Secular Movie 1
Yea, still on the matter, "secular movies". Just so you know, I'm as expectant as you are on this issue, keep calm, and let's learn together.
Normally, I feel people (Christians now), just watch movies to relax, have fun, and feel good, without actually giving much thoughts on the secularism of those movies, at least that is what it is for me.
However, we should remember the Bible verse that says, "Be careful, be vigilant, your adversary, the devil, goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1Peter 5:8.
You may say, "how does this apply to an innocent movie?" Actually, we have to be very careful, because sometimes, what may seem innocent, could be something that's lethally dangerous.
And really, the more I dig into this matter, the more complicated it becomes. We talk about the secular music, the movie, how about the secular world itself? Aren't the clothing made by Hollywood designers supposed to be secular too, yet we admire and sometimes put on those clothing or copy them. Jewelry, makeup, mobile phones, the internet, aren't they all secular? By the way, what secular again? Secular plainly means "wordly". Isn't the social media secular? Is facebook, google, or twitter designed for the Christian community? No is the answer!
In order not to keep tagging a lot of things, and still remain at the same confused state, I'd write out what Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians when they had an issue with meat that had been offered to the idols and then sold out in the market. 1Corinthians 8 NLT
"Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that 'we all have knowledge' about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.
So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.
There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.
But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.
However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.
It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?
So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble."
From the scripture above, I think the issue has now become a bit defined. What we should worry about is, what is the Holy Spirit telling you personally?
Are you currently seeing a movie, and deep down in your heart, you know you are not at peace? Or you feel guilty? What more? The LORD obviously doesn't want you seeing that movie.
At this juncture, I want you to question yourself on how often and obediently you yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit when he tells you not to do a thing. I'd like to stop here, and hopefully, by His Grace conclude on this matter tomorrow.
I do hope you have learned something, Shalom.
Normally, I feel people (Christians now), just watch movies to relax, have fun, and feel good, without actually giving much thoughts on the secularism of those movies, at least that is what it is for me.
However, we should remember the Bible verse that says, "Be careful, be vigilant, your adversary, the devil, goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." 1Peter 5:8.
You may say, "how does this apply to an innocent movie?" Actually, we have to be very careful, because sometimes, what may seem innocent, could be something that's lethally dangerous.
And really, the more I dig into this matter, the more complicated it becomes. We talk about the secular music, the movie, how about the secular world itself? Aren't the clothing made by Hollywood designers supposed to be secular too, yet we admire and sometimes put on those clothing or copy them. Jewelry, makeup, mobile phones, the internet, aren't they all secular? By the way, what secular again? Secular plainly means "wordly". Isn't the social media secular? Is facebook, google, or twitter designed for the Christian community? No is the answer!
In order not to keep tagging a lot of things, and still remain at the same confused state, I'd write out what Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians when they had an issue with meat that had been offered to the idols and then sold out in the market. 1Corinthians 8 NLT
"Now regarding your question about food that has been offered to idols. Yes, we know that 'we all have knowledge' about this issue. But while knowledge makes us feel important, it is love that strengthens the church.
Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much. But the person who loves God is the one whom God recognizes.
So, what about eating meat that has been offered to idols? Well, we all know that an idol is not really a god and that there is only one God.
There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords.
But for us, There is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live.
However, not all believers know this. Some are accustomed to thinking of idols as being real, so when they eat food that has been offered to idols, they think of it as the worship of real gods, and their weak consciences are violated.
It’s true that we can’t win God’s approval by what we eat. We don’t lose anything if we don’t eat it, and we don’t gain anything if we do.
But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble.
For if others see you—with your “superior knowledge”—eating in the temple of an idol, won’t they be encouraged to violate their conscience by eating food that has been offered to an idol?
So because of your superior knowledge, a weak believer for whom Christ died will be destroyed. And when you sin against other believers by encouraging them to do something they believe is wrong, you are sinning against Christ.
So if what I eat causes another believer to sin, I will never eat meat again as long as I live—for I don’t want to cause another believer to stumble."
From the scripture above, I think the issue has now become a bit defined. What we should worry about is, what is the Holy Spirit telling you personally?
Are you currently seeing a movie, and deep down in your heart, you know you are not at peace? Or you feel guilty? What more? The LORD obviously doesn't want you seeing that movie.
At this juncture, I want you to question yourself on how often and obediently you yield to the voice of the Holy Spirit when he tells you not to do a thing. I'd like to stop here, and hopefully, by His Grace conclude on this matter tomorrow.
I do hope you have learned something, Shalom.
Comments
In like manner, some of these movies actually portray the operations of the kingdom of darkness(permit me not to say much). In essence, they display the operations of principalities, powers n rulers n movies. People watch them, n the next minute they are acting it out
Shows that there are some binding powers behind these things. Have you ever watched a movie n the next thing for no reason , hate or anger is weling in u. Or you watch a movie and the next minutes, your mind is wandering in immorality.
Little wnder some guys have problem with every lady that passed them by.
To avoid too much stories, I just wanna advice that we be selective in what we watch.. Is it too much a price to pay to carry his presence??.. I know ppl who don't listen to anything else part gospel from their secondary sch days.. NOTHING IS TOO MUCH.
if you have to watch them (coz I do too atimes) I plead the blood of Jesus on such to nullify any side effect on my spirit or soul. And I always watch out for thought that might want to rise from the movies m watching. When you suddenly can't control how you behave or you can't explain why you are doing what you don't like.. Hmmm watch out, the enemy is @ work.
I have learnt that these things come not only through songs or movies, but through any means... Magazines, books,novels, games .anything for he is the god of this world.
I once read of a prof. Who rapes teens bout 13 down. He was a Christian but had been under some influence he could not explain after reading some books on philosophy. Wen he stopped n started reading Bible, the act stopped. The moment he revisited them , it started all over again. The minister did a great work @ prof deliverance...We can't say it all. In summary, WATCHOUT.. STAY AWAKE!! LIKE A SOLDIER.. God bless you