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 Do
not love the world or anything that belongs to the world. If you
love the world, you do not love the Father.
1 John
2: 15
 Television
Programs and Movies
The
Bible says that by looking or beholding, we change. In 2
Corinthians 3: 18, the Bible says that when we look at Jesus, we
are changed to be like Him. By reading the Bible, we can learn
how Jesus lived. Then we can become honest and loving like Him.
The TV has many programs which we can choose from. Do the things
you see draw you closer to Jesus in a loving relationship, or do
they make you love the world and its sinful pleasures? Most of
the TV programs have violence, adultery and profanity woven into
them. Profanity means that words are spoken which are vulgar or
treat sacred things with abuse, contempt or irreverence. The
more these are watched, the more we will become like them.
The best
TV guide to selecting a program is found in Philippians 4: 8. If
the TV program meets these 8 tests, it is good. If it is true,
honest, just, pure, lovely, gracious and if there is excellence
and things worthy of praise then it would be good to watch.
 See
No Evil
In
Psalms 51: 10- 13, the Bible writer David asked God to create a
clean heart in him and to renew a right spirit in him. He wanted
God to help him think right. He had just done a terrible sin
that he was sorry for. God forgave him. David promised God that
he would set no wicked thing before his eyes (Psalms 101: 2). In
Ezekiel 20: 7 God asked His people to throw away every thing
that the eyes feast on. They were not to defile themselves with
the idols of Egypt. We might say with the idols of Hollywood. We
are not to look at magazines or posters with pictures of people
without proper clothing to cover their bodies. These pictures
lead to selfish thoughts.
Music
Some
types of music give us messages that are not true, honest, just
or pure. They suggest that it is fun to break the commandments.
This is a trick from Satan. When we listen to his messages, we
become changed. God's ways are to turn our eyes and ears from
beholding and hearing vanity (Psalms 119: 37). What you listen
to is what you are going to become.
Dancing
Dancing
leads to thinking selfish thoughts and to breaking the
commandment not to commit adultery (Exodus 20: 14). This makes
dancing a worldly thing that leads to sin. The music that many
dance to often has selfish thoughts expressed.
 Love
of Money and Things
Those
who love money become very selfish. All they think about is
getting more things. In 1 Timothy 6: 10, God says that the love
of money is the root of all evils. The craving for money often
causes people to wander away from Jesus. A root feeds the plant.
If all you think about is getting things, you will not be happy
even when you have money because you will want more.
Those
who love God above all, even life itself will use money that
they are trusted with to help others learn of God's love.
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