hymns and play them until you know them by heart. They will fill
your mind with wholesome truth.
Conclusion
A number of years ago, the news media picked up the story of
a woman known as “Garbage Mary.” She lived in a smelly Chicago
tenement amid mounds of garbage. She spent her time rummaging
through trash cans. She would bum cigarettes off her neighbors.
Police took her to a psychiatric hospital after she was stopped for
questioning and found to be in a confused state of mind. When
they went into her filthy apartment, they were astounded to find
stock certificates and bank books indicating she was worth at least
a million dollars. She was the daughter of a wealthy Illinois lawyer.
It’s a pathetic story, but it pictures the lives of many professing Christians, who could be immersing their thought life in that
which is true, dignified, right, pure, lovely, of good repute; that
which is virtuous and worthy of praise. But instead, they surround
themselves with moral filth, wallowing daily in raunchy TV programs, polluting their minds with the sordid stories of this condemned world, rather than focusing their thought life on the things
of God and Christ.
An old Indian Christian was explaining to a missionary that
the battle inside of him was like a black dog fighting a white dog.
“Which dog wins?” asked the missionary. “The one I feed the
most,” replied the Indian. Paul says, “Feed your mind on the pure
truth of God’s Word.”
Discussion Questions
1.
2.
3.
4.
Why are Peale’s “Positive Thinking” and Schuller’s “Possibility Thinking” fundamentally opposed to Scripture?
Some Christians argue that we need to be aware of what’s
going on in our culture through movies, TV, etc. Your response?
How should a Christian police officer apply Phil. 4:8 when he
is daily confronted by moral filth in his job?
Someone may argue, “The Bible itself has stories of immorality, etc. What’s the difference between reading it there and
watching it on TV, movies, or video?” Your answer?
Copyright 1995, Steven J. Cole, All Rights Reserved.
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