Some Backround:
Not sure where to start with this, but I am currently facing some of my addictions, and trying to improve my life by taking out some of these bad habits that have grown on me over the years.. Its gotten to the point however, through convincing myself (and others) that what I have been doing is right, I was stuck wondering if my addictions were in need of change. I would like to first give some background, but If too long, the bottom two issues are my main points for question, so feel free to skip past the following.
Now, I was raised in a firm Christian family in which much of the Bible was taught during my younger years. Faith was never an issue, and I always felt my knowledge of the Bible was plenty sufficient for my everyday life. Now that Im going on 21 however, I have seen so much blinding insult on Christians, and have taken it upon myself to try and convert some strong science driven atheists who felt the need to insult my belief. Ive always had that passion to reach people and introduce them to Christianity, especially through new forms of technology where younger crowds tend to hang out these days. The only problem is, In this past year I have held hour long debates that have kept me up till 4am, with people who in their best efforts found ways to diminish my faith, and while I Never, in my wildest dreams imagined it would happen to me, my faith began to shrink behind my back, and before I knew it I fell into a depression as my mind wondered of the afterlife without a God. Looking back now, even as I still battle that same depression, I can see that I didn't have the ammo to discuss these matters with those of higher scientific understanding.. When I needed those verses out of the Bible to prove I wasn't believing in a fictional novel, they weren't there, and I fell because I had no backing, no rock to plant my faith on when the rain fell you could say.
I never quit going to church every week, although I tended to forget prayer alot more often. Even at my lowest point after my faith hit the ground, I knew that there was a God, and I told myself that everyday, but they felt only as motions because that real faith that I wanted back was missing.
New Years day I was lucky enough to run across an annual Bible reading plan on BibleGateway, and alot of my faith has been restored since I started reading the Bible every day.. Even though I read and heard much of these same scriptures at a younger age, they meant something totally new because my mind was full of these attacks these atheists had shot at me, and my more advanced comprehension and being able to read with my own eyes has done numerous wonders for me, even being only the 27th day through the plan.
Reading the Bible, as it has been refilling my faith, has encouraged me to live a better life however, and in trying to live a better life I have recognized many bad habits I have picked up over the past years. The problem? Well I have told myself these things are fine for a Christian in the past, but I cant trust that what I thought weren't just excuses. At this point im just confused and I could use some clarity from some others on a couple subjects especially.
My Current Targets:
1. Music - My favorite genre is Rap, and if that isn't bad enough, my favorite artist is Eminem. Do I look at him or anyone else as a role model, or take the lyrics to a serious point? Never. I enjoy the art above all, and the mending of words used in the genre. Unfortunately the best in the field are hung up on sinful lyrics which leaves me stuck.. As someone who doesn't take the genre seriously in terms of lyrics, and doesn't take the portrayed lifestyle to realism, do I need to drop my favorite/only music because of the language and sinful lifestyles injected in the lyrics?
2. Pirating - My biggest challenge, the biggest pet peeve in my life.. Pirating.. As in stealing content online..
It sounds like a no brainer I know, drop it, delete it all, move on.. But it has grown to become the biggest addiction I have ever faced.. I have always justified downloading a movie by saying that I could drive 15 minutes and pick it up for free at the Library legally. Im not one to pay for movies, so Its either pick it up at the library, borrow, or download.. None of which include buying the movie.. Same goes for music and so on..
I know stealing is huge, and I can see it more with downloading $1000 software, but what do I do? Is it wrong to download a copy I could legally get for free?
I would greatly appreciate any opinions and/or help on those subjects especially.
Not sure where to start with this, but I am currently facing some of my addictions, and trying to improve my life by taking out some of these bad habits that have grown on me over the years.. Its gotten to the point however, through convincing myself (and others) that what I have been doing is right, I was stuck wondering if my addictions were in need of change. I would like to first give some background, but If too long, the bottom two issues are my main points for question, so feel free to skip past the following.
Now, I was raised in a firm Christian family in which much of the Bible was taught during my younger years. Faith was never an issue, and I always felt my knowledge of the Bible was plenty sufficient for my everyday life. Now that Im going on 21 however, I have seen so much blinding insult on Christians, and have taken it upon myself to try and convert some strong science driven atheists who felt the need to insult my belief. Ive always had that passion to reach people and introduce them to Christianity, especially through new forms of technology where younger crowds tend to hang out these days. The only problem is, In this past year I have held hour long debates that have kept me up till 4am, with people who in their best efforts found ways to diminish my faith, and while I Never, in my wildest dreams imagined it would happen to me, my faith began to shrink behind my back, and before I knew it I fell into a depression as my mind wondered of the afterlife without a God. Looking back now, even as I still battle that same depression, I can see that I didn't have the ammo to discuss these matters with those of higher scientific understanding.. When I needed those verses out of the Bible to prove I wasn't believing in a fictional novel, they weren't there, and I fell because I had no backing, no rock to plant my faith on when the rain fell you could say.
I never quit going to church every week, although I tended to forget prayer alot more often. Even at my lowest point after my faith hit the ground, I knew that there was a God, and I told myself that everyday, but they felt only as motions because that real faith that I wanted back was missing.
New Years day I was lucky enough to run across an annual Bible reading plan on BibleGateway, and alot of my faith has been restored since I started reading the Bible every day.. Even though I read and heard much of these same scriptures at a younger age, they meant something totally new because my mind was full of these attacks these atheists had shot at me, and my more advanced comprehension and being able to read with my own eyes has done numerous wonders for me, even being only the 27th day through the plan.
Reading the Bible, as it has been refilling my faith, has encouraged me to live a better life however, and in trying to live a better life I have recognized many bad habits I have picked up over the past years. The problem? Well I have told myself these things are fine for a Christian in the past, but I cant trust that what I thought weren't just excuses. At this point im just confused and I could use some clarity from some others on a couple subjects especially.
My Current Targets:
1. Music - My favorite genre is Rap, and if that isn't bad enough, my favorite artist is Eminem. Do I look at him or anyone else as a role model, or take the lyrics to a serious point? Never. I enjoy the art above all, and the mending of words used in the genre. Unfortunately the best in the field are hung up on sinful lyrics which leaves me stuck.. As someone who doesn't take the genre seriously in terms of lyrics, and doesn't take the portrayed lifestyle to realism, do I need to drop my favorite/only music because of the language and sinful lifestyles injected in the lyrics?
2. Pirating - My biggest challenge, the biggest pet peeve in my life.. Pirating.. As in stealing content online..
It sounds like a no brainer I know, drop it, delete it all, move on.. But it has grown to become the biggest addiction I have ever faced.. I have always justified downloading a movie by saying that I could drive 15 minutes and pick it up for free at the Library legally. Im not one to pay for movies, so Its either pick it up at the library, borrow, or download.. None of which include buying the movie.. Same goes for music and so on..
I know stealing is huge, and I can see it more with downloading $1000 software, but what do I do? Is it wrong to download a copy I could legally get for free?
I would greatly appreciate any opinions and/or help on those subjects especially.
