MOVIES & TV

We all know that we may fall if we watch sinful smutty stuff. But what about stuff that is not so bad?

For starters, we should always be prepared for Spiritual warfare. For most of the stuff I watch I start out by praying: “Father, take away this spirit of lust and help me to turn aggressively away from sin.” The reason I do this is two-fold. Firstly I am asking the Holy Spirit to be aware that I want to do right. And I am asking for His help as preparation for the battle. Secondly, I am preparing my mind to do right and am trying to be ready for temptation.

Strategy #2 might be to be willing to turn it off if it proves to be garbage. Key point: We are either going to miss the show/movie and miss the destruction that goes along with it. Or, we will watch it and then get blasted with the destruction that goes along with it.

#3 Watch with the remote in your hand and be ready to fast forward. The problem with modern TV is... We think it is a clean show. But it ain't. We are fooled again. For me, if a smutty scene seems to be starting I immediately start my prayer again and immediately fast forward.

#4 If we keep watching borderline stuff will we fall?

#5 Feed clean TV habits: Watch football, car shows, Christian shows etc. Try new stuff. You will like some of it.

Christianity is 100% about what we do and 100% about what we stop doing. Stopping P and stopping borderline TV watching leaves a vacuum. Helping others fills that vacuum.

In conclusion, if Jesus is helping you and changing you... Tell someone about it.

 

It helps to realize, "We are addicted." We may struggle to enjoy football, car shows, and Christian shows. So, it helps me to remind myself that I need to work to enjoy these new selections. My old self wants that borderline stuff. So I will work until I find new things that I can start to like. Example: Last night's Steelers game was pretty average for me. But I praised God during it and kept it on.
My temptation level was low. And I made it.

 

I have a new fav TV show. Then just as I am really getting into it, the smut begins. Yesterday I fast-forwarded a scene, it seemed like the smut was done. Then they started back again for another 20 seconds.
I immediately realized... I should not watch this show.
But I love this show, it is my new fav show.
24 hours later my head has cleared up. My joy has increased hugely since I am off the porn. I am starting to have a purpose for life. My destruction is way down.
I am deleting the show off of Amazon. (Hit star on your remote to hide a show in your favorites).
I will choose joy for the month instead of the very short-term pleasure of sin. Psalms 16: In your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

Hebrews 12:11 - No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

I have worked endlessly to develop the habit of watching clean TV. In modern times there is less and less of it. So, I have also developed the habit of turning away and fast-forwarding through bad scenes.

Why? Because these disciplines allow me to keep a great relationship with God and they allow me to watch TV in peace (which increases enjoyment immensely).

Before, I used to watch somewhat smutty TV in a sloppy (I hope God isn't noticing) way. But with that method, I was always racing to find the next “hot” scene that hopefully didn't offend God too much. I couldn't watch in a contented, peaceful manner because I was not content, peaceful, or righteous.

Now, I want to avoid sin and please God when I watch movies or TV. And like the verse says – those disciplines provide more contentment and a much better, more peaceful experience in the long run.

We think that Albert Einstein was so smart. But he said: “It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.” Like him – you will succeed if you don't give up.

Memorize Matthew 6:22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[a] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[b] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

It is impossible to overestimate how important it is to keep your eyes clean. A wise person will work on this skill until it becomes a habit.