I believe that old time, Pentecostal preachers said it well when they stood boldly behind the pulpit and declared that televisions were instruments of the devil. They also taught that modesty of dress should be revered and adhered to. These pastors were tagged “cloth-line” preachers.
When they started teaching against certain types of clothing that women were wearing, it caused a few parishioners to feel picked on, and that sermons of this nature were overbearing and presumptuous. Some of the church members concluded that prying preachers were somewhat narrow minded and chauvinistic.
These men of God felt a responsibility to their flock, as shepherd, to lead, feed and protect; keeping them safe from wolves in sheep’s clothing, even though their preaching didn’t set well with some. Keep in mind, God’s values never change; people change.
The insight these ministers had is coming to pass, though it has taken a while for their predictions to come true. The influences that Hollywood
Reprobate levels of depravity are festering everywhere you look, to the point that filth is oozing into homes through television programming, DVD rentals, magazines and computer websites. The garbage provided by superficial smut-mongers is making a mockery of all that is wholesome and pure.
The influence of godless men and women is coming in like a flood as they spit in the face of that which is good. They are driven by the powers of hell to bring people like you and me to ruination and hopelessness; all in the name of mammon. (Matthew 6:24) “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Sex and promiscuity sells, because society wants it. The exploitation of both genders is filling the pockets of unorthodox “users of people” with money (mammon) and power. This influence is going unchecked under the guise, “Everybody’s doing it.”
A person pursuing something that is pleasing to the eye and ear will find it, but the hopeless journey is short lived. They, like many others, are looking for a common denominator, which is to fit in. But a sense of belonging cannot be achieved through satanic influence in a troubled world. People continue to choose their own willful way in their quest for fulfillment and happiness. God is the only answer, through His son Jesus. In Him there is completeness and belonging.
Radio programming was once wholesome and fun listening as families gathered around them sharing smiles and laughter. Family members talked about their day, while sitting around the dinner table eating a home cooked meal. These enjoyable practices are no longer considered practical or important by most. Everyone goes their own way looking elsewhere for companionship and fulfillment. What is happening to family togetherness? It is slipping away, because of outside influences.
(2 Timothy 3:1-6) “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:” Vs.2 “For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,” Vs.3 “unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good,” Vs.4 “traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God,” Vs.5 “having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!” Vs.6 “For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts.”
Little respect is given to authority by this upcoming generation. There is a lack of accountability that should be expected of them. Their disregard for God and disrespect to their parents is a sign of the times. This is what happens when parents allow vulgarity and crudeness to contaminate the sanctity of the home.
The quote, “Garbage in; garbage out” is certainly accurate. There has never been a truer statement made. The things we feed our mind, through hearing and sight, influence productivity in positive or negative ways, depending upon the content that enters the brain.
Our brain records and stores all that we see and hear. We emulate visual images and audible impressions through our subconscious and outward personality. We become what we feed our inner being. A neglectful person replicates the things they become comfortable watching and listening to, while the “whole armor of God” hangs in the “closet of compromise.” We must guard our mind against Satan’s infectious, negative data.
When individuals think they are strong and mature enough to watch raw, seductive smut on television, computer monitors or theater screens, and have it not influence their spiritual wellbeing, they are fooling themselves. They are being deceived by Satan.
If a person believes they are spiritual enough to open their mind to the influential, infiltration of filth, and have it not affect their relationship with God, they should stop and examine just how close they are to Him. Perhaps the reality of a backslidden condition might become apparent.
If in doubt, we can ask ourselves this question. “Would I sit in the presence of Jesus and watch some of the garbage that I watch and listen to?” People need to consider the words and visual imprints that are allowed to invade their minds and homes.
The mind is powerful, magnificent and wonderfully made. It influences all that we say and do. For this reason we must put on the whole armor of God to protect our thought process. (James 3:10-12) “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Vs. 11 “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” Vs. 12 “Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
We need to examine ourselves and ask these questions. “Am I where I once was in Christ? Where do I think I am in Him? Am I where I want to be in the Lord?” I’ll say it again; we become what we feed our mind! (Matthew 12:34-37) “Brood of vipers; how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” Vs. 35 “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” Vs. 36 “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.” Vs. 37 “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Obedience and respect was not only expected of me and the youth of my day, it was demanded of us. We grappled with puberty and growing up with restrictions, yet having responsibility—proudly taking our place in society.
In my youth, parental influence was immense. I learned through their example to pray, read the Bible and attend church. They strived to train me in the ways of righteousness and the importance of loving God, while obeying His commandments. I was not allowed to participate or partake in things my parents felt might stunt my spiritual growth. I didn’t understand the reasoning then, but I do now.
The lack of concern shown by some parents in today’s society is shocking. Their indifference and the neglect of parental responsibility to govern what their children feed their minds is shameful. They themselves have become so accustomed to watching godless networks that they are callused; failing to distinguish right from wrong, because this would force them to acknowledge truth. They would then have to cease watching some of their favorite programs. The devil’s subtle techniques are working well.
Carefully orchestrated brainwashing is the technique that Satan uses to infect tender, impressionable minds in out of control ways that we see throughout the land; children killing each other in the name of brotherhood. Simply wearing colors of blue or red can invoke feelings of anger and out of control rage in misguided youth. They fall prey to Satan’s calculated schemes that destroy family relationships, while eroding the barrier between right and wrong—good and evil.
My dad desired that his four children become men and women of integrity; having character. It just didn’t happen. He was involved in the large task of training, thus propagating important values that we brought into adulthood. He accepted the responsibility and role of being a parent.
He taught us that there was a higher power to obey, who watched everything we did and listened to the words we spoke. As a child I was cautious to not swear or even use the word darn for fear of getting a black mark next to my name in heaven. This sounds a bit extreme, but I didn’t want to offend God. Mom and Dad never used profanity of any kind in my presence. They not only taught me of the importance of abstaining from things that would take me away from God, they did their best to live the life before me.
When we allow our guard to fall or become eroded by the devil, we find ourselves at the evil end of the spectrum of good and evil. If we open ourselves up to negative influence of any kind, the results can be most unpleasant. A little rhyme that I recited in my informative years went something like this. “I’m rubber you’re glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you!”
We must be careful to not become the glue, but to repel Satan’s offensive moves to deceive and conquer. This happens when we guard our mind against the influence of ungodliness. We continue down the path of righteousness when we refuse to compromise our faith and wear the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
If there is nothing worth watching on television, turn it off! Direct your mind to positive influences that will draw you closer to God. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Staying busy doing God’s work keeps a mind renewed and pure. If the devil finds that we are idle, he will temp us to occupy our minds with sin. Consider these things when flipping through the channels, surfing the net and choosing a movie to attend.
(Philippians 4:8, 9) “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.”
Written by,
Papa Boyd
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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