I am struck by an awareness of how bombarded we all are by our culture with images and words that would seek to pull us into attitudes and behaviors that are not pleasing to the Lord.
Influences, really, that would lead us into sin, seeking to bring compromise into our lives, individually, as well as our homes.
Sometimes, it reminds me of the story of the frog and the pot. The heat gets turned up slowly, and the next thing you know, you’re dead in the water...so to speak.
Because of how prevalent these influences are, if we are not careful, we can grow numb to their offense. They are everywhere, however, just because they are the “norm” for our culture, does not make them right for us.
Have we grown callous to what we see or hear anymore? Have we become as one author put it, so “Sophisticated” and “Culturally accepting” that we no longer see black and white?
I don’t want to be comfortable with what we are seeing or hearing any longer. I don’t want my kids to be comfortable with it either...and they are my responsibility.
What I deem as acceptable will play a large role what they eventually deem acceptable.
It should be an affront to our commitment to righteousness and something that we make a proactive stand against.
Let me ask you a few questions...Have you ever found yourself in a situation, maybe at work or with friends, where something that is said that makes you uncomfortable. I mean you know it was wrong, not only for the person to have said it, but even wrong for you to have heard it?
Don’t you just feel like you’re gonna be sick. Well, we should. There should be an obvious conflict in our spirit when the presence of the enemy is near.
Or how about when you’ve seen something you know you shouldn’t have, and your only reaction is to say something like, “Wow, can you believe that” or simply to sluff it off with nervous laughter.
Guys, we can’t even watch a football game anymore without being violated by images promoting sexually immoral things.
It’s on the cover, or not far below, in almost every magazine, on the radio, on television, on the internet, at the movies.
Be careful, if you are going to the movies with your kids...because even if the movie you are seeing is appropriate, the preview may not be.
And the truth of the matter is that these “little” things can easily turn into big things, if we’re not careful.
Remember “seeds” are little things too, that when planted and nourished grow into huge trees bearing all kinds of fruit.
Bottom line...we need to “Stand Guard!”
It’s time to reestablish, firmly, the lines regarding what we will allow ourselves and our families to hear, see, and participate in. You with me?!
STAND GUARD!! – “Not on my watch”…right?!
