Read unchristian literature, now feel depressed

[Louise15]

I read a novel recently by F Scott Fitzgerald and I didn't realise how despairing and hopeless his vision was until I was partly into the book. I put it aside but then for some reason I was tempted to pick it up again and finish it. I've started feeling depressed again. Please can you pray for me and ask God to forgive me because I shouldn't have read it. It had horrible themes in it including divorce and adultery. God says in Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things'. I've violated this and now its had horrible consequences x

 

[Larniavc]

I don’t get it. If you don’t like it don’t read it. I can’t read tear jerkers. So I don’t.

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

I read a novel recently by F Scott Fitzgerald and I didn't realise how despairing and hopeless his vision was until I was partly into the book. I put it aside but then for some reason I was tempted to pick it up again and finish it. I've started feeling depressed again. Please can you pray for me and ask God to forgive me because I shouldn't have read it. It had horrible themes in it including divorce and adultery. God says in Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things'. I've violated this and now its had horrible consequences x

"for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again" Proverbs 24:16

I'm not going to discuss on if you reading that was right or wrong, as that is between you and God. I've had stages in my life where I didn't watch secular tv because I felt convicted that was right, I now do watch some shows but I filter out the bad and am careful what I watch.

The main thing is, you feel you messed up, just ask for forgiveness and get up again. That's what repentance is anyways right? I also can relate to feeling depressed because a lot of secular music makes me feel that way when I hear something in the store it's so sad.

Are there any good books like the Narnia books (those were great when I was reading a lot) or Lord of the Rings (rich but also great) that you can read? Is there a library you can go to and find books? Just like a movie you may find that you will run into books you can't finish reading. Just learn to be ok with that or at least read enough about them in reviews to get an idea if you will be comfortable reading them, I've had to stop watching some movies and shows for that very reason that they had something bad and I could not continue. And that feeling to go back is there. Get better at ignoring those temptations, Jesus is with you and will help you.

 

[trophy33]

I read a novel recently by F Scott Fitzgerald and I didn't realise how despairing and hopeless his vision was until I was partly into the book. I put it aside but then for some reason I was tempted to pick it up again and finish it. I've started feeling depressed again. Please can you pray for me and ask God to forgive me because I shouldn't have read it. It had horrible themes in it including divorce and adultery. God says in Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things'. I've violated this and now its had horrible consequences x

If you are mentally unstable, read/watch only factual or light genres like comedies.

You do not need us to pray to God to forgive you, you do it once and thats it. Its your own anxiety you got into rage, not God.

 

[Natto]

It's Gatsby, isn't it. They should just divorce with each other and each other find his/her own happiness instead of infidelity. It's more real rather than infidelity because people have to accept unfortunate truth sometimes that some marriage just not work out.

 

[Louise15]

"for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again" Proverbs 24:16

I'm not going to discuss on if you reading that was right or wrong, as that is between you and God. I've had stages in my life where I didn't watch secular tv because I felt convicted that was right, I now do watch some shows but I filter out the bad and am careful what I watch.

The main thing is, you feel you messed up, just ask for forgiveness and get up again. That's what repentance is anyways right? I also can relate to feeling depressed because a lot of secular music makes me feel that way when I hear something in the store it's so sad.

Are there any good books like the Narnia books (those were great when I was reading a lot) or Lord of the Rings (rich but also great) that you can read? Is there a library you can go to and find books? Just like a movie you may find that you will run into books you can't finish reading. Just learn to be ok with that or at least read enough about them in reviews to get an idea if you will be comfortable reading them, I've had to stop watching some movies and shows for that very reason that they had something bad and I could not continue. And that feeling to go back is there. Get better at ignoring those temptations, Jesus is with you and will help you.

 

[Louise15]

Hi yes it's difficult to find the right way forward sometimes. I think not watching or reading anything too extreme so like you said I try and be careful with what I read and watch. I'm fortunate that my dad is a Christian and he's just written this to me which is helpful and encouraging: 'The truth is that all Christians can't claim not to have violated that to some degree or another because we're all sinful. We've all been born with original sin which means that by nature we're all prone to commit sins. As long as we don't give into sinful impulses, like non Christians do, and try to resist them God will forgive us. So it's important to remember that we're saved through faith in Christ and not by a sinless life' x

 

[SeventhFisherofMen]

Hi yes it's difficult to find the right way forward sometimes. I think not watching or reading anything too extreme so like you said I try and be careful with what I read and watch. I'm fortunate that my dad is a Christian and he's just written this to me which is helpful and encouraging: 'The truth is that all Christians can't claim not to have violated that to some degree or another because we're all sinful. We've all been born with original sin which means that by nature we're all prone to commit sins. As long as we don't give into sinful impulses, like non Christians do, and try to resist them God will forgive us. So it's important to remember that we're saved through faith in Christ and not by a sinless life' x

This that your dad sent is very true, I'm glad he is there for you. He is right, if we got mad every time we messed up we'd be pretty upset, instead we should strive to do good, get up when we fall, dust ourselves off and ask forgiveness, and move forward.

 

[Aussie Pete]

I read a novel recently by F Scott Fitzgerald and I didn't realise how despairing and hopeless his vision was until I was partly into the book. I put it aside but then for some reason I was tempted to pick it up again and finish it. I've started feeling depressed again. Please can you pray for me and ask God to forgive me because I shouldn't have read it. It had horrible themes in it including divorce and adultery. God says in Philippians 4:8 NIV 8 'Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things'. I've violated this and now its had horrible consequences x

Confess it as sin. Plead the precious blood of Jesus. God has already forgiven you. What you need is cleansing (1 Peter 1:9). Don't let Satan accuse you. God forgets your sin. Why should you beat yourself up?

 

[Rachel20]

But you've discovered a great secret ! You can control your outlook by what you let in - this is a great thing. Most don't realize how empowered they really are in these things.

 

[Lady Bug]

I understand, though I don't really read secular novels anymore. But yeah, secular stuff can get to you, because they are not focused on the right values. I'm like this way with music - I can no longer listen to secular music for the most part. For no apparent reason I'm left feeling depressed or anxious after it - even if not right away, I notice the feeling maybe a couple weeks later and I ask myself why, and then I realize. Needless to say, being involuntarily exposed to it in the department stores frustrates me to no end and I would go crazy if I had to listen to that stuff all the time.

I also don't like to watch most movies or TV shows - anything that goes against my values, I automatically experience a bitter reaction to - I just can't absorb it. I feel that anyone who finds this out about me in real life would think I'm nuts, but yes, I'm nuts then.

 

[Susie~Q]

I understand, though I don't really read secular novels anymore. But yeah, secular stuff can get to you, because they are not focused on the right values. I'm like this way with music - I can no longer listen to secular music for the most part. For no apparent reason I'm left feeling depressed or anxious after it - even if not right away, I notice the feeling maybe a couple weeks later and I ask myself why, and then I realize. Needless to say, being involuntarily exposed to it in the department stores frustrates me to no end and I would go crazy if I had to listen to that stuff all the time.

I also don't like to watch most movies or TV shows - anything that goes against my values, I automatically experience a bitter reaction to - I just can't absorb it. I feel that anyone who finds this out about me in real life would think I'm nuts, but yes, I'm nuts then.

Most of the novels I read are written by good Christian authors like Janette Oke, I always feel good after one of them, she has written hundreds. The TV show, "When Calls The Heart" is derived from one of her books called "The Canadian West Series" It is an excellent show and apparently very popular, it will be going into it's tenth season. "Signed, Sealed Delivered" is another excellent show, again, with Christian values, both of these are on our Christian network channel. It is so sad that there are so few decent movies and shows to watch. I am so glad I have all my DVD's and VCR's with good movies that my daddy recorded off the TV for so many years when I lived in the states, they are the kind that if the Lord walked into the room, I wouldn't mind Him watching them with me.

Today's music is horrible. I like to listen to easy listening instrumental music, I can't stand vocals. I love the instrumental Christian music. I am out of step with the rest of the world in most of my likes, but that is fine by me, I like what I like, so be it.