Category: PASSION Reflections

Media Madness

On By BrianIn Habit of Stewardship, Idolatry

We are surrounded by media – TV, movies, radio, music, internet, books, magazines, newspapers, mail, the list goes on.  We are bombarded with media.  Its presence and influence is pervasive; it is everywhere.

Jesus died on a cross and rose again that our sins might be forgiven, that we might be reconciled to God, that we might have a new life in Christ, and the hope of heaven and the resurrection.

How does Christ’s salvation relate to the media?  How should what Christ has done for us affect the way we interact with the media that is all around us?  The book of Ephesians gives us the answer.

The first half of the book speaks of Christ’s salvation.  God chose us to be holy and blameless before him (1:4).  Through Christ, our sins are forgiven, and we have a great inheritance (1:7, 11).  We were dead in our sins following the evil tendencies of a world opposed to God, but God has made us alive in Christ to do good works.  All of these blessings come by God’s mercy, grace, and love as we receive this salvation from sins by faith (2:1-10).  And this salvation is available to all of us (2:11-3:13).

This great salvation then ought to affect the way we live (4:1).  It should affect how we interact in the church (chapter 4), in our culture (5:1-20), in our families (5:22-6:4), and in the workplaces (6:5-9).  As media is such a pervasive part of our culture, the words in Ephesians 5:1-20 can easily be applied to how we interact with the media.  So we find four principles:

1. Guard your heart.  Verse 2 tells us to love as Christ loved us and gave himself as a sacrifice to God.  Christ loved God and us, and we should love that way too.  But it is possible for us to come to love the media – to put it before God and the people around us.  In other words it can become a god, an idol.  It can dominate us, control us – we have to have that new book, we have to see that new movie.  We become puppets, and the media pulls our strings.  Guard your heart, don’t let the media become your god.

2. Use discernment.  Verses 3-10 point us here.  Verse 10 tells us to discern what is pleasing to God.  So we need to ask, does this media choice please God.  If not, don’t watch/listen to/read it.  Verse 3 points to the sex issue.  Does this media cause you to lust (impurity)?  Does this media celebrate sexual immorality – that which God will judge (v6)?  If so, turn it off, get rid of it, walk out.  Verse 4 points to the language issue.  Again, does this media engage in that which God will judge, that which we should not even associate with (v7)?  This may rule out most sitcoms, late night shows, and many movies (even kid movies!), but again is our goal to live for media or God?

There is a wonderful phrase in Latin that Craig Cabaniss mentions in his chapter on media in the book Worldliness, edited by C.J. Mahaney.  The phrase is Coram Deo – “before the face of God.”  Everything we do is done in God’s presence.  Is it pleasing to him?  If Jesus walked this earth today, would you invite him to watch that movie, listen to that music, surf that site, read that book?  The fact is, he is with you as you do all those things.  Is it pleasing to him?

In Psalm 101:3, the psalmist says, “”I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.”  Have you made that commitment?  Is your goal to please God?  Use discernment.

Before moving on, we need to consider the message in a particular media choice.  Romans 12:2 warns us not to be conformed to the world – that is, the evil tendencies of a world opposed to God.  Does this media choice conform me to the world’s way of thinking.  Is it teaching truth or lies?  There is a grave danger here.  We are tempted to focus on language, sex, etc., but “clean” movies without those things can teach lies, can oppose God and his Word.  And this includes Christian media.  We need to think critically whenever we come to the media.  What is the message?  Does it agree with Scripture?  Use discernment.

3. Practice good stewardship.  Verses 15-16 tell us to make the best use of our time.  Is this media choice the best use of my time right now?  Am I spending too much time with a particular type of media?  Is there something else I should be doing?  Even if our media passes the discernment test, we can spend too much time in front of the TV, on the internet, etc.  We can neglect family, friends, time with God, outdoor recreation.  Practice good stewardship.

4.  Finally, enjoy gratefully.  Verse 20 calls us to give thanks for everything.  Cabaniss ends his chapter on media with this point, and it is a good one.  If our media choice passes the discernment and stewardship and heart principles, then we can enjoy it gratefully.  The other three principles remind us of the dangers of media; this point reminds us that there is a lot of good media out there that we can enjoy and give thanks to God for.

Christ purchased for us a great salvation that should affect the way we live in our culture, how we interact with the media.  Guard your heart.  Use discernment.  Practice good stewardship.  Enjoy gratefully.

Living for God’s Glory 4

On By BrianIn God & His Glory4 Comments

Finally, let me share a few songs that challenge me to live for God’s glory.  First, an older song Dallas Holm used to sing:

“To the glory, the glory of God
To the marvelous glory of God
Every word, every breath
Every action, every step
To the glory, the glory of God”

And then a new song that got me thinking about this again, sung by Aaron Shust:

“To God alone be the glory
To God alone be the praise
Everything I say and do
Let it be all for you
The glory is yours alone”

For the whole song and the video, click here.

May we seek to live every moment for the glory of God!

Living for God’s Glory 3

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Isaiah makes several references to God’s glory.  Here are just a few:

“I am the LORD; that is my name, my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols.”  – Isaiah 42:8

“…everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” – Isaiah 43:7

“I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.” – Isaiah 43:25

“For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned?  My glory I will not give to another.” – Isaiah 48:11

God is jealous for his glory and will not give it to anyone else.  Are we jealous for his glory, or are we seeking our own glory?  The latter three verses all refer in context to Israel, but can easily apply to the true church as well.  That is, he made us for his glory, he forgives us for his glory, and he restores us for his glory.  Praise the Lord for this!  While we should seek to glorify God with our lives, even more does God’s work in our lives bring him glory.

To the glory of God!

Living for God’s Glory 2

On By BrianIn God & His Glory1 Comment

Here is a second quote on living for God’s glory from I Corinthians 10:31 –

“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

The context of that verse is eating food offered to idols with the ideas of living to do what is helpful and builds up (v23), for the good of others rather than just ourselves (v24), and not offending others (v32).  So we live for God’s glory in part when we stop living for ourselves and start loving others.  That and “whatever you do” suggest that all of our lives can be lived for God’s glory.  Do all that you do in love for others to honor God.

To the glory of God!

Living for God’s Glory

On By BrianIn God & His Glory

Let me share a few quotes this week that call us to to live for God’s glory.  The first is from Psalm 115:1 –

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.”

How easy it is to live for our own praise, our own glory, but God calls us to live for his glory.  As we ponder his incredible love toward us through the cross and his faithfulness toward us despite our repeated failures, let us live to praise his name and honor him above all.

For the glory of God!

Overcoming Idolatry

On By BrianIn Heart, Idolatry1 Comment

Other gods call us to bow down and worship them, to treasure them before God.  How can we overcome this idolatry?  How can we leave behind empty things and serve God alone?

First, we need to receive a new heart.  Since the Fall, our hearts are given over to evil (Genesis 6:5), and we need to receive new hearts (Ezekiel 36:26-27).  Put another way, we are dead in our sins and need to be made alive with Christ (Ephesians 2:1-5).  Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead that we might have new hearts.  And all we need to do to receive a new heart is trust in Jesus as our Savior.  It come by faith apart from works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  This is the foundation to overcoming idolatry.

Second, we need to continue to look to God.  God gives us a new heart for him, and God will help us overcome idolatry.  Psalm 86:11 is a cry for God to give us undivided hearts.  This needs to be our cry.  We need his help.

Third, we need to identify, guard, and run.  Through Scripture and prayer (Hebrews 4:12 and Psalm 139:23-24), we identify our gods.  Once we know the idols that call our name, we can guard against them – and we must, for our hearts can easily be led astray (Deuteronomy 11:16).  And when the tempation comes – run.  I Corinthians 10:14 tells us to flee.  If an otherwise good thing has become an idol in your life, you may need to just walk away for awhile.  That’s defensive – identify the enemy, guard against it, and retreat.  But we need to go further:

Fourth, renew your mind.  Romans 12:2 tells us not to be conformed to world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.  If we think in our minds that an idol is better than God we will serve the idol.  We need to have our thinking changed – what we believe.  This too is a work of God, but we can cooperate with him as we immerse ourselves in his Word, spend time communing with him in prayer, praise him, and participate in godly fellowship that encourages us to treasure God above all else.

When we really believe that God is the best, we will desire him more than anything else, and we will then live for him.  But the world parades false clues leading to false treasures before us, so we must be discerning lest we be conformed to the thinking of the world rather than transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Finally, we must cherish Christ.  This is the goal of mind renewal.  The more we cherish Christ, the more idols will lose their appeal.  As the great hymn reminds us, when we survey what Christ has done for us on the cross, “all the vain things that charm us most” simply lose their appeal.

(For more thoughts on fighting idolatry, see the Three Passions Idolatry page.)

Behind the Curtain

On By BrianIn Heart, Idolatry1 Comment

In the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her three strange companions come before Oz.  They see the lights and the smoke, and they tremble before the great Oz – this god.  Only Toto the dog has enough sense to ignore the show, and pull back the curtain that reveals a mere man.

Behind the smoke and lights, glamor and glitz, of our gods is just a person or thing that God made for us to enjoy but not worship.

Don’t waste your awe on what isn’t awesome.

Don’t waste your worship on what isn’t worthy.

At the cross, another curtain was opened that revealed the one true God.  Go in, fall down, and worship Him.

Empty Things

On By BrianIn Heart, Idolatry1 Comment

God provides us with many good things.  He showers blessings upon us daily.  Our problem is that we twist his blessings into idols.  We try to make these good things into gods – something God never intended for us to do.  We treasure the gifts before the Giver.  We live for things rather than God.  Yet the gifts God gives us to enjoy make pitiful gods. They are empty.

Samuel warns the people of Israel of this in I Samuel 12:21 – “And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.”

What are some of these empty things that we serve as gods.  Consider just some of the pantheon.  Which ones call your name?

  • Relationships/Family/Friends
  • Wisdom/Knowledge
  • Food
  • Entertainment/Media
  • Control/Power
  • Reputation/Popularity
  • Health
  • Sports
  • Work
  • Material Things
  • Retirement Fund
  • Government
  • Technology/Gadgets
  • Beauty/Fashion
  • Sex
  • Tradition
  • Change
  • Convenience
  • Comfort
  • Shopping
  • Independence

Good things, but empty gods.

In the movie Cool Runnings, the coach of the Jamaican bobsled team tells the captain of the team that gold medals are wonderful things.  But if you aren’t enough without one, you won’t be enough with one.

Wise words.  Gold medals are good, but they can’t satisfy the soul.  The list above are all good things, but they can’t satisfy your soul.  They are empty.

The Scriptures point again and again to the emptiness of other gods.  In Isaiah 44, we find a man who cuts down a tree.  He cuts most of it up for firewood to keep him warm, but some of it he carves into an idol which he bows down to worship. What a fool, we may think.

But then we go to work to make money which we use to buy fuel to keep us warm, and then we add to our retirement fund or savings account which we are trusting in as gods.  Or we use some money for fuel and another part for material things or entertainment or food which we chase after, live for, bow down to as a god.  We too can be fools.

Psalm 135:15-17 tells about other gods – they have mouths but can’t speak, eyes but can’t see, ears that can’t hear.  Why would we trust in these things, live for these things, treat them as gods?

In I Kings 18, Elijah calls the prophets of Baal to a contest.  Each will build an altar to his god, which ever god answers by fire – he is the true God.  The prophets of Baal dance around all morning calling upon Baal to answer with fire.  Nothing happens.  They trust in a god that can’t answer.  They worship a god that can’t satisfy, provide, or help.  Yet there we go again dancing around our own Baals that cannot answer, satisfy, provide, or help.

That afternoon, Elijah prays a simple prayer to his God, and fire falls from heaven engulfing the entire altar.  The people bow down and worship the true God.  Isn’t it time we left behind our empty things and did the same?

What’s in your Wagon?

On By BrianIn Heart, Idolatry1 Comment

In an old Little House on the Prairie episode, Laura and her friend are fishing in a creek when they see something shiny on the bottom of the creek.  They stop fishing to investigate – and it is gold dust!  They secretively begin to collect the gold dust after school and on the weekends.  They begin to dream of what they might do with their new found riches.

After a few weeks, they have so many bags of gold, that they decide to take it to the bank.  So they fill a small wagon with their treasure and pull the wagon to town.  With excitement they show the banker what they have.  But their smiles soon fade, as the banker shakes his head and tells them it’s not gold.  It is fool’s gold.  It looks like gold, but it is not.  Their treasure isn’t worth anything.  They have wasted hours, days, and weeks collecting something without any value.

What is in your wagon?  What are you spending hours, days, weeks, months, and years of your life on?  What treasure have you given your life too?  When you bring your wagon before God, will he shake his head and tell you your wagon is filled with worthless dust?  Will he tell you that you wasted your life?  Or will he see that your treasure was God, that you gave your life to him?  Will he tell you well done good and faithful servant?

What is in your wagon?

Life is a treasure hunt.  Choose your treasure carefully.

Treasure Hunt

On By BrianIn Heart, Idolatry

Life is like a treasure hunt.  The big difference is that while a typical treasure hunt has clues that lead to a single treasure, life has many clues that lead to numerous treasures.  We have to decide which clues to follow, which treasures to seek.

Jesus used the picture of a treasure in Matthew 6.  He reminds us not to lay up treasure on earth, but rather to lay up treasure in heaven.  Verse 21 reads: “for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

So what is your treasure?  There are lots of clues leading to lots of treasures.  What is your treasure?

The Psalms give us clues to what our treasure should be.  Psalm 63 tells us that God’s love is better than life; that God satisfies.  Psalm 27 tells us to seek God’s face.  In Psalm 73, the writer tells us that he desires nothing in heaven or earth but God.  In Psalm 16, David says that God is his chosen portion.  Out of all the possible treasures life offers, David has chosen God.  These psalms and many more are clues that point to God as the true treasure we should seek.

Is God our treasure?  The quick “Christian” answer of course is God, but is he really?  Do our lives prove that God is our treasure?  Or do our lives point to other competing treasures, other gods that we bow down to and serve?  Is God our treasure, or is it God and ________ (you fill in the blank)?

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  So where is your heart?  Whatever your heart is set on is your treasure.  So consider your heart:

What do you love more than anything else?

What to seek, desire, long for more than anything else?

What to you praise and talk about all of the time?

What do you trust in for security and satisfaction and meaning?

What do you serve no matter the cost?

What determines your words and actions and relationships with people?

Are the answers to these questions – God, or some other things, or maybe God and other things?  Where is your heart?  That is your treasure.

Life is a treasure hunt.  What is your treasure?