So I tossed out Ephesians 5:12 NLT, “It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret.” My intent was to nudge her toward questioning what is appropriate to be used as entertainment and what is “over the line”.
Her friend commented that she missed the connection between Ephesians 5:12 and the TV show. For me, having someone admit they don’t see the practical application of Scripture to a real world problem is like throwing gas on a fire. I love it.
I have been a Law & Order junkie since the beginning, September 30th 1990. There will never be another detective like Lenny Briscoe with his witty banter and raw personality. However, when they expanded the series to L&O SVU, I began to struggle with appropriate boundaries on what is entertainment and what crosses the line.
L&O SVU seemed to focus on graphic sex crimes and graphic crimes against kids. Both of these fall under the Ephesians 5:12 rule. This is not entertainment. These are topics that shock and violate the conscience.
Our conscience is a programmable gift from the good Lord.
If you program your conscience with reliable boundaries and appropriate material, it can be trusted as a guide.
However, if you program your conscience with graphic evil, guess how trustworthy your conscience will become?
You program your conscience by making decisions on what you will and will not allow through your eyes and ears.
Think of a computer. If you put corrupt viruses into your computer, what type of data can you expect to get out of it?
If you put inaccurate data in your computer, what type of information will you get out of it?
If you feed your conscience a diet of perversion and filth, it will become confused and unreliable.
My point? For every minute you spend watching TV ~ spend a minute reading God’s Word. Grab a New Living Translation. I love the quality and readability. And you will be fine tuning your conscience with God’s Word.
Finally, when you are watching a TV show or a move, ask, “Does this glorify God?” If God walked in the room and sat down next to me, would I be ok sharing that show with Him? Or would I be embarrassed?
“I will refuse to look at anything vile and vulgar.” Psalm 101:3
“one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8
“anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28
“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. “ 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect” Romans 12:2
“Keep your heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life” Proverbs 4:12
