We all know that we fall if we watch sinful smutty stuff. But what about stuff that is not sooooo 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.
Excellent post. Just wanted to comment on this sentence. I think it is more accurate to say that the disciple's life is 100% about Christ, who he is, and what he has done. We live out our life in response to his love and goodness. Part of that response is putting down our own way, esp. when it is sinful, and following him. But we are not the main event. It is always and has always been his story. We're just living in 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.
What non-borderline stuff do you truly enjoy, whether it is "Christian" or not? I know for myself, I had to discover hobbies and pastimes that I truly enjoyed in order to fill up all the time I had free from hunting-and-seeking my next cheap thrill. Some of those were patently Christian, but many were not. I think that is okay, too, as long as we invite God into every part of our lives.
For me it's movies. I really like watching movies but most streaming services nowadays have some borderline stuff. So even if I go and watch a movie without any bad intention I sometimes end up watching the bad stuff because of a recommendation or something else. One of the things I do enjoy the most which is absolutely temptations free are sport though, especially running, so am trying to do those consistently each day
My daughter was a volleyball fanatic. But she spread the gospel to everyone one on the team. That's how she made a good activity into a great activity.
One of the things that repeatedly makes people fall back into porn is not realizing that alot of the stuff made is designed by the world to help you fall back into lust. what im saying is if you watch youtube a lot like me and you watch a lot of channels made by fleshy people who are rampantly cursing using suggestive language or insinuating lustful themes then eventually some of that will play out in your life i.e "you are what you eat" but if instead you are doing something usefull sowing righteousness and attempting to fill yourself with good things than you are pursuing righteousness instead. I am not saying turn into a Monk and never go outside but i am saying do not use the majority of your time to view the people of this world acting like the world.
Whatever we focus on is what will grow and strengthen within us, until it overwhelms us. We can be overwhelmed by sin, pain, and death. Or we can be overwhelmed by Christ's love, goodness, and peace. Each day and with every thought, the choice is up to us. Choose wisely!
That's it. View things that will give us clean short term fun, and that will not kill our long term joy and relationship with Christ.
One new tip for Netflix. If you have smutty movies or shows in your history or favorites you can hide them which will lower temptation. To do this click on your profile, then account, then profile again (if it's a multiple account) then viewing activity. Then you can hide anything that should be hidden.
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.
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me (Psalm 101:3). If we watch the wrong movies/TV, the lust clings to us then and afterward. When we hate the work of the people who make these shows, “it shall not cleave to me.” People get mad at me when I rip into female stars who openly promote lust. When I rip into the makers of popular shows that feature constant nudity. But the Bible says that when we hate their work, it doesn't cleave (stick) to us. Consider praying: “Father, help me to hate the work of those who turn aside.” I am at war with people who make trash and with the stars who get rich causing others to fall into lust. By doing that I am following the above verse. Secondly, “I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?” (Job 31:1). A covenant is a promise to God. He knows exactly what we look at. Are we dedicated enough to make a promise not to look? Biblicalcounselingcoalition noted the following: “Making a covenant is a definitive step, a line drawn in the sand. Making a covenant means saying to yourself—better yet, even writing down—the words of your specific pledge. When a woman catches my attention—whether she is before my eyes or merely in my memory—I pledge to lead my thoughts elsewhere. I commit to this knowing Almighty God both sees my sin and hates my sin.” Do not commit to this promise unless you are willing to fight lust tooth and nail. Job was not perfect and we are not perfect. But Job was fully committed. If you are fully committed, make your pledge today.
