In Sunday school a few weeks ago, we were studying Romans 1, and through a rabbit chasing a rabbit course of conversation, I mentioned that we do not watch popular culture television. We don’t have cable, we don’t do whatever HD thing you need to do to get base television stations, and we have no intention of changing that in the near future. I said that the reason why is because we are so strict about what we allow into our home in the form of entertainment, that there are actually very few shows that we would even be able to watch if we were willing to free up that much time in our lives for watching.

I pointed out how most television shows glorify sin, and that we have simply chosen to not accept things into our home that glorify sin. Our family’s motto is that everything we do must either glorify God or not glorify sin.

A member of the Sunday school class said, “Yes, but once you know the Truth, then you can discern what is sinful and what is not still enjoy the show.”

I didn’t argue at the time, because it wasn’t the time or the place for it, but I very strongly disagreed with that. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.” Something that glorifies sin is neither pure nor virtuous – so why commit any part of my life on a regular basis to pursuing entertainment that does just that?

Thinking that you can guard yourself against sin and just enjoy the rest of a show is exactly the kind of lie that Satan weaves to trap godly men and women into a world of sin – even when they’re trying to live a just and righteous life.

We begin our study of Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (previously titled Walking in the Truth with chapter 1, “Truth or Consequences”.

This chapter did a fantastic job of laying the foundation of showing just how Satan deceives us and giving us a good base for how to identify the deception and how to start combating it.

I have the companion guide for this book, and have chosen just five discussion questions out of the dozens for chapter 1. This guide is designed for you to work a chapter a week, and work through several self-searching questions every day. You may find it beneficial in our study of this book to have your own guide and be able to go through every question. But, for our purposes here, following are just a few questions:

John 10:10 says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” As you think about your life, would you say you are experiencing the abundant life Jesus came to give? Or do you find yourself just existing, coping, surviving, or struggling along?

The young woman whose story begins on page 21 said she had “given up hope” that she could ever be completely free from the immoral habit that kept her in bondage for years. Is there any area of your life where you have given up hope that you can ever be free?

Make a list of the primary sources of input you have coming into your life (e.g., movies, books, certain friends, a counselor).

Philippians 4:8-9 says, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Why is it so important to be selective about the input we allow to come into our minds and to consciously choose to expose ourselves and listen to the Truth?

I am blogging at Seeds of Faith today. Click here to read this article there.

Hallee

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