Blogging BCM: My Heart and Media

Last night Tim spoke on My Heart and Media, a message regarding Christian worldview and stemming once again from the book Worldliness by CJ Mahaney. I think out of all the chapters of this book, this one challenged me the most and Tim's message once again did the same. Media is the thing I struggle with most. At one point in my life it would not surprise me if I spent a third or more of my day consuming media. In recent months, I've recognized the hold media has in my life and have taken measures to break that hold and move away. Although it's hard and I still struggle, I feel in regards to media I am in a much better place than i was several months ago. The following are my new thoughts regarding media and how we must view media and it's impact on our lives from a Christian perspective. I am in no way an expert, but God's Word is and it clearly defines the things that should be important and that should take precedence in our lives. 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us:

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I firmly believe this has to be a starting point when looking at media and it's impact on our lives as Christians. Paul tells the Corinthians that whatever you do should be done to the glory of God. That means when we eat it should be to the glory of God. It means our relationships should be conducted in a manner that is to the glory of God. Our schoolwork should be done so that it is to the glory of God. When we are at work, we work in a manner that is to the glory of God. Most importantly at this time in our lives it has a clear pulling and weight on the issue of media. The media that we take in and the media that so often consumes our lives, according to this verse, should be viewed and consumed to the glory of God. WOW that's hard. That means that whatever movies we watch should glorify God. Whatever TV we watch should glorify God. Whatever music we listen to (more on this subject next week) should glorify God. Whatever magazines we read should glorify God. I could go on and on about the different aspects of media that need to be consumed to the glory of God, but I think you get the picture. Craig Cabaniss writes in Worldliness:

Glorifying God is an intentional pursuit. We don't accidentally drift into holiness; rather, we mature gradually and purposefully, one choice at a time. In the Christian walk, we can't just step onto the right path and figure all is well. Christian discipleship is a lifelong journey consisting of a series of countless steps. Each step matters, and thus our viewing habits matter.

Glorifying God is not something that just happens. As Cabaniss says, it is intentional and we must make every effort to concentrate in our lives on making sure that whatever we do, we do it to the glory of God. The hardest part on our walk towards spiritual maturity and holiness is that Satan knows where we are weak and for most that is in the media that we mindlessly take in everyday. Cabaniss continues:

The drift towards worldliness is subtle, gradual, and internal. And if we assume we're immune to it, that's a sure sign the drift has begun.

We as Christians must realize this fact and take heed. We must be on constant guard to the sin that infiltrates our lives everyday due to the media that is provided to us. We so often do not consider what we're watching or reading to have an impact on our lives. We somehow think that by watching or consuming the sin in others lives, we can remain holy and blameless before God. Let me ask you this...how often do we sit at home and watch programs on TV or movies that deal with issues of extramarital affairs, vulgarity, premarital sex, homosexuality and other things that are dishonoring to God? How often are we entertained by these things? Quite often we think that although we are called to glorify God in our own lives, it's OK to be entertained and view other people do the exact opposite. We must be on a constant pursuit to view to the glory of God. Cabaniss writes:

Viewing for God's glory requires responding to temptations as they arise. This means we press the remote, click the mouse, or walk out of the theater when we discern that our entertainment displeases the Lord. We must resist the temptation to think, "There's nothing else to watch," or "I'm only looking for a moment," or "It would be stupid to waste the money I spent to see this."

It is in these moments when we compromise our pursuit to glorify God for the entertainment of our fleshly desires. It is in these moments that Satan knows he has us and begins to strike harder than ever, slowly drifting us out into the sea of Worldliness. Let us take a stand and say no to Satan's lies that we need to watch this to relax or to take a break from the struggles of life. Let us say know when Satan tells us there's nothing else to watch. Let us sacrifice the money out of our pockets and leave the movie when we make a poor choice of what to watch. Let us, as 1 Corinthians 10:31 tells us, "do all to the glory of God."

Questions to focus on this week in your personal devotions:

1. Does the media you consume glorify God in any manner?

2. Do you find yourself making statements and remarks from media you may have consumed that are dishonoring and therefore not glorifying to God?

3. Read 1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:17 and Philippians 4:8. How do these verses relate to the media we consume and how do they relate to the sin of worldliness?

As always, if there is any questions you may have or need to just talk, Tim and I are always available.