Here's another essay/article I wrote recently. It's a little longer. This is meant as a bit of a wake up to Christians. I hold staunchly to some of the opinions I mention here - I acknowledge that not all of you share the same ideas...However, this is how I feel and what I've seen.
Crouching At The Door By J.A. Olver
What I am about to give my take on actually happened to myself. I took the following days to examine my heart and to make sure what I want to say is coming from a judgment by Gods standard and not my own. I can yammer all I want about how someones convictions are different than my own, but it makes no difference. But when it comes to the appearance of evil, and the biblical standards of excellence and purity, we are called to make judgment.
Like Jesus braiding the leather it took to make His whip, I spent the days after the experience checking my heart and putting my emotions in balance. Digging for the deeper truth and disciplining myself to see past the surface of the facades people wear and to see through the dark veil that is cast by Satan over the world to make the black and whites into gray, shifting shadows.
A few friends and I visited another friend who was staying in town at the house of several individuals. When we arrived, there were quite a few people there visiting and socializing. Several people I knew, several people whom I knew through amazing reputation.
The TV was on, and there was lots of activity in the kitchen. A guitar was being strummed somewhere, and people were generally having a good time. I was having a polite discussion with a friend of mine about how the past few days have been. She told me of things that happened that day, which many of you may think no big deal and in the eyes of most people its no big deal. But when the reputation is spread about how Godly someone is, how intensely pursuing God someone is, and the standard has been raised when you see this persons private life, you expect to see a disregard of things that have no business in the life of a Kingdom Advancer, and a Holy regard and pursuit of things Godly, lovely, noble, pure, just, righteous, etc.
As I said, the TV was on, and one of the late night talk shows was on. The guests being interviewed were cussing which was censored but the conversation was met with much laughter. The station was changed when a revolting commercial came on of a girl being chased by a pit-bull, who as she climbed a tree, the dog ripped her pants off, exposing more than anyone cared to see.
During the conversation my friend and I were having, it was obvious that the channel had been changed to an infomercial on Saturday Night Live episodes. This was met with uproarious laughter.
Now
This is where the account of the day stops, and what I feel and think starts
If any of you who read this know what, when, who and where Im talking about, this is not a prejudiced, self-righteous dig at you. Is it a judgment? Yes. Because, integrity dictates that who you are in public should be who you are in private especially if youre a Christian.
I left that house wishing I had flipped over the Television set. I used to say to people, when discussing lifestyles Is talking on the phone bad? No. Is eating at McDonalds bad? No. Is talking on the phone for hours and hours bad? Yes. Is eating at McDonalds everyday bad? Yes. Is watching TV bad? No. Is watching too much TV bad? Yes.
Now, I am at the point where I will boldly say, Yes. Television is bad. What? How could I say that?
Well, when 86% (Barna research) of all sexual activity during prime time on major television networks is outside of marriage and the average teenager, in one year, will see 14,000 sexual encounters on TV, I think I can say that with authority. Especially, when it was recorded in 2003 by Barna that the average child who has just finished kindergarten has already watched 6,000 hours of TV
That is MORE time than it takes to obtain a BACHELORS DEGREE!
I dont see whats so funny about a group of adults, before an audience of literally millions of people act like theyre in fourth grade? And draw humor from sexual and drug innuendo? Its cute when a fourth grader plays pretend, and acts outrageous and silly its what they do. But when grown, successful adults gather and pour thought into, rehearse and perform things like that its not so cute anymore.
Whats so funny about a man acting like a nine year old when off the screen he died of a drug overdose? Whats so funny or alluring about a commercial for mens deoderant that makes a woman sexually attracted to a plastic mannequin? Or that makes cousins make-out before their entire family? Whats so funny about grown men and women on talk-shows cussing about their lives and about topics in politics or showbiz?
Whats so entertaining about playing videogames when the option to worship and glorify God presents itself over and over?
WHATS SO ENTERTAINING ABOUT WELCOMING THIS FILTH INSIDE YOUR HOME?
WHATS SO ENTERTAINING ABOUT THE FACT THAT 14,000 ANNUAL IMMORAL SEXUAL ENCOUNTERS IS AS FAR AWAY AS YOUR REMOTECONTROL?
Whats so alluring about being talked about as Godly men, leading people in discipleship, and when in private you allow sin a foot in the door?
Leonard Ravenhill said that Entertainment is the Devils substitute for joy.
John Bevere, when asked what a person should do for relaxation when the world is so corrupt, said that Jesus, when He needed relaxation drew into a desolate place. (Found in Heart Ablaze)
In a world where the tame would have utterly SHOCKED and DISGUSTED the world 30 and 40 years ago, why are we not holding ourselves to a higher, more stringent standard?
When the world is trying harder and HARDER, and fighting dirtier and DIRTIER EACH DAY, why are we not becoming more and MORE DISCIPLINED? Why are we not rejecting what the world has to offer MORE VEHEMENTLY?
Men? Wheres that standard? Thank God there has been recognition of integrity and the importance of quality of character in the world, (however quickly fading it is again) but are you surpassing it and living according to Gods standard? Are you ignoring your own God-sown convictions? Women? Wheres the Godly self-respect? Thank God modesty is trying to make a comeback, but how many of you are praying it lasts instead of just idly just being thankful? How many of you are rejecting materialism and actually pursuing self-abnegation instead of just talking about the desire to do so?
If the world keeps changing, like so many of us keep saying, why arent we becoming more guarded? Why is sin allowed to even crouch at our door? Why havent we blown the beast away and put up fences with razor wire around our moral yards?
If allowed to remain on our stoop, that wretched creature starts to paw and scratch at the door
Perhaps even whimper in phrases like Its so hard, No one understands, This could make me relate to people better, and the classic Everybodys doing it. And soon out of pity disguised as annoyance, we open the door to shoo it away, and it lunges and tears out our throats and takes our heart in its jaws and slathers the walls with our much touted integrity and convictions.
And there the bride lays, torn to shreds, bloody, defiled from the disease ridden creature which is roaming somewhere inside. With the last bit of strength the bride has, she reaches up and shuts the door, so no one will see inside. And the last things the Bride sees before the door clicks shut, is her bold, colorful standard waving in the breeze for all to see. _________________ Jeffrey
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