Guest - Cari Kelley
What Would Jesus Watch?
As a Christ follower, is it ok to participate in activities that are morally wrong, or at least morally questionable? The easy answer to this question, is “of course not.” Then, my next question is…is it OK to watch someone else participate in activities that are morally questionable or just downright wrong? Even if they are only pretending or acting out situations? I hope you’re not just picturing sexual stuff in your mind (for more reasons than one!). This could apply to anything from sexual sin, to gossip, lying, violence…that’s my short list—I’ll let you define for yourself what is “morally questionable or wrong.”
I really hate to pull out the old “WWJD,” but maybe that’s our best measuring stick. High standard? Sure. Too high? I don’t think so. As Christ followers, we are not called to compromise, but to have the attitude of Christ—staying pure, considering our lives nothing apart from God.
You might have guessed already that I’m referring to TV and movies—a recurring theme on my blog, I’m afraid. Please understand, I’m not condemning anyone else for their own decisions, but only questioning and processing what God has called me to.
The word of God has lots to say about this. 2 Corinthians 7:1 says it like this:
Because we have these promises (that God is with us and for us), let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness out of reverence for God. (emphasis mine)
I don’t know about you, but that word everything hollers at me from the page. It screams commitment, sacrifice, and purity, and it forces me to redefine what is acceptable for me to lay eyes on or put in my mind. No doubt, what goes in affects the way I think and act. Garbage in, garbage out. How much do I care about protecting my spirit and reserving it completely for God? It means everything to me.
I could read Scripture and just lightly brush by some of the more “difficult” commands…but…that just wouldn’t be fair. I think I would be missing out on some huge pieces of what God has in store for me. This is the obedience he has called ME to…not you, necessarily, but ME, definitely.
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You said…
Well said…
By the way… I don’t think there are different levels of a calling to holiness, but rather different levels of acceptance of the one calling to holiness…
Good stuff. Maybe it’s better for some of us without cable to NOT get the digital converter box later on this month
Hi Cari. Look at you. You’re awesome. You jump on swerve and what do you do? Throw off the gloves and challenge right from the first bell. I often wonder are the things that ‘defile’ so much different for each of us or are some of us just numb to the level of compromise in our life. It’s probably the latter. Regarding television, I do have to say that I more enjoy the shows on the Science and History channels, etc., than the major network type of stuff. Please, please, don’t pray that ‘24′ would become off limits. Now I have to wrestle with all things media because of you; our friend and neighbor, Cari Kelley.
Great post.
Just going to throw this in the mix - Jesus told stories - not recounts of history, but stories - that including all kinds of immoral and questionable acts by characters within.
Why? To convey a message.
I think as we work out these boundary lines in our own lives it is important to draw a distinction between something we take in as predominantly ‘entertainment’, and something that is really about narrative storytelling - conveying a message.
If it is a message medium, then the question needs to not focus simply on the content, but on the nature of the message created by it.
At the same time, I believe we all have sensitivities to different areas of content, and it’s always better to err on the side of caution in our own actions, definitely!
Why do disciples of Jesus watch everything without any sort of discernment?
24 is different because there are certain things one has to do to save the world in a short 24 hour window…. Good post Cari…I have taught on this topic for years and most Christians will argue their freedoms and some will even say Jesus would have watched to go along with the culture…I think I heard Rick Warren ask his church one time how they would feel if he was to live a life like the TV shows and then got up on Sunday morning and shared all the details…..People would be shocked….Christians really know what they should be putting in their minds and what they should not…
I’d like to throw a different thought into the mix… I serve as an artist in the church. I believe it is really important to understand mainstream culture so I can speak in a language (visual or otherwise) that is current and recognizable to people outside of the church. I consider my TV & Movie time to be research, and it is valuable to me.
I understand the need to be careful and wise. However, Jesus ate dinner with prostitutes and tax collectors. In avoiding sin, if we disengage from culture, I think that’s a mistake.
I think a good question is, how can we be in the world, but not of it?
I agree with Sarah that we can use stories that include sinful situations to communicate a message. I also agree with Stacy that for a few kinds of roles, understanding culture is an important tool to communicting with the lost more effectively. However, where I tend to agree more with Cari’s post is that I really don’t think that’s honestly why many of us choose to watch TV and movies (and I’ll throw in music) that doesn’t glorify God and draw us closer to Him. We do it for entertainment. To unplug from our life and get a charge from the humor, action, adventure, and even impure relationships that our life may not have.
I, like Stacy, do watch TV and movies and listen to music for research. (For me that includes a lot of Nick and Disney though, not rated-R flicks.:) ) And like Sarah, I use them to communicate a message (like in our At the Movies series this July). But, the media I’ve cut out mercilessly is the kind that feeds my flesh not my spirit. The kind that leads me away from God not closer to Him.
Jesus specifically addressed this issue when he stated that “what goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.” Jesus’ disciples noted that the Pharisees were offended by this comment, because it went against their religious practices. So too the church has decided that neo-Pharasaism is preferable to following the teachings of Christ. If we can avoid things that look like they’re bad, then it becomes that much easier to maintain the illusion of purity. It amazes me that we are still having this discussion 2000 years after the fact.
Stacy, VERY good point. I’ve considered this…”how can we be in the world, but not of it”. Maybe it has a lot to do with what Sarah Starrenburg said about entertainment vs. message (hence, your researching topics for message purposes). I still am drawn back to “complete holiness”…trying to find a balance.
Sarah, I suppose it’s true that we all have different levels of sensitivity to different areas of content–we’re typically bent toward one sin or another, and so our temptation points will be different. OR, is it like Scott says, that we’re numb to levels of compromise?
Thanks, Scott!
I love this conversation!
Thank you for reminding me just how important it is to commit to this on a daily basis in every area of my life…’cause when he says everything, he means EVERY thing!
I like Scott’s comment about being numb. How many times do I let my kids watch a movie that I’ve seen before, only to be surprised (and usually embarassed) about a scene or words or innuendoes I COMPLETELY forgot were in it? I want God to make it like a stinger to me. Something that pricks my skin and makes me sick to my stomach so that I avoid it all costs. I love the challenge to only take in what feeds my spirit and brings me closer to my Father!
I wish my superpower was total immunity to impurity! I know that whatever goes in, pure or not, floats around in my head for days, maybe even years, influencing my thoughts, attitude and sometiimes my actions. I think Cari’s point has little to do with the issue of image; this is about guarding your heart and mind with all the ferouciousness of a person fighting for utter survival. The very notion of numbness and the tendency we have towards it should make you get your jack knife out and refuse to let some things slip through.
Although I tend to side with Carie on this issue, I don’t like to make blanket statements about what people should and shouldn’t watch. All I know is what God has called me to do and that’s to carefully watch what goes into my heart and mind. I try to apply Eph. 4:8 to it. Is the message true, honorable, right, pure lovely, or admirable? If not, do I need to be watching that? I think we need to be in tune with the Holy Spirit, He’ll let us know where we should draw the line.
Sorry for the mispell your name Cari. I’m so used to adding the “ie” to may own name
:: BALANCE PEOPLE :: think about it and relate it to your health, your mind, your spirit…
good flavor Cari, way to bring the noise/>
I should be living like this. I get too involved and lose touch with reality. I wish I could find the right balance, but it’s something I struggle with all the time.
Great post!
Right, Kendra. I know I did not watch for noble reasons, but for the escape that it provides. It was feeding my flesh, not my spirit. It’s been “mercilessly cut out”. If I need escape, I think God’s word is a much better place to escape to.
Peter, I’m certainly not concerned with the “illusion of purity”, but rather guarding my heart and mind like Sarah said. Because whatever goes in, influences my thoughts and actions. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks….so I guard my heart.
Great Post Cari Kelley, you made me think and be challenged by your topic.
WWJD? How about if Jesus showed up at your door? You know, just to hang out, watch your shows with you, listen to your music, read your books? Would we gladly let Him in or squirm uncomfortably and wish He would gone to the neighbors instead?
Garbage in, garbage out is advice we should all strongly heed.
Great post - I’m so proud!
Stacy, I liked your point. We must be careful so we don’t take it to point of being legalistic. How do we engage culture without submersing ourselves in it?
The garbage in, garbage out idea is good. I think biblically, Romans 12 offers us some pretty good insight when it says to “be transformed by the renewing of our minds”. Constant meditation on the Word and seeing Jesus as the true treasure will give us discernment in what to watch or what not to watch.
Redeeming Riches
http://redeemingriches.wordpress.com
Great post Cari! I like the encouragement you give here for us to strive for that extra bit of discipline that could help us to continually have Jesus at the forefront of our minds. It actually should be hard to always justify things in the name of entertainment no matter how clean it is. We (me, of course included) are a society who simply must be entertained on a daily basis and that is sad sad sad. I think personal discipline may still apply in the work force, but so many of us who claim to be Christ centered can easily be distracted for days, weeks, years, by all that is going on around us and offered to us- without getting to God’s purpose for us which is to glorify Him. It is a grand scheme by Hulu (wink) AND Satan to suck our brains dry while our minds are being numbed by entertainment!! Dearie Dear, I need to do more for the Kingdom and less for myself.