I hear a lot of complaints about the digression of society these days. Believe me Brothers and Sisters, this has been going on for a very long time. I believe this digression starts right here at home...in the Christian household!
We are surrounded by worldly things. Every day we are bombarded with advertising about the newest, neatest, greatest thing to hit the shelves since sliced bread. There are multiple forms of entertainment available for us to spend our time with. You can watch the newest show glorifying adultery and lust, advocating greed and vengeance and let's not even talk about all of the free porn available on the net. The Enemy has a stronghold on the entertainment industry. Not only do we have TV and Video showing us these nasty messages...our youth is being inundated with bad messages through video games. One of my favorite examples is a game that was quite popular not long ago called grand theft auto (GTA). GTA gives points for every devilish thing out there, from killing police to raping women, a truly great way to foster the sociopathic side of any youth.
The following two statements just about encapsulate God's view of worldliness:
"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" Matthew 18:6-8
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-20
As Christians, we are taught that we are not of this world, but just visitors. We are not to engage in many of the things of this world, only those we must to exist here. No, that doesn't mean we have to completely ignore the world and not have any fun, just that we have a higher standard for that fun.
One of Beth's former pastors once gave her some very sage advice when she was a very young woman looking for guidance in what entertainment, etc to view. The pastor told her: "Remember that God is always with you, in everything you do. Watch or do things in a manner that you would not be embarrassed to have Jesus there with you." Sounds simple doesn't it? Not so easy in a secular world, but a worthwhile goal for all of us.
But what does all of this have to do with voting your wallet...simply this: If you see something that is not appropriate in Jesus' eyes, don't buy it and encourage your friends and family not to buy it. You could even boycott stores and businesses that sell ungodly and unchristian goods and services as a rule. Beth and I maintain an active list of places we won't do business and why. There is power in Christian boycott, ask Ford Motor Company, ask many businesses that have had to close their doors or improve their good and services because Christians decided they weren't going to put up with them. The same rules have applied to businesses for millenia, supply and demand. If we Christians demand decent things, businesses will supply them. If we Christians stop buying indecent things, they'll stop supplying them.
Just a few things to ponder...until next time, may God's perfect love and peace find you all, in Jesus' name, Amen!
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
We are surrounded by worldly things. Every day we are bombarded with advertising about the newest, neatest, greatest thing to hit the shelves since sliced bread. There are multiple forms of entertainment available for us to spend our time with. You can watch the newest show glorifying adultery and lust, advocating greed and vengeance and let's not even talk about all of the free porn available on the net. The Enemy has a stronghold on the entertainment industry. Not only do we have TV and Video showing us these nasty messages...our youth is being inundated with bad messages through video games. One of my favorite examples is a game that was quite popular not long ago called grand theft auto (GTA). GTA gives points for every devilish thing out there, from killing police to raping women, a truly great way to foster the sociopathic side of any youth.
The following two statements just about encapsulate God's view of worldliness:
"Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" Matthew 18:6-8
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John 15:18-20
As Christians, we are taught that we are not of this world, but just visitors. We are not to engage in many of the things of this world, only those we must to exist here. No, that doesn't mean we have to completely ignore the world and not have any fun, just that we have a higher standard for that fun.
One of Beth's former pastors once gave her some very sage advice when she was a very young woman looking for guidance in what entertainment, etc to view. The pastor told her: "Remember that God is always with you, in everything you do. Watch or do things in a manner that you would not be embarrassed to have Jesus there with you." Sounds simple doesn't it? Not so easy in a secular world, but a worthwhile goal for all of us.
But what does all of this have to do with voting your wallet...simply this: If you see something that is not appropriate in Jesus' eyes, don't buy it and encourage your friends and family not to buy it. You could even boycott stores and businesses that sell ungodly and unchristian goods and services as a rule. Beth and I maintain an active list of places we won't do business and why. There is power in Christian boycott, ask Ford Motor Company, ask many businesses that have had to close their doors or improve their good and services because Christians decided they weren't going to put up with them. The same rules have applied to businesses for millenia, supply and demand. If we Christians demand decent things, businesses will supply them. If we Christians stop buying indecent things, they'll stop supplying them.
Just a few things to ponder...until next time, may God's perfect love and peace find you all, in Jesus' name, Amen!
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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