Before this past weekend when we celebrate and remember the Day of Atonement and the Resurrection, my husband and I were looking to see if there was going to be an "Easter" service in the city we were visiting for this past weekend. (For an explanation about why I choose not to call this weekend "Easter", read this that explains where this term came from and what all the bunnies, eggs, and all that jazz were originally meant to symbolize.) When doing this, we came across the website of a church that had a 'video of the week' posted. Curious, I watched this video that was played to the tune of some secular song that goes something like "So, you had a bad day...etc" and is sort of an America's funniest home video clip implying that if you think you had a bad day, watch this. So, as I watched this clip, there is this part where a man is malled by a bull and has his pants and his underwear taken off, exposing his bare backside.
This really angered and disgusted me. See, I try my best to avoid watching this kind of thing (nudity, etc.) when choosing what television shows and movies I watch, only to be exposed to it on a church website??.
There seems to be something lacking nowadays, and it sounds a lot like discernment
Showing posts with label lack of discernment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lack of discernment. Show all posts
Monday, March 24, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Part 1--Spirituality in tv show "Lost"
I posted awhile ago a preview of my attempt to blog about the tv show "Lost". I had seen ads for this show now and then and heard a lot of "buzz" about it, but had never seen an episode until a couple weeks ago when I started researching it. What started this researching was when I found out about a church that was using this tv show sort of as a Bible study. They were getting together weekly to watch the show, discuss themes and theories about the show, and then try to see what they could learn about God from the show. When I read this, I was very surprised that a church would use a secular, hollywood-produced tv show to try to learn about God. After watching a few episodes and doing some research on the symbolism in the show, I have realized that this show definitely has a spiritual message in it...but the kind of message in it is definitely not a biblical one from what I can tell. It is full of mysticism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Roman Catholicism, New Age spirituality, greek mythology, and much more. It is a smorgasborg of all different beliefs intertwined and mixed together. More about that later.
From watching the show, I personally do not believe that a Christian should even watch this show for entertainment, let alone for a Bible study. Here's why:
1) In one episode, I counted at least 8 profane words used, and at least one blasphemous use of God's holy name.
2) In that same episode, one of the characters was in an adulterous relationship with another woman. They had been dating for a few months, not married, and then it was obviously implied that they had been sleeping together. (they are shown lying in the same bed together and the woman gives the man a key to her apartment)
3) In another episode, there was a scene with a VERY scantily clad female suntanning on a beach. And, in that same episode, a man accidentally walks in to see a woman bathing, and even though there is no explicit nudity, it is still a very suggestive scene.
4)) There is quite a bit of violence in it, as well. I had to turn my eyes a few times from some quite frightening and disturbing scenes. For instance, in one episode, a man was dying a slow death from an infection, and we see him in agony, and then another character goes in and shoots that man (this was not shown, but graphically heard) to "end his suffering" (a.k.a. murder him), and the man did not die from the gun shot immediately and his last cries were heard before he died. This was an extremely disturbing scene. This is just one example of some of the gruesome and disturbing and violent scenes.
What does the Bible say? This must be the standard with which we test all things.
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5: 21-22)
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
So, based on this alone, a Christian should not be watching this for entertainment purposes, let alone for a sort of Bible study. We are to flee from temptation and youthful lusts, and I think choosing to watch a show with scantily clad women would not qualify as fleeing youthful lusts.
And, here's another question...would you feel comfortable if this show "Lost" was shown on a Sunday morning in church? If not, you shouldn't be using it for a Bible study on Thursday night.
Next time, I'll try to start to scratch the surface on some of the spirituality in the show and a brief description about the show from the few episodes I saw.
From watching the show, I personally do not believe that a Christian should even watch this show for entertainment, let alone for a Bible study. Here's why:
1) In one episode, I counted at least 8 profane words used, and at least one blasphemous use of God's holy name.
2) In that same episode, one of the characters was in an adulterous relationship with another woman. They had been dating for a few months, not married, and then it was obviously implied that they had been sleeping together. (they are shown lying in the same bed together and the woman gives the man a key to her apartment)
3) In another episode, there was a scene with a VERY scantily clad female suntanning on a beach. And, in that same episode, a man accidentally walks in to see a woman bathing, and even though there is no explicit nudity, it is still a very suggestive scene.
4)) There is quite a bit of violence in it, as well. I had to turn my eyes a few times from some quite frightening and disturbing scenes. For instance, in one episode, a man was dying a slow death from an infection, and we see him in agony, and then another character goes in and shoots that man (this was not shown, but graphically heard) to "end his suffering" (a.k.a. murder him), and the man did not die from the gun shot immediately and his last cries were heard before he died. This was an extremely disturbing scene. This is just one example of some of the gruesome and disturbing and violent scenes.
What does the Bible say? This must be the standard with which we test all things.
8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)
16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders,drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:16-21)
22 Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.
(1 Thessalonians 5: 21-22)
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:33-34)
13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
So, based on this alone, a Christian should not be watching this for entertainment purposes, let alone for a sort of Bible study. We are to flee from temptation and youthful lusts, and I think choosing to watch a show with scantily clad women would not qualify as fleeing youthful lusts.
And, here's another question...would you feel comfortable if this show "Lost" was shown on a Sunday morning in church? If not, you shouldn't be using it for a Bible study on Thursday night.
Next time, I'll try to start to scratch the surface on some of the spirituality in the show and a brief description about the show from the few episodes I saw.
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