risking it

In the last 2 weeks, something has disturbed me.  I don't know why I was sensitive to this or why it bothered me so much.  Maybe because coming from the mouths of three different pastors (not my dad and not my own pastor!) it made me doubt.  Made me doubt some of my personal convictions and question if I was crazy.

Matt and I long ago made a decision that we would not watch movies or shows with swears, taking God's name in vain, immodesty, or immorality.  We do not care what others watch, we aren't accountable for them.  And we have our own reasons.  We do not want ourselves or our children to get desensitized to sin.

God.Hates.Sin.  He wants us to abhor what is evil.  He tells us to avoid all forms of it.  He tells us to set nothing wicked before our eyes.  But here's the problem- we justify "wicked".  We justify "evil" and we don't train ourselves to "abhor".  And we don't abstain from it.  The word abstain in the Greek means to be away, absent, distant, to hold one's self off.

I love a good story.  Love it.  And I am far from perfect not even keeping my own standards at times.  I've been guilty of watching a movie, hearing swearing in it, but being too caught up in the plot to turn it off.  I've watched a movie where I skipped over a part with a woman indecently dressed just so I could continue with the movie.  Our family has watched old tv series for weeks before we finally were convicted that the message was not one that was God honoring or was upholding our personal values.  We are not perfect.

It helps to realize we aren't perfect because we have a hard time judging people for their imperfections when our own are in our face.

However, when ungodly movies are spoken of from the pulpit and used in illustrations, I think it gives people justification and a sense of "Phew!  It's okay that I am watching this stuff- the pastor does too!"   And, since my family doesn't know what the pastor is talking about, it may make them/us embarrassed that they/we don't know and have a desire to get with it!

One thing that I personally think is more harmful than good is the Focus on the Family movie reviews.  I tried an experiment.  I looked up a movie that one pastor was using as an illustration in his sermon.  On Focus on the Family, the critic used the words "at least", "compelling" and then there was an entire portion devoted to "positive elements".  He ended with saying that it could have been less "extreme and explicit", but that was after he applauded the cinematography, theme, and the healthy messages in the movie.

I then went to the International Movie Data Base (IMDB) and looked up the Parent's Guide for the same movie.  (IMDB is not a Christian site.  But I always go here, because I've found just facts and not someone trying to justify a movie because of it's underlying message of good triumphing over evil!)  Whoa.  Swears, nudity, violence....  But the message is good??  Why was this pastor using this movie in God's church as an illustration?!

I have been studying Psalm 91.  I've read it everyday this month and have memorized almost all of it.  Today I looked at verse 14 where God is talking.  Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high because he has known My name.  I looked up the words "loved" and "known" to see what God wants me to do that makes Him so anxious to deliver me and set me securely on high.  (which I WANT and NEED Him to do!) After studying the definitions I was convicted sharply that if I were to take part in the watching of those movies (which I was legitimately questioning!) it would not be demonstrating love for God since the sins being glamorized are the ones that cost Him the life of His son.  As far as knowing His name- how can I watch things that He abhors when I know His name is holy?

The more we are exposed to sin the less shocking it is and the harder it is to abhor.  It's a slow descent which is what makes it tricky.

I was talking a couple of days ago with a woman whose son died when he was hit by a train.  She began to cry and said, "Why did he have to be on those tracks?"  I can only imagine what the sight and sound of a train does to her.   In the same way, what was it that cost God the life of His son?  Sin.  And not just mine- the sins of everyone.  So in my watching a movie that is full of sin, I can't justify it by saying that at least I am not the one sinning.  God hates it.  It was why His son died.

So I was questioning.  I asked Matt if we were crazy- being too strict on our stands.  I was almost hoping we were.  Like I said, I love a good story.  But then God reminded me of who He is.  The rest of Psalm 91 almost sounds like a plea, a bribe, a begging.  God says that if I love Him and know His name, He will deliver me, set me securely on high, answer me, be with me in trouble, rescue me, honor me, satisfy me with a long life, and let me see His salvation.  He shouldn't have to bribe us or beg us to love Him and know His name!  But it is so important to Him , He does it anyway.

I want to honor Him with my life.  I don't want to get to heaven and realize I grieved Him, was desensitized to the things that He hates the most, caused other people (my children especially!) to be apathetic in their relationship with Him and lose sight of the plan He had for their life.  One that was essential to His kingdom!

I am not perfect.  I am not responsible for nor do I care about the decisions that others make in this area.  I was, however, shocked to see what an influence pastors had in my thinking and just as troubled about how willing I felt to turn away from my convictions.

Maybe I am wrong.  Maybe I am too strict in this area.  But- I am willing to risk it.