What's Appropriate?

well does it harden you to sin? Do you think its wrong. Why are you asking this question? If you have an inking that it is wrong, then don't do it.

We are to hold each other accountable. It is best to be in fellowship with those in your church. If they have a problem with something, you might want to pray about it because they are there to help you in your walk. We are to fellowship together and keep each other accountable.

Do not judge according to appearance but judge righteous judgment (John 7:24).

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment (Philippians 1:9).

I agree with Louis. The church is the Family of God. We are to encourage and build each other up. Accountability is one of the things that help us be a better family.

But about the post. It is kind of a hard topic. You can watch secular movies and listen to secular music. But you have to watch out.

When I think back pon my life i have liked rock music and have seen many movies that would be questionable in nature. As I look back I wish I had never seen them. I wish that I was completely innocent. I have drank alcohol and I have gotten drunk before. (not proud of it) But I wish I had not of done it. For there are desires in me that are harder to control because I have gotten drunk and I have listened to bands like AC/Dc and mettallica and such.

i guess what i see is that my relationship with God is first on my list of priorities but I have found that these things that i thought were harmless come with a hook at the end. They ended up hurting my relationship with Him because they take me away from thinking about Him. I do not think about what is pure and good like Paul says in Galatians. instead I think of bad things just out of the blue. So I have to fight more with myself because I have seen, heard, and experienced more.

So you have to look at the things you want to listen to and watch and read and think about what it will do in the long term to your relationship with God. I would say that it is better to be too innocent (if there is such a thing) then too worldly.

So you have to make up your mind about what you put into your mind because what you put in will come out.

Blackhawk

Something I would like to add is that many times, Christians try to see how close to the edge they can get without falling over it.

Well with me..When I re-commited my life to Christ. It seems like it was only a matter of time, before I hardly would listen to anything other than K-LOVE (christian station in AZ) and then I cant stand when I hear cussing and things like that..But movies I can watch mostly anything, now my husband who is also a christian, can listen to things like "howerd stern" (sometimes) and stand up comics that people swear, and I just dont like it anymore, but I dont think that makes him less of a christian no..unless you go over the boundries!
allie

I have noticed in my growth as a Christian that I slowly grew out of these things. When you give your life over to Christ, He begins to work on you and building you and strengthening you. You will see things that maybe right now you can not live without, or that you think may be bad, just seem to dissapear out of your life. God makes you better, He makes you new. Somepeople are "new" overnight, somepeople take decades, but keep your focus on study and loving the Lord, and you will see changes in your life.

Everything that goes in through your eyes or ears(mouth even) affects you in some way.
As a child of God we are to be feeding the spirit so that we may grow and please our God.
Julie

Well, here's what I think. I won't listen to the kind of music you list, but I happen to have an affinity for horror movies...and I read Stephen King as well. I don't think I will "go to hell" so to speak because of this, BUT I will say this. I know in my heart that I shouldn't. The reason is that God want's us to be filled in all we do FOR HIM. I have been a Christian for years, and therefore I justify myself because I'm mature enough not to let it interfere with my relationship. I have a strong feeling that, even if only for a moment, it DOES interfere anyway. I used to listen to rave music until I realized that it only fed my anger. It would make me feel like driving fast and acting cool and turning it up at stoplights when good looking girls were next to me! Being honest with myself, the books, for the time I'm reading them, take me away from the possiblility of God at that moment as well. I read them, and I watch the movies...but I like to be honest with myself and I have to admit that I don't think I should. (way down deep, darn it!!) I heard a story once about an Indian who became a Christian. He was a former Shaman or something. He said there were two sides to a man (and I'm sorry I can't remember the story exactly) There is the side of the flesh and there is the side for God. (spiritual) He said they were at constant war with one another inside of him since he had become a Christian. He was asked, "which side wins?" His answer was great. He replied, "whichever side I have fed the most."

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)

It is difficult enough to train our minds to do what this scripture tells us, but add to the equation things that will pull our minds in the opposite direction, and you have yourself a VERY difficult task. We are told in God's Word that we have not been given a spirit of fear, and yet one of our most favorites things to do it seems, is to find entertainment that is based on fear. But, as the others have said, these things very often fall away once we have begun to grow in Christ. What was pleasing and enjoyable to our flesh before, often (hopefully) becomes distasteful to us as we learn to walk in the spirit more and more.

Well said!

Thanks.

You know it'a funny. My husband is struggling with lots of things along these lines right now. We both were recently saved. And there are things I have given up, mostly because I want to, not because I feel that I have to. Some things I have just "outgrown" I believe as stogus said. And I'm gad for it. nothing I did, I think,oh my gosh,that was so bad. I would drink wine with a meal, I would have truly an occasional cigarette, I listened to country music only. I liked to go dancing occasionally.Now,everything I do, the thought,what would Jesus do? What would Jesus think? Would he be here? What would he think of seeing me if he walked through the door right this instant? I can't help these thoughts, I just do. He has not given up alot of the same things or desires. And that bothers him.

It's called conviction.It's that simple. God has put some pretty heavy convictions upon me. Just because David isn't having them, doesn't mean he's any less of a christian, or I am better then him. That has been my point I am trying to make to him.

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? WOULD HE SAY THAT? WOULD HE WATCH THIS? WOULD HE DRINK THIS? WOULD HE BE SEEN HERE? WOULD HE LISTEN TO THIS?

Ask yourself these questions, and I think you'll always know the answers to your "what is appropriate?"

Livivng for Him

Thank you for posting. This was an interesting, and important topic, one that even those who have been Christians for awhile need to consider.

If it isn't coming between you and God, don't worry too much about it. There's a lot of material in Romans about judgement... Don't just ignore people's advice, but understand that some people are bothered by things that others aren't, and that's okay.

Don't try to "correct" your friend; if AC/DC would hurt his relationship with God, he's right to avoid it.

"The Stand" by Stephen King is fille dwith Christian themes.