Jim, you know that when I tease you about the Mennonite thing it's only with affection, right? I have a lot of respect for the Mennonites, and am so glad I have had the chance to learn about the theology and culture (and the food, of course
). I even wore a Mennonite icon on my account for quite a while when I joined CF. So any day you might see a chance to tease me about my Mennonite showing too! lol
I think this is a very good issue to consider because it addresses our own weaknesses and sins instead of pointing fingers. It's good to reflect on these things and consider whether we're missing the mark or not. Not because we live in fear, but because we truly want to honour our Lord. That's never a bad thing!
There are a number of things to consider about this and some have been touched on. One is our sensitivities and sensibilities regarding various types of media. Some people can watch horror flicks on a regular basis without it affecting them one way or the other (though I have a hard time imagining how!
), while others (like myself) cannot. I can handle the swearing on most shows, but cannot stand hearing people take the Lord's name in vain. Still, if I hear it, it will irk me, but it won't lure me into sinful behaviour. What affects one person doesn't always affect another person. My sister watches South Park and all that kind of stuff, and I have seen how it feeds a kind of negative work in her life - though it's almost more of a symptom of some pre-existing attitudes than anything. Yet, she is a believer, and still growing in her faith despite that. (And I say that as someone who used to watch South Park and know that some of it is very funny.). My point here is that we need to consider these things by using the brains God gave us, the leading of the Spirit He filled us with, and Scriptures that He had provided for us.
I do think that some things, like especially sexual content, can wear away at us over time until we're kinda numb to it, or in some cases addicted to it. So that is something we need to be on guard against. We've got to be careful not to violate our consciences into numbness. That just opens us up to worse things.
Another issue is how it looks to the world when they see us participating in these things and enjoying them right along with everyone else. I really respect John MacArthur for not going to the movies or even touching alcohol. He considers neither sinful, but he abstains anyway because he knows he's held to a higher standard and does not want to give anyone an excuse to stumble. It's a powerful example for us. How it "looks" does matter because the world is always watching and waiting to call us hypocrites.
There is also the issue of our freedom in Christ. We're not going to Hell for watching South Park or Buffy, etc. etc. And being a believer is not about denying
all pleasures in life in favour of some empty, painful existance. We should appreciate the blessings He has given us here and now. But when we take pleasure in anything that takes us away from our pleasure and joy in Him, we've really got to take a hard look at it and decide if it's worth it. This is one thing that I really appreciate about John Piper. He preaches about how Christians are not to live in an ugly joyless world. God wants the opposite for us. He wants us to pursue happiness with great ferver. But as believers we must learn that the key is understanding our ultimate joy is in the Lord and so we should be seeking after Him with that unquenchable thirst. To glorify God
by enjoying Him forever.
We should be wary about what we're watching. It doesn't mean we have to stop watching anything that isn't Christian, but we have to understand how our actions affect others.
