Many of you have read my thoughts on MySpace and my opinon about involvement in that community. I have been thinking about that viewpoint a lot lately, and wondering if and how it transfers into other areas of life.
Areas like
- TV
- Halloween
- Movies (Rentals and Theater)
… to name a few.
I’m not backing down from my opinion and feelings regarding MySpace, but I am asking questions related to other areas as well.
This is the place for you and I to ask the questions we may not yet know the answers to. We’ll never know those answers if we don’t even ask the questions.
Theresa said:
Interesting topic. The church seems to ebb and flow on these topics. We seem to float between legalism, tolerance, freedom, and holiness. I think it is important to ask the Holy Spirit want is pleasing to Him in our individual lives and try to stay out of that place of judging our brothers and sisters. Last night (Halloween) some friends of ours let their kids participate in trick or treating. These are committed christians, crazy in love with Christ. I kind of struggled with what I was seeing. I finally chose to let it go, you know, “planks and specks”.
Let me say that when the Lord gives you a platform like he does you Shawn to speak to youth at the regionals, that is a whole other topic. I am sure the Holy Spirit uses you to bring conviction, freedom, and subsequently holiness in many lives.
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 9:11 am
Chris said:
Shawn,
I think I have been in all the groups Theresa speaks of. Yet, myspace and other places on the web are dangerous. I just heard that 2 out of 10 Christian woman are addicted to pornography. For men that stat is easily higher. We have to call the body of Christ to guard our eyes. We would never call it “grace” if a parent let the children play on the side of a freeway. We don’t call it legalism when Mom requires Johnny to hold a hand or use the crosswalk. We call that love. Someone who loves the church must call the church to a higher standard.
As for movies and TV I think the slope is reall slippery. How many times have I watched something on TV that is a sin that I would personally repent of, if or when I had committed it, yet I will watch it. I have heard that scientist say the subconcious brain does not “know” the difference between images that are fiction and images that are non-fiction. Call us to a higher place…Shawn–As for legalism this is America only the hungry will hear.
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 11:17 am
BenDShaffer said:
So my wife and I just threw away about half of the movies we own. There were ones that were kinda obvious to me to toss, like StarWars, Signs, etc. You know, SCARY stuff. But the Lord also told us to get rid of a bunch of ones that I totally wouldn’t have if He hadn;t told us. (Must Love Dogs, the Wedding Planner, etc.)
I’m COMPLETELY not saying that you all must not watch these movies. But my wife and I have been trying to cultivate a “tender spirit” within ourselves. Doing that and then planting ourselves in front of something that callouses…. usses….oussess…whatever….our minds was not helping!
I don’t really know what my point was on this comment, but take it for what it is. (but please don’t take it as a commentary on what movies you can watch!)
-Ben
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 1:47 pm
Esther said:
We quit watching tv for the simple reason that there wasn’t anything worth watching. We don’t go see many movies b/c they just don’t look good enough to spend that much money on. I think things like tv and movies and myspace etc will always be there to tempt us; will we yield or go the higher way of God? I think we need wisdom from above. What is worth our time and attention? Is watching filth on tv or movies really worthy of our time and attention?
We are called to be salt and light. We bring a certain seasoning into this world - but what happens when that seasoning starts tasting like the tasteless muck of the world? Isn’t that what happens when we do the things of this world and not the things from above?
I think you have some great thoughts here, Shawn. Keep broadcasting..
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 1:55 pm
Shawn said:
Wow. You guys all have awesome comments. This post has already gotten a lot more conversation than I was expecting.
I am all for doing things that keep my heart and life tender before God. If it’s not beneficial to my life in God is it worth it?
There are man forms of entertainment that won’t wound my spirit, I think the problem is that I don’t have the energy to do them. It’s easier to sit down and watch a movie.
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 3:17 pm
Ruth said:
Yeah, TV…
It just kinda hurt me (and God for sure!) that even though I hardly watch TV or movies, I watched one just tonight and it was a bad one.
that’s a hard one..i hardly ever watch something on TV..not because I think it’s all evil or anything, but just because I don’t like watching TV, give me my worship CD’s and i’ll be fine. Anyways, I hardly ever watch TV, or a movie, and tonight (yeah, the day is almost over on the other side of the ocean..) Iwent to see a movie. And it was a bad movie. Bad, bad. Good story, bad movie. Too much bad things in it. If i choose a movie I always watch the signs, you know..for what is in it? Well, I can tell..they are not telling the truth. It was a bad movie. Anyways, I think i’m repenting and confessing at the same time here
I could go on, the next time watch one just like this one, and everytime I do that, it’ll dull my spirit, it will quench the fire in my heart. It’s a killer.
So we as a people of God, really need wisdom on how to deal with these things. There are so many temptations out there. And they are not worth giving in to. I think it’s about being a tree planted besides the water. The storms, problems, tempations come and go. What makes one tree steadfast and what makes another crack? The roots.
Let’s pray for roots, being rooted and grounded in Christ Jesus.
Shawn, I never intended on writing an essay :s sorry!
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 4:20 pm
Shawn said:
Ruth - Thanks for that comment. I have seen way too many movies that were a waste of my time and money and dulled my heart in God too. The good:bad ratio is getting worse and worse.
Posted on November 1, 2006 at 9:01 pm
Ronni said:
Well of course I have to leave my 2c’s. I don’t watch much tv. Seriously. I like discovery, the occasional monty python sketch… but even that gets to be worthless. I don’t rent movies (there are so many books I want to read and so little time).
Halloween. Well my church hosted its 4th “funfest” this weekend. We provide a free, safe, anointed place for people to bring their kids. We give out candy, we provide games, entertainment, etc… all to just love on people and provide a safe place for them to go. We want to redeem a night that is known for evil and cover each person in love. We have all the volunteers praying for each person they come in contact with. We have people walking the grounds praying and interceeding for each family that shows up. I passed out candy at my home myself and prayed for and spoke blessings over each child that came to my door and their families. So I will be in the world but not of it.
Posted on November 2, 2006 at 1:30 pm
Shawn said:
Aparently nobody around here watches TV. Has that time slot been replaced by reading blogs?
Ronni - That is cool you prayed over every kid that came to your house. Way to go.
Posted on November 2, 2006 at 10:28 pm
Ronalfy said:
Shawn,
It appears your MySpace link is broken in the above post.
I don’t watch any TV, but I do like watching movies — even violent movies such as the recent The Departed. If I were to work on one aspect of my walk, it would be in the area of movies. However, I’m not sure when I cross the thin red line between cutting out movies from a spiritual standpoint to cutting out movies from a legalistic standpoint.
It’s easy to say to someone, “I don’t watch those kind of movies because I’m a Christian.” However, by saying that, you’re implying that all Christians shouldn’t watch those kind of movies, when in all fairness, it could be one’s personal choice. It’s harder to say to someone, “I don’t watch those kind of movies because I have a personal conviction and choose not to indulge in that type of entertainment.” The reason it is harder is because you have to either explain yourself, or take the complete responsibility for your actions and not lay it on the brunt of religion.
Posted on November 3, 2006 at 12:05 am
Shawn said:
Ron - Link fixed. thanks.
Your point about having to tell others why you don’t watch certain movies is a hard position as a Christian wanting to live wholehearted for God.
There are many luke-warm Christians out there who take ‘radical’ Christianity as an offense.
Henry Nowan says “A Time is coming when men will go mad, and when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him sying, ‘You are mad, you are not like us.’ “
We have live before Jesus, knowing that we will be accountable for all our actions one day. It’s o.k. to offend people if you’re living for righteousness. You and I have to be people who have a love for the truth.
Thanks again for sharing, Ron.
-Shawn
Posted on November 3, 2006 at 8:18 am
bretmavrich said:
Shawn and Ron–
That’s a great quotation, Shawn, from “Way of the Heart,” a book about fleeing the trammels of society to cultivate a space in our hearts where God can dwell and speak. Its the most clear thing I’ve read on trying to define these lines in my own life, discerning what it means to be an American Christian. More and more I’m convinced that it only means we must escape American encumberances to be Christ-like.
But here’s something: Why can’t we just tell people we don’t like television? What would be so wrong with that? Legalism is only really in play when we’re being pretentious: meaning, we really want to gorge ourselves on sinful progamming, but because we’re concerned about our positioning in our Christian circle, we won’t. But that’s not the rationale I found in any of the above posts. Can’t the reason we get rid of movies and cable be that we’re just bored? And that after trying to entertain ourselves with two hours of light-sabers or classic one-liners that we find we wish we’d rather gazed on Christ instead?
The reality is that in Christ your desires change massively the deeper you go. I find that the more self-concious I get about whether or not I watch movies, the more difficult it becomes to draw others into my pursuit of abandonment. My greatest successes (though not always received) have been when I’m just myself, a changed man with thrists so desparate that sand doesn’t quench them anymore (borrowing a line from my friend, Jenny Powell).
We’re not Americans. We’re citizens of a Kingdom-coming. Where I come from, they don’t have Blockbuster.
Posted on November 9, 2006 at 4:32 pm
the other sarah said:
bretmavrich - Whoa, and Amen! Awesome comment, very articulate. I will remember Jenny’s line…”thirsts so desperate that sand doesn’t quench them anymore.”
Your comment is right in line with my thoughts (though sometimes I still tiptoe around explaining my convictions to others.) We don’t have a TV because we don’t like TV, it’s not satisfying. And yes - I also happen to think that 99.99% of it is not only unedifying, but ungodly to the core.
Joining with others in something that hinders my communion with God does not help my witness just because I am putting myself in their context (presumably to be better able to “relate” to them.)
OUCH! It hurt a little to write that last sentence. I believe it, but I’m also painfully aware of all the times that I DO let my gaze drift off of Jesus as I chase after fleeting, shallow, and deceitful “pleasures”. Ack! Catch the little foxes, Jesus, catch the little foxes.
Posted on November 10, 2006 at 2:24 am
Shawn said:
@Sarah - You said:
I remember when I was in high school there was a time that I fasted from secular music one week every month. At first my friends thought it was a little odd. I’d ask “can we not listen to that CD today?” in the car. But after a while they started to respect it and even if it was ’strange’ they honored my hunger for God.
Posted on November 10, 2006 at 7:49 am
Hopeless said:
How can I find someone who feels the way I do about tv and movies? Where do I go? I completely hate tv and dislike movies! I think there is alot of filth in them and with a few exceptions won’t watch anything. However, I am having a hard time finding someone that feels the same way I do. It is hard for me to find a partner. I consider myself attractive and smart, yet I can’t seem to find someone that feels the same way as I do unless they were very Christian. I consider myself a Christian (non denominational) and am very open minded and that may bother some of the Christians that are more by the book. So you can see my dilema of being able to find someone that is a little open minded about religious views yet still conservative about what I watch. I am a 34 year woman and in a relationship, however am seriously considering breaking it off because of the constant movies (trashy movies) he is watching. He is living with his brother (who is a netflix addict) it is hard for me to ask him not to watch it, however I tried before and it didn’t really work without a horrible argument or resentment. I want that stuff out of my life and I want my partner for life to feel the same rather than I try to change them or force them to stop. Help…..please. Is there any hope?
Posted on November 13, 2007 at 7:50 pm