Purity by definition can’t be compromised. The question is whether Christ values story telling and if using horror can glorify Him? I’m not sure what the boundaries are. Even as a consumer I choose to avoid things that others could enjoy, it’s just MY conviction – which I don’t impose on everyone else.
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I think the Bible is a great reference for story telling. Some scary elements are not hidden by any means. It is true people push conviction on others. What I’m hoping for is people consider everything they do with Christ in mind. A lot of us become desensitized and with much of the world enabling us there needs to be a discussion on accountability.
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I agree, Americans are very desensitized and justify a lot of questionable material because it’s fun to watch. It’s a great discussion to have.
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Definitely!
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Amen!
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This post was a good reminder to me, and I loved how you said that even a little bit of something bad is still not okay. I never cuss out loud, but occasionally when I’m struggling I start to do it in my mind. I know that’s not okay either because it’s a reflection of my heart. Thank you for speaking truth into my life with Bible verses and encouragement!
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We all need accountability and I think for those who have turned away from a lot the mind is the last battlefield. But we can rebuke our thoughts and focus on repeating scripture and focusing on the truth.:) Thanks for being honest and sharing.
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And…we never know when we might have to answer for that ‘little’ bit. Could be today.
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Amen!
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Great post, T. R! You are so right! It’s a great reminder! One day we will answer to that “little bit!” We need accountability!
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Yes!!
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Good one, T.R. Right on target, too!! God was definitely leading you in this, and I suspect this is a result of what you have just recently been going through and what God has been doing in your life through it. I wish that all people who call themselves followers of Jesus would listen to this message and that they would take it to heart, and that they would clean out of their lives all the garbage that is hindering their walks of faith with Christ.
My husband and I used to be avid TV watchers and movie addicts. We spent so much time watching movies and so much money buying movies, that it is astounding how much money and time we wasted on what was not good, and on what was not wholesome, and was not productive or godly or holy, etc.
I remember hearing one day an illustration on this where someone asked the question if we would eat brownies if we knew there was poop in them, even if it was just a little bit of poop? We wouldn’t, would we, and yet we watched TV shows and movies like you describe on a regular basis and we made all the excuses for watching them, too, and we would say things like, “Well, they are just a little bit bad, or they have just a little bit of bad language or sexual situations in them.” But, that was like eating brownies with a little bit of poop in them.
I think it offends some people that we gave up our TV 10 years ago, and that we discarded all of our movies, and we had hundreds of them worth a lot of money, too. But, I can’t ever go back to that life. There is nothing for me that is worth watching or spending my time or money on in anything on TV or in movies. I don’t need to be entertained. I have grandchildren to entertain me – 14 of them. 🙂
Jesus called us to be a holy people, and that means that we are separate from the world of sin and we are separate unto God and that we are not like the world and we don’t do the things the world does or think like they do, but we are committed to following Jesus Christ with our lives, and he is our only Lord, and he is the one directing what we do, not our flesh. And, this is how we need to live, even if people think we are odd-balls or weird or whatever because we don’t do what other people do. I choose holiness. I have had enough years of dabbling in the junk from this sinful world. “I want to be holy, set apart for You, Lord… ready to do Your will.”
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He definitely has set an urgency in me to talk about specific topics and that definitely happened after Friday and the things He has revealed. You’re not the first person to share that illustration, someone else did in the comments too and it is a good one! What a testimony for what you have given up because of your love for God and how He has worked on your heart. To Him be the glory!
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Yes, to God be the glory! Great things He has done! Amen! Keep on keeping on!!
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I recently made a decision that if God’s name is taken in vain, I’m going to stop watching, reading, or listening to whatever it may be. So yes, I know how you feel!
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It’s a good conviction! I’m glad you are giving Him glory in this way. 🙂
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very thought provoking…think about how you would feel doing/ watching/ saying certain things with Jesus in the room.
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Exactly! Including our thinking.
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Agree! Thanks for pointing out the thinking part. I didn’t think about that one.
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🙂 we take it for granted sometimes and it slips. But scripture says our thoughts reflect our heart.
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Great post, T.R.! I’ve been doing some thinking where this topic is concerned lately.
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It is a heavy topic.
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This has been on my mind a lot lately as I just finished watched the Netflix series “The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.” I felt the series was good in some of the themes I could pick up on (morally speaking), but I struggled a lot with the idea of how focused on Satanism it is.
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That’s always the battle and one I’ve cut a lot of times with recently. I was telling myself yesterday just because it is a “good” story or something is well written, just because it is entertaining …does not mean it is Christlike. I know I cant defend many past watching choices to God. Telling Him they were good when there is cursing, nudity, blasphemous and more…I know is the not the same when He said “and it was good.” This is where He has been leading me and it really has allowed me to cut off things I thought I wouldn’t give up. I hope you continue to think about this and He leads you further. Thanks for sharing!
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Yes I definitely am! The biggest concern I had was that many people have been telling me it’s up to me to discern what I think is right vs. wrong to watch. But I don’t think that’s right. Scripture is clear to tell us what is Christlike and what is not. There’s no compromise.
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AMEN! You made an excellent point and one I plan to dive in deeper in a post too. I think people rely a little too heavy on God leading us through some convictions and others He may lead someone with yet. This is definitely true. But especially in areas we know encourage sin that is clear in scripture. Now whether a person or family decides to have a tv in their home or not, may be a conviction God does not give everyone. But knowing there are limits to what we should expose our ears and ears too…is a conviction we ALL need. Thanks for adding this insight because a lot of people don’t talk about it enough 🙂
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A thought provoking post! We should definitely be sensitive to what we watch, hear and speak, and in turn be sensitive to those things we accept into our lives. When we accept these things into our lives they become like strongholds. Therefore I commend you on this post!
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Definitely, very important we are aware and why it is easy to be desensitized. Thank you, I’m glad you liked the post.
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Convicting!! As someone who loved the darker stuff in horror and some supernatural, this hits home. I’m not as into it as I used to be but sometime the temptation is there, especially around by birthday (on the 30th) because I used to dress up on my birthday as the Wicked Witch. Great post! 💜
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It is hard especially when we have an interest, I hear you! I’m so grateful this spoke to you!!!
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Amén!! 💜 And thank you for writing! 😊
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