If I were speaking only of unbelievers’ choices, this would be an easier conversation, because the ungodly can’t be expected to make positive spiritual choices. But I’m talking equally about homes occupied by Christians, about the choices WE are making for ourselves, and allowing our children to make, when it comes to media. Many of us are willing to make healthy choices about what we put in our mouths, but remain woefully ambivalent about what we consume with our eyes and ears. There is a crisis here, because what we eat has no effect on our souls, but what we watch and listen to does.
When you watch shows with sexual and satanic themes, whether you realize it or not, you INVITE the actual forces of hell to sit on your sofa with you. When you listen to (or allow those around you to listen to) music with violent and demeaning lyrics, you INVITE demonic thoughts to be entertained by your mind. You allow the enemy a foothold in your life, where he is all too happy to wreak havoc. Life is enough of a battle. Why invite more trouble?
There is no social pressure, even from within most churches, to clean up our media diet. There’s no SparkPeople support network* for this. If you’re going to be serious about overcoming this assignment of hell against you and your household, it will feel like you are all alone. You will encounter ridicule even from fellow believers who are blind to the damage being done in their lives by allowing the entertainment of the ungodly to massage their subconscious minds. But I guarantee that if you institute the Philippians 4:8 test in your life, you WILL see results.
What is the Philippians 4:8 test?
“Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.” Philippians 4:8
The test is simple, but hard to implement in your life. Memorize this verse, and pass all your media choices through its guidelines. Before Netflixing Game of Thrones or Walking Dead, ask yourself, is this pure? Before catching Lucifer on Hulu, ask yourself, is this lovely and praiseworthy? Before kicking back with The Bachelor or Vampire Diaries , ask yourself, is this noble? Before downloading Kanye or Bey’s new album, ask yourself, is this true and right? Are these the messages that I want to be feeding my mind? Are these the values and ideas I want to instill in my children?
I told you this would be difficult, because as you begin to ask yourself these questions, and filter your media choices through this Biblical lens, the Holy Spirit is going to convict your heart in areas where you didn’t even realize He had an opinion. This will highlight a new opportunity for you to submit your will to His, and you may find that you need to repent for your past choices.
Don’t be afraid to allow the Holy Spirit access to this part of your life, because His ways are so much better than ours, and I guarantee you, that if you implement this spiritual discipline in your life, you will see positive results in your attitude, your mood, your outlook on life, your relationships, and especially your relationship with God.
Stop tolerating the junk that these choices have brought into your life. Commit to starting your own campaign to clean up your media diet, and gather others with you as you go. Once your mind is clear from the junk, you’ll want to be surrounded by others who’ve made the same commitment, so you can have conversations that pass the test too. You don’t have to tolerate sickness from unhealthy eating habits, nor do you have to tolerate drama from unhealthy media choices. Get healthy and live junkfree!
* Join www.facebook.com/groups/P48.Media.Diet for support and encouragement as you choose to make healthier media choices.
Mikayla Kayne teaches apologetics with a focus on matching current events to Biblical prophecy. Educating believers about God's timeline is her passion, along with equipping and encouraging them to stand firm. Many Christians struggle with fear and worry, but Mikayla helps them face the future with awe and anticipation. For more in depth teaching by Mikayla Kayne, visit her website at http://www.standandwait.com and for current events updates, like her facebook news page at http://www.facebook.com/BTCEwithMik .