I think we have three basic choices in regard to media.
1. Avoid it altogether
2. Use modern media but do so with Godly discernment
3. Accept any or all modern media
My objections to number 1... avoiding media is practically impossible...we would miss many of the good things we can gain through media....we would fail to teach our children how to live honorably in the midst of using media
Number 2 is obviously the "right answer" :) but it's not without its challenges. Using Godly discernment and scriptural principles doesn't make our decision-making an easy task. This path will take us down many difficult struggles as we try to makes sense of what God desires and how to apply that practically to media. But if this is the path we've chosen, I believe we must struggle with this, we must seek God's Word and principles to make our decisions. It's not a road for laziness or apathy.
Number 3 is an option that I believe many of us have chosen without even realizing it. We may mentally have the "right answer" but in practical living we've chosen the easy way...taking in whatever is popular, exciting, well-done, or entertaining without considering what God would think about it, without considering that we are to have the mind of Christ and put off the old man of flesh.
Okay...so I haven't exactly answered the questions in my last post. I still want to do that because I think it's an important foundation and God's Word does address these questions.
2 comments:
What corrupts us: Jesus' disciples had been eating with unwashed hands and the pharisees rebuked Jesus. Later, Jesus told his disciples that food does not defile a person, but it is what goes into the heart of a person that defiles him and then what comes out, defiles him, too.
Mark 7:18-23 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a person from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters not his heart but his stomach, and is expelled?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. We think about what we take in. Then it comes out. That is why it says in Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
First, I like your new blog name and header. Great family portrait!
Second, since I love praying scripture, one verse that I think makes a good prayer regarding the whole media discernment issue is Psalm 119:37. "Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word."
Very compelling topic right now. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. I look forward to future posts!
Diana
Post a Comment