How is it that I find Christians around me so immersed in culture that they are nearly indistinguishable from the unbelievers around them? I have been the same way until recently; I pirated music, watched movies with indecent scenes in them, and participated in the majority of sociological events that went on.
I, as the critical person that I am (God forgive, me I pray every day), I am starting to notice the lax in distinctness that a lot of Christians are experiencing. We are called to be distinct from the world, and yet involved in its affairs; we are called to be seperate but not removed from society. This means that a Christian should examine what they watch, how they speak, and their reasoning behind their actions in order to eliminate those that bring no glory to Christ.
Bashing time: How I Met Your Mother. I have a friend who watches this show that I have been giving a hard time to for quite a while, because the show is riddled with sex jokes and indecent talk. It's funny and goofy in the majority of the scenes, but why does he watch it? He would say that he watches it because it's funny. The feeling of sadness I had for my friend was overwhelmed when I came to OCC and found out that a good number of the men on my floor watch this show. When asked, one of the men I know explained that it is justifiable because it has more relationship-oriented elements than some other shows, so he can learn from those.
I can learn plenty of things from every terrible show. Shows with terrible language can teach me not to use those words; sex scenes in movies teach me to be affectionate towards my wife, but does that justify watching them? A dead horse cannot be called alive simply because it has more blood in its carcass than other horses. A show that is in and of itself unhealthy and tainted by sin is not fit for a Christian to watch, unless he is doing it for a greater evangelistic purpose.
I'm not hateful solely towards How I Met your Mother, though. Nearly all t.v. shows nowadays have sexual references and increasingly vulgar talk in them. I've gotten sick of having to listen to this to the point that I rarely watch t.v., and when I do, it's on Netflix, where I can choose which shows to watch. Phineas and Ferb and Mythbusters are two of the few shows I watch.
If you like a show or a movie or a band that has unhealthy characteristics, I would encourage you to pull away from it, but more so than that, I would strain you to at least own up to your vice! At least have the courage to say, "Yes, I know it's wrong, but I like the show, so I keep watching it." And if you indeed do keep watching it, then establish a base of friends, counselors, and mentors around you to make sure that you don't fall into the behavior pattern taught in the social media you are listening to. Be in the Word every day and keep your prayer life at a higher level. Talk with people about the lessons taught in that media and whether or not you should conform to those lessons. If you don't do this, you will inevitably begin to conform.
Sound like too much work? Then the media you are addicted to probably isn't worth it. Unless you are willing to sacrifice time, money, pride, and priveliges for that media, then it most likely isn't worth your time in the first place.
You men addicted to pornography: would you be willing to spend your paycheck to keep up your addiction? Would you be willing to spend time in jail for it? No? Then why are you doing it? Because it feels good, I know, but you need to realize that you are committing adultery to the Church and to God Himself when you access that! You are betraying the intimate relationship with God that he has given to you, and are replacing it with an online affair with a woman you don't even know for 8 seconds of heightened satisfaction. Is 8 seconds of bliss worth an eternity in Hell?
Honor God with everything you do, Christian. Watch shows that are decent, in order to keep up with the times; play video games that aren't vulgar, in order to relate better to unbelievers. Just make sure that your mind is focused not on the game in and of itself, but the lessons you can learn from that game in order to further the kingdom.
Of course, I am all for the occasional "kick-back-and-relax" chill time, where you watch a movie simply to watch a movie, or play a game simply to play a game. I do that often, when I need a break from my college work, I just tru to make sure I'm not doing it every and all the time.
Be a balanced communicator - distinct from yet involved in the society. Watch the shows you must, be wise about the shows you desire.
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