First, let me just say how much it bothers me about how kids today - even the Christian ones - are so desensitised to all the sex, drug, and general immorality references and condoning that goes on in our wayward world today. Today, I read on my friend's blog that her new favourite book is one that tells the story of a junior in high school who commits suicide, and this book contains a rather graphic sex scene that should be skipped, according to her. Another of my friends, J.R., said he'd like to read it and didn't mind at all about the sex scene; he said '...please please please bring it next time I see you. This book is interesting me very much, it sounds.. well.. amazing....And I have no innocence anymore, so I'm sure that part'll be fine with me. If it's some sex scene, I've already read some books with those...' (but he assures me that that was totally accidental). Another friend, M.D., agreed with him in that she wouldn't mind reading the book.
Does this not sound completely wrong to you all?? We as Christians should NOT be condoning stuff like this and waving it off, saying that it's ok, that 'it's just the way the world works', that 'I guess I'd better get used to it; after all, it's not going away'! Guys, just because the world says stuff like this is fine and it won't hurt you, does NOT mean it's ok to read about it anyway, even if you're a Christian. Stuff like that, once in your head, NEVER goes out, as much as you may wish it to! I know this from experience; I accidentally read a book back in 7th grade that I shouldn't have and now those things are forever stuck inside my mind, much as I wish them gone. Things like Twilight, Graceling, Harry Potter....Not good stuff. Think about this: if Jesus was a 16-year-old kid that went to school with you, would He be reading Twilight? NO. Would He, even for one second, say 'Oh, it's ok to read that. You might as well get used to it, after all'? NO. Would He go with you to the movie theater to see Harry Potter and the Hunger Games? Say it with me now: NO.
How have we gotten so far away from Him, guys? Everything in media, politics, and just everyday life promotes lying, sexual immorality, cheating, cruelty, vanity, selfishness, and plain stupidity. Don't believe me? Take a look at the next Victoria's Secret commercial that comes on. Listen to the conversations in the high school locker room or lunch table. Read books like Harry Potter, Twilight, Graceling, and 13 Reasons Why. Scroll through any kid's text messages. Immorality and sinful living is all around us, guys, but we cannot, CANNOT condone it and become a part of it! "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will." Romans 12:2. Follow this verse to the tee, guys! Challenge yourself to not watch that PG-13 rated comedy that flaunts language, girls in bikinis, lying to family and friends, and getting drunk at all-night parties. Flip the channel when bad commercials come on. Change the station when bad songs start filling the silence. Act like Christ, our perfect and beautiful Sacrifice, who gave up His life not so that we could live life as a carefree, free-for-all party, but so that we could come to know our Creator and Perfector and live eternally with Him in paradise! Why in the world would you pass up an eternity of life's most wonderful gifts - friends, family, peace, harmony, unity in Christ as brothers and sisters, a world free of sin, pain, tragedy, burdens, hatred, amnosity, disease, and a perpetual loneliness - for drugs (a.k.a. cancer, death, disease, psychological damage), sex (a.k.a. AIDS, HIV, unplanned-for children that you're unable to provide for and love, unhappiness and an unfillable feeling of emptiness), and worldly pleasures that will all pass away and will mean nothing at all when you're on your deathbed, such as money, iPods, the newest HDTV, the fancy car, the mansion.....What does it matter, in the end? "And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever." 1 John 2:17.
Guys! Oh, how I wish every single one of you who reads this will one day be in Heaven with our beloved Father! And how much more He wishes it! Don't you think the God who created you and designed every single atom, cell, artery, and iota of your being longs for you to come home to Him, where you can spend eternity with a loving Father who will meet your every need and wipe every tear from your eye? Why on earth would you not want that?
I'll tell you why: Satan. The Father of Lies, the Great Deceiver. Oh, he makes it look good, doesn't he? He twists and manipulates and tells you that it'll be ok just this once; no one will ever know. And after all, it'll make you feel good. It'll make you forget; it'll ease the pain. It'll make everything better. Oh, friends. What God makes good, Satan twists into something so hideous it becomes unrecognisable. What God intends for righteousness and healing, Satan makes immoral and destructive. He prowls for the weak, looking for those who he can sway, those who he can tempt into slipping, even if 'just this once'. But he knows that if you slip once, there's nothing holding you back to keep you from slipping again. And again. And again. And before you know it, your life is in shambles, everything ashes in the wind, broken and meaningless. Sin is like an itch, guys. Without thinking, you scratch it once. It feels better for a moment, but when that moment has passed, the urge returns to scratch it again. Just one more time can't hurt, right? It's not like it's hurting anybody. And it feels good again for another fleeting moment. But as you keep scratching, and the urge keeps growing, soon you can't help yourself. That initially small itch turns into a ragged, bleeding wound that just keeps growing and feeding off of your addiction to the temporary relief that scratching it brings. And if it ever heals, it leaves a large scar, cold and pink, to remind you of that itch you never should have scratched.
This is so preventable, friends. All you have to do is put your trust in God the Father, you Creator, the Lover of your soul, the Author and Perfector of the universe. Just open your heart to Him; tell him - you don't have to speak, even; He understands our needs even when we can't find the words to say them - and just ask Him to forgive you for your trespasses against His righteous and beautiful nature. Confess that you've messed up. Tell Him that you know what you've done is wrong. Ask Him to forgive you and help you live a better life, according to His good purpose and will. It's that simple! And once you say that quick, easy prayer, how your life will change! You'll begin to see God's beauty and love all around you, in ways you never even noticed before; you'll see His gentle hand in every facet of your life, guiding you, blessing you, loving you, even at your worst! What an awesome and mighty God we serve, friends! His name be praised throughout all the world, in every tribe, tongue, and nation! Praise Yahweh, the Lamb of Life!
Give your life to Him now, before it's too late. Don't delay, for we may not have a tomorrow. Think about this, friends. It's the biggest - and best - desicion you will ever make.
Good night, and God bless you all.
I agree with you on all ends. People completely giving themselves to sin is the worst mistake they can make, and I deeply grieve whenever I think of how many are turned to it rather then God.
ReplyDeleteBut then, there is the other side of the coin. Half of them don't realize how bad they are. There are barely any good Christian influences in the world anymore, and the ones that are here often get shunted to the side.
You don't have to- and in my opinion, shouldn't- agree with what's going on in the world. After all, it's only previewing what is to come for them in Hell if they continue to follow their ways.
But if you want to fully understand God's glory and power, you have to be able to understand how much He's saving us from. And to convert people to God, you MUST have the ability to understand where they're coming from- otherwise they won't have a reason to listen.
This doesn't mean that you need to conform to the ways of the world. Absolutely not! After all, weren't the prophets able to stand strong in the midst of sinners with the help from God?
What the wiser thing would be is to recognize how flawed they are and pity them for not being able to see the glory of our Father.
I'm not trying to criticize you. After all, you seem to have a better grip on what's going on then most teenagers.(?) However, more then half of the world does not. And if you don't know how to see from their perspective, you don't know how to save them from themselves- and their sin.
-P.D
Your comments are very true; thank you for the advice! I'm really young, and I'm still trying to figure everything out, so I appreciate your wisdom! :)
ReplyDeleteElizabeth,everything you said is very true. I think part of the problem is that people don't stop to think what message their book/movie is giving to society. Even books that don't have an "underlying message" still teach you stuff. It's all very well for an author to say "Oh, it's fiction, mobody's going to think this is how they should really act" - of course people take books as their examples! After all, the characters in books are heroes! And with all the screwy stuff in books these days, there's a lot of screwy stuff in society. I think authors in general need to make sure they aren't portraying anything that is unacceptable.
ReplyDelete(This isn't aimed at you; it's just a thought for authors in general, myself included.)
By the way, what about Harry Potter is unchristian?