Just this past week, I decided that we needed to do some spring cleaning (I am a little late) and we tackled our video cabinet. When we cut back on the television time we also found that we were more selective about what was being watched. We have nearly every VeggieTales show that has been produced along with StoryBook and some incredible Living History productions all stemming from a Christian worldview perspective. Some of these are more worthwhile than others but we regard them as “safe.” But upon our cleaning we found shows that we once allowed such as “Bob the Builder” and “Thomas the Train” and the boys actually told me that we should get rid of them since they never talk about God in them. Wow- they are so right!
Our pastor shared a convicting sermon on media several weeks ago and he exposited on Psalm 101. I have pasted it here for you. Instead of just skipping over it, really read it through and we can talk more afterwards….
Psalm 101 (NKJV)So, when my boys shared that we should get rid of the videos that didn’t talk about God, they were referencing this Psalm and particularly verses 3-5 and 7. Would I classify Bob the Builder and Thomas the Train as wicked? Not necessarily, but I would have to acknowledge that they are void of God. Life is portrayed as jolly and because there is no mention of God’s influence in the show then it is sending the message that He is not needed—what a lie (vs. 7).
A Psalm of David.
1 I will sing of mercy and justice;
To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.
2 I will behave wisely in a perfect way.
Oh, when will You come to me?
I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
3 I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
4 A perverse heart shall depart from me;
I will not know wickedness.
5 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor,
Him I will destroy;
The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart,
Him I will not endure.
6 My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,
That they may dwell with me;
He who walks in a perfect way,
He shall serve me.
7 He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house;
He who tells lies shall not continue in my presence.
8 Early I will destroy all the wicked of the land,
That I may cut off all the evildoers from the city of the LORD.
Now, my children are young so I know that this is pretty basic but what happens when I take this Psalm and apply it to my own life? A friend sent me this short illustration and I look forward to the day when I can use it with my kids. For those of you that have older children I hope you enjoy using this during your devotional time. I wish that I knew who the author was but I don’t, if you do, please let me know so I can give credit.
Homemade Brownies Family Devotion
Last week, I walked into my office to find a sandwich bag on my desk containing three chewy, tasty, homemade chocolate brownies. Some thoughtful and anonymous person who knew my love for tasty homemade brownies had placed them there, along with a hand written short story. I immediately sat down and began eating the first chewy, tasty, homemade brownie as I read the following story:
Two teenagers asked their father if they could go the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen. After reading some reviews about the movie on the Internet, he denied their request.
“Come on Dad, why not?” they complained.
“The movie is rated PG-13, and we are both older than thirteen!”
Dad replied “Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality as being normal and acceptable behavior.”
“But Dad, those are just very small parts of the movie! That's what our friends who've seen it have told us. The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film! It's based on a true story and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice. Even the movie review web sites say that!”
“My answer is no and that is my final answer. You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection. But you will not go and watch that film. End of discussion.”
The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch. As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen.
They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, "Dad must be feeling guilty! Now he's going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies. Maybe we can soften him up with lots of praise when he brings them out to us, and persuade him to let us go to the movie he refused to let us see."
About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story. I kept reading...
The teens were not disappointed. Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies, which he offered to his kids. They each took one. Then their father said “Before you eat, I want to tell you something: I love you both so much.”
The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances. Dad was softening. “That is why I've made these brownies with the very best ingredients. I've made them from scratch. Most of the ingredients are even organic.”
“The best organic flour. The best free-range eggs. The best organic sugar. Premium vanilla and chocolate.”
The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become a little impatient with their dad's long speech.
“But I want to be perfectly honest with you. There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies. I got that ingredient from our own back yard. But you don't need to worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies. The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think.”
“Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?”
“Why? The portion I added was so small. Just a teaspoonful. You won't even taste it.”
“Come on, Dad; just tell us what that ingredient is.”
“Don't worry! It is organic, just like the other ingredients.”
“Dad!”
“Well, OK, if you insist That secret ingredient is fresh organic...dog poop.”
I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the wastebasket by my desk.. I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.
Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.
“DAD! Why did you do that? You've tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop! We can't eat these brownies!”
“Why not? The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients. It won't hurt you. It's been cooked right along with the other ingredients. You won't even taste it. It has the same consistency as the brownies. Go ahead and eat!”
“No, Dad...NEVER!”
“And that is the same reason I won't allow you to go watch that movie. You won't tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies?
We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?”
I discarded what remained of the second brownie as well as the entire untouched third brownie. What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable. And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted. (Surely it wasn't...but I couldn't convince myself.)
Why Do We Tolerate Sin?
What a good lesson about purity! Why do we tolerate any sin? On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes. A little bit of leaven or yeast makes the whole bowl of dough rise. Like leaven, even just a little bit of Sin contaminates the Christian (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7).
How often have I sat down to watch a romantic comedy and dismissed the fact that there was a couple that was engaging in premarital sex or the storyline included a homosexual couple on the side? I am ashamed by it! Hollywood has a mission to desensitize the viewers to moral issues by slipping them in. We don’t watch television programming but I have observed plenty while passing through a room where others are watching it and I am repulsed. Just today I walked past a television screen that someone dear to me was watching a soap opera on and I was shocked at what is now allowed on public (non-cable programming)- two men were in a deep passionate kiss!!! I literally felt like throwing up.
Why would we ever want to invite murder, rape, profanity, adultery, and other forms of evil into our homes like this and call it entertainment???? It is my prayer that I would never again see a violent act or profane image like I have seen in the past on the screen. It also is my prayer that my children would NEVER experience this filth to any degree. Is this being overprotective? No, it is loving my children as God loves me. If I embrace my Father and obey His Word then my spirit is able to be free from the bondage and stains of the world.
I am taking hold of those previously wasted 365 hours this year and using them intentionally. There are so many pleasant things that we can direct our attention to. Scripture memory and prayer always seem to be placed low on the totem pole, so I hope to move them up. We have fun playing a game of charades or going in the backyard to play outdoor games. A walk around the neighborhood or visiting friends is another favorite pastime. Tonight we had a blast washing the dog while I took full control of the hose and soaked everyone but myself—now that beats television any day! Maybe tomorrow we’ll make up a batch of pure unadulterated brownies, too!
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