In the World

Lately I've been working on memorizing 1 John 2:15-17. Here's Kara Martus version of what it says:

"Do not love the culture, structure, lifestyle, entertainment, media, attitude, or behavior of this world. If you immerse yourself in, desire, or revere any of the aforementioned things, the love of the Father (i.e. the dedication and fear of the Lord which comes from obedience and gratitude) is not in you. For everything in the world- the craving for power, control, wealth, fame; the lusting after things, people, or position; the boasting of what you are and have and do, according to the world's standards (boast only in the cross of Christ)- come not from God and his grace, but from the influence of the world. All of these things, even this very world, will pass away, but the man who follows God's will for his life, who trusts Him and does what His word commands, will attain eternal life."

Talk about conviction! What is terribly sad is that most likely a third of my waking hours are spent in the pursuit of entertainment. Joshua Harris had so many good points in his sermon on the subject. His two main points are as follows:

1) Half a Poison Pill Won't Kill You

2) If You Don't Enjoy it, There's No Calories

We Christians are so good at figuring out ways to get around our consciences. But all of these are just as ludicrous as those statements. When you think about it, it's so true, it's not even funny anymore. It's just as ridiculous to try to figure out how much sexual innuendo, immorality, language, and violence we can handle as it is to try to figure out how much of a poison pill we can take without dying. It may not kill you, but poison sure builds up in your system. And just because we don't enjoy it, doesn't mean it isn't affecting us. If we sit there and groan and sigh and roll our eyes during the scenes we don't like, we're still watching it. It's just as stupid as saying just because you don't like chocolate cake, doesn't mean you won't be intaking calories when you eat it.

I once heard that if you cannot honestly thank God for what you watched or listened to or read, than it isn't worth it. May God give us the grace to apply this principle to our lives, and to be willing to give up all, even our precious entertainment, for the sake of Christ and his gospel.