How do I know what is "ok"?

[Eleknar]

I enjoy reading, playing video games, watching movies, etc. but how do I know if it's ok for me to do those things? If I am reading a book about a person who has powers given to him by a ring, such as the Green Lantern comic books, is that ok or is that wrong? Same questions for other books, movies, games, etc. What is ok and what isn't? Thanks.

 

[honestthinker]

I am interested in the answer to this question as well.

 

[trentlogain2]

going by our faith icons, we're all saved that have posted..

i believe that as long as it doesn't directly go against the morals of what we have in the Bible then it's okay. then again, i realize that a lot of stuff out there has stark differences from what we have taught to us in The Bible. so when in doubt, I believe The Holy Spirit will let us know when something isn't right for us to be paying attention to.

 

[iamjcs]

1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version (©1984)
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

1 Corinthians 10:23 New American Standard Bible (©1995)
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

1 Corinthians 6:12 New American Standard Bible (©1995)
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

-
ADVICE:

Pay attention to the guidance from the Bible.

Listen to & heed the Holy Spirit.

Don't do things around others that they believe is wrong.

Avoid evil, black magic, witchcraft, & anything against God.

Seek God's face & favor then you can't go wrong.

 

[ashout]

I was told by God not to play video games or watch movies, so in my opinion no, they're not right. what you're supporting by paying money for it is an evil industry that has no respect for God.

Movies and video games are of this world and everytime I try to watch a movie, God punishes me for it to the point that I wish for death, He really doesn't like me watching movies.

If I were you, I stop watching movies and playing video games entirly, they're bad bread.

 

[NatalieJan777]

This is a good question, one that only raises a few biblical references in my mind.

But what it all really boils down to is that you are asking man and not GOD himself. I personally do not know what is in the content of the comic book you are talking about, and unless you were my child, I couldn't very well tell you if it was bad or not (Not that my child would listen to me, because they don't always do that), but I know if you pray about it that HE will tell you what is and is not permissible.

I do want to post one biblical scriptural reference however, and I only think it is realavent to the amount of time we do things that take away from what would be better for us by getting into the word of GOD, prayer, helping out a neighbour/family member, etc... instead of popping in that video or reading non fiction, etc....

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God-- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Ask yourself If Jesus were here would HE approve of me watching or reading this material? Will what I am about to do Glorify GOD? I think if we were to ask ourselves this on a regular basis when we are bored and have nothing better to do with our time, that we may just start making better choices of what to do in our spare time and do more of what is right in GOD's Eye's.

 

[dies-l]

Two different questions are at issue here:
What is ok? and what is best?

To ask "what is ok?" is, in my opinion, to ask the wrong question. By this, I assume you want to know whether it is a "sin" or whether it is prohibited by Scripture to watch a certain kind of movie or read a certain book. If your goal is simply to find a set of rules or guidelines to define what you can get away with without making God angry, you are missing entirely the point of God's grace. If that is the case, the solution is not to search the Scriptures to determine what is "ok" but rather to study the Scriptures to understand God's grace.

However, if you understand and have experienced God's grace, you may find yourself wanting to strive to be the best person that you can be, not out of a legalistic desire to impress God or man, but out of gratitude and understanding of your own unworthiness. In that case, the question is not "what is ok?" but rather "what is best?" The answer to this question is answered in Matthew 22:36-49. In short, it is "love God and love your neighbor." Your best will always be directed toward loving God and other people. Each decision we make is either consistent or inconsistent with this goal, but it is often the case that these are decisions that each of us must make for ourselves, based upon what the effects that our decision will have on ourselves and our relationships with God and others.

For example, I would tend to say that hanging out at adult entertainment conventions is not a good thing for Christians to do. The guys at xxxchurch, however, do this as part of their ministry and are able to share the gospel in a dark place because of it. What for me would be a stumbling block that would likely destroy my marriage and tempt me to sexually exploit other people is, for someone else, an opportunity to show God's love in a meaningful way.

So, to answer your question, look to your heart with a firm grasp of God's grace and love and figure out what is best (not just ok). Anything less than best is short of God's will.

 

[Faith.Man]

1 Corinthians 10:23 New International Version (©1984)
"Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive.

1 Corinthians 10:23 New American Standard Bible (©1995)
All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful, but not all things edify.

1 Corinthians 6:12 New American Standard Bible (©1995)
All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

-
ADVICE:

Pay attention to the guidance from the Bible.

Listen to & heed the Holy Spirit.

Don't do things around others that they believe is wrong.

Avoid evil, black magic, witchcraft, & anything against God.

Seek God's face & favor then you can't go wrong.

Eleknar, honestthinker and trentlogain2 - I think this is the best advice you're going to get.

 

[jcnwog]

We cannot tell you what's okay or not okay? The holy spirit will talk to you through your spirit. If you personally feel convicted in your spirit (because obviously your asking the question) then get rid of it.

The only thing as brother christ I can give to you is. If the material is making you think, feel ungodly then get rid of it. If its taking your attention away from god meaning his word (bible) your time with him in church. Then get rid of it because it will make your relationship farther away from him and your relationship will be more of the world.

I felt convicted in my spirit buying dvds, cds, video games. I mean spending like close to $200 or $300 a pay period and the lord saw that and told me to get those out of my life and as a testimony I threw all of it in the trash and actually have only the bible, church and prayer for it is of god and only of god to make my relationship stronger.

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