Accepting a punishment September 16, 2009

So, I’m writing this post because I have experience in this particular area: PUNISHMENT. (I hope that looked scary)  Sometimes*, I’ll do something stupid, like doing something my mom just said not to. (Really, Mom, I didn’t hear you!)  Anyways, after many threats to call child protective services, I settle into sulky silence, and inwardly vow never to speak to her again.  There is the occasional time when I decide that I’m just kidding myself if I say that I’m a Christian, because a true Christian would not be disrespectful to their parents.  So I begin to develop a good attitude, and my Mom notices and decides that it’s about time that I was ungrounded.  You might be thinking, “Cool! Now I can get away with anything!”**, but purpose really matters.  If you’re just trying to get out of your punishment, well, it might work, but it won’t count for anything in the long run.  Since God appointed our parents, we’re basically disobeying Him when we disobey them.  If we disobey our parents, will we disobey God when we leave the house?  So try to extract as much as you can from discipline, and trust me, it won’t be easy at first!  Paul even agrees: Hebrews 12:11
No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

You probably want a harvest of righteousness and peace, but you’ll notice that it says it only comes to those who have been trained by discipline.  So allow God to mold you during punishment, even if you’re an adult.

*Please note the emphasis on “Sometimes,”

**Unless you’re a grown-up.

Movies 2 August 21, 2009

The Bible doesn’t say which movies to watch and which not to, so what is the answer to the movie dilemma? I think there are three options.

1. Stop watching movies altogether.  There’s something wrong with every one, so don’t watch them.
2. Watch any movie.  So what if there is sex and violence?  It’s just a movie!
3. Have a standard.  God calls me to guard my heart (Proverbs 4:23
   Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.).  So watching just any movie won’t do, but I don’t think watching Tommy hit his brother will cause me to sin.

So which is the best choice?  I think number three.  What should the standard be? Does this cause me to sin?  Is that the best choice?  What about Phillipians 4:8?    “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Well, these are all real questions of mine that haven’t been answered, so if anyone figures it out, let me know. I’m on facebook, skype and you can leave a comment.  I surely would appreciate it!

Movies August 17, 2009

So I’ve been thinking about which movies are ok to watch. Like why is it okay to watch Disney movies with secular messages like “Follow your heart.”, which is against the Bible; Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things and without cure. Who can understand it?” So why is it ok to watch those movies and not Harry Potter, which has witchcraft (also against the bible)? Obviously, no movie can match up with our views exactly, but does that mean we can watch any movie we want? I have been trying to sort this out so that I can continue to watch Lord of the Rings (smirk); it has some questionable things like wizards. My argument for the longest time has been that since Tolkien was a Christian the power the good guys use must come from God.
I’ve given thought to individual scenarios and have come to the conclusion that each questionable thing is not enough basis to discard the movies (which I am obsessed with). Until I came to The Return of the King, where they get these ghosts to help them win the battle.  They have to do this because the ghosts when they were alive were cursed and now they have to help, something like that.  “Whoa!” I think “They call up spirits? That’s witchcraft isn’t it?” But usually I am very discerning and it does not make since that this passed under my radar. Yet, did it? I think maybe this was disturbing to me but it all seems very muddled. So I don’t know what to do.