Close-eyed Christianity: Where Do We Draw the Line?

*A simple warning: this article isn’t going to be ‘fun’ to read. If you are one of those Christians who only wants to hear positivity and encouragement, and never want to be challenged where your flesh is concerned, then you may want to skip to another blog piece...Perhaps Joel Osteen has some light, pleasant motivation for today on his blog. This piece, however, isn’t going to raise those “feel good” mushy Christian feelings that will leave us excited and inspired. Rather, this article may bruise some egos and bristle some feathers, and some may even feel defensive and angry, and not even finish reading… but in my spirit, I felt led to write it anyway, and some things here just need to be said…and if you decide to continue anyway, fasten your seatbelt and hold tight to your wigs!

Part One: ENTERING THE EYE GATE:

“When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” ~Genesis 3:6

We all know the story of Adam and Eve. They once had it all. World dominion, beautiful home, all the food you can eat, and the daily presence of God.  They could even walk around naked all day, with perfect bodies, and feel free. No shame to their game. However, as the story goes, soon Eve was tempted by the serpent, (satan in disguise) and although she KNEW the Will of God was not to touch that tree…she did it anyway. She was initially tempted with the suggestion of disobedience. We don’t have a clue how long between the time that she was tempted that she actually ate the fruit, but I can tell you what she did in the meanwhile that ultimately caused her downfall. And it started with what is called The ‘Eye Gate”, which is the entrance to our hearts.

1)      She kept looking. It says she saw the fruit was good, so it’s obvious that she kept staring at this forbidden thing. Possibly trying to convince herself of all the reasons why it was OKAY. She looked, and she looked some more, and she stared at what God told her not to touch. At some point I’m sure she said “Well, chill out,  I’m not touching it, No harm in just looking at it!” But eventually, as in all of us, thoughts lead to actions. It may take some time, but it does. In today’s times, the porn industry produces $39 Billion annually. This is just people sitting there watching all types of sexual acts, and deviance. They say to themselves “Well I’m not doing it, I’m just watching it, so its harmless.” There are thousands of cases of child molesters and rapists who admit to starting with simple porn watching. It’s not just unsaved folks: many Christians contribute financially to the porn industry as well. Many times as Christians we KNOW that there are some things that we shouldn’t watch and look at, and yet we convince ourselves that it’s “harmless”…which is the first step towards rebellion.

2)     It became Pleasing to her Eyes. Initially when the snake suggested that she eat the fruit, I’m sure Eve was like “Whaaaat! Are you crazy?” and she probably had a strong physical reaction. “Oh no, Don’t you know what God said…” she even came back with some Word for that dirty snake. However, after the snake went about his business, not only did she keep looking, but it says that the fruit became something PLEASING to her. It went from something that was not acceptable to something that was actually enjoyable. Many times we see movies or shows that contain images that initially repulse us. We know that it isn’t right, and deep within our hearts we are troubled and/or uncomfortable…at first. After several times of being exposed to that thing, it later is actually pleasing and even normal. Kind of like watching gossip and a fight on Basketball Wives, knowing that two women should not be fighting in public, but later cheering it on, watching it with a fascinated smile. Once we start to accept certain things, our hearts slowly grow hardened to the damage that it causes. Eventually, we look forward to seeing these things, and the pleasure (excitement) that they bring to our flesh.

3)      She Desired it. Not only did Eve start to enjoy looking at the fruit, but these long looks and thoughts led to desiring the very thing that God warned her against. She actually wanted it enough to rebel against and disobey the loving God that she personally knew and created Her. In other words, her desires became more important in her mind than the Will of God.

4)      She Shared it. Misery loves Company. She may have felt bad and guilty after eating that fruit, but that didn’t stop her from sharing that guilt, and convincing others to ‘Partake” in the sin with her. Namely, her husband, since they were the only two around at the time.  As soon as hubby came around, she spent time convincing him that he should do it as well, and probably bragging about how smart and wise she is now, and showing him that “See? Nothing happened to me, I didn’t die!” Even today, when people are doing wrong, they desire to encourage others as well. It’s amazing how I see Christians clogging up my feeds on Reality Show or Scandal night, encouraging one another to watch the show as well.    

Well, Christians, I’m sure now you can see how these things brought down Adam and Eve, but do you see how it brings you down in 2013? The bible says in Luke 11:34: “Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness.”

Ouch. This tells us that we must pay special attention to what we look at and watch. Why? Because as with the above example: looking leads to watching, and watching leads to enjoyment, and enjoyment leads to desiring, and desiring leads to actions that drive us out of the Will of God. We then affect others with those actions. By looking at and watching filthy foul sinful behaviors consistently, we open ourselves up to suggestion, temptation, and sin. Even the anointed David watched Bathsheba for a while before he called her into his bed.

You may get upset and say “Never ME! I would never get caught up in that! I can handle it” But the very thing that you think that you would never do, you can be tempted to do.

“….Therefore, whoever thinks he is standing securely should watch out so he doesn't fall!”
~1 Corinthians 10:12.

 

This is a clear warning straight out of the Word. I don’t care how holy you claim to be. None of us are above temptation.

 

We all have sinned and fallen short, and everyone has their weaknesses, but let’s not deny, or be blind to what those weaknesses are. Let’s not just continue to accept sinful behavior in our midst and call it something else.

We now label adultery as “romance”, and open homosexuality as being “brave”,  we now take medications (including prescribed weed and Hookah)  legally, and say that it’s all harmless.

My issue is not with the sins, but with the blanket sense of denial about it that I am seeing in the Christian community.  It’s becoming harder to distinguish who is a true follower, and who is a wolf in sheep’s clothing…hidden among the innocent lambs, ready at any moment to trigger a slaughter.

Christians:  the definition of Holy is not “Perfect”.  It is “Set Apart, not fitting in, and being a part of the crowd.” So the definition of Unholy is “being just like everyone else.” Which includes conforming to this world: watching what they watch, listening to what they listen to, talking like they talk, gossiping the way they do, wearing what they wear, dancing like they dance.

 

“…Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them;

for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light....
 

Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

..So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is!” ~ Ephesians 5: 1-15

 

Part Two: ITS JUST ENTERTAINMENT

Even among Christians… It seems that nothing is being called sin anymore, for fear of insulting someone else that has chosen an openly sinful lifestyle. Those in the World are  told that they are courageous heroes if they participate in sin, yet if you are a proud and professing Christian, you need to keep that to yourself.  A Christian should shut up, hide your values, whisper your prayers, and don’t try to make anyone else feel bad about their decisions. A teen Christian virgin in today’s times will get bullied, teased and ridiculed, and no one worries about insulting or offending that child and his/her religion. These young impressionable teens are then told by everyone that that it’s impossible to wait for sex, that something is wrong with them, and that they will not be desirable without being sexually available. We fail as Christians to be bold and courageous in  standing up and fighting for our laws, and the preservation of God in this country, and refuse to even call anything right or wrong anymore.  On last Thursday for example, I did not see one Scandal-Watching Christian openly protest the gay love scene on the show.  Not one. It was simply overlooked as if it didn’t happen.

Have we truly hardened our hearts to the point that sin no longer angers or affects us, the same way that it doesn’t affect the world?

Entertainment: (Wikipedia Definition)

The action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment.

Synonyms: Fun, amusement - fun - recreation - pastime – distraction

 

The word enjoyment is used within the definition of entertainment. Like Eve, who enjoyed looking at the fruit, we enjoy today looking at and being caught up in an entire 400-plus channels of shows that clearly are out of line with what a Christian lifestyle requires, and God’s Will for our lives.  And as the dictionary synonym definition also shows: Distraction comes through entertainment. 

Keeping it Real: today’s entertainment lines right up in with the works of the flesh in Galatians:

“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like… (Gal 5:19-21)

These things are clearly shown to be in opposition to the Spirit of God. So much so that the bible even says that if you are walking in them, you can’t possibly walk in the spirit, and vice versa. But we seem to think in all of our ‘wisdom’ that it is entirely possible to do both… Serve God and serve our flesh at the same time. Then we wonder why our lives are so unfulfilled and chaotic, and we haven’t yet seen the full manifestation of his blessings in our situations.

It also seems that we feel more comfortable with the sin when it’s something that feeds into our own desires. For instance, on the show Scandal, Olivia Pope is in an on again off again adulterous relationship with the President. She is a black woman, and the President and his wife are both white. Not all, but many Black women seem to love that show. It somehow gives them a sense of power and lust that they are feeding in their own heads. They love that this black women wields so much power in the White House. However, if the tables were turned and Olivia was White, and the President and his wife looked like Barack Obama and Michelle….the show would have SHUT DOWN due to angry worldwide protests, saying that they are insulting black women everywhere, and cries of ‘white women always try to come along and snag powerful black men.’ It would have fueled debates everywhere about adultery, and men being dogs, and that it is insulting to Barack and Michelle because he would never cheat on this woman. Every love scene would have been looked on in disgust, and as a personal slap in the face. But because the show features this beautiful black woman in a power position, her adultery can now be called “Romance” and the President is tempting and “Sexy”, and well…perhaps his wife is a witch anyway.

Another entertainment note: Many Christians also would not STEP FOOT in a strip club,
and wouldcondemn the Christian man or woman/man that did. Yet we turn on a video as “entertainment” and watch Beyoncé strip down to clothes that are nude/sheer with faux nipples, and sliding up and down a stripper pole to music, and say ‘But that’s different. It’s artistic entertainment, not stripping.” Let us get real for a moment: What is the difference? Same moves, same visual, same sexual stimulation!! She may not get buck naked, but she’s close enough for any man woman and child to use a bit of their imagination. Not getting on just Beyoncé, because there are plenty of other female celebrities that do the same thing….but these are examples of things that I see hardly any Christians blinking an eye about, and even justifying and defending.

...So the question is: What sets us apart? Should not Christians be entertained by something else?

I’m pretty sure that there are many Christians that will get angry and offended at this blog, as well as many homosexuals, drug users and adulterers that will get angry that I have mentioned those things in the list of sins of the flesh. But this is biblical truth, and unfortunately, I can’t tailor my message to soothe and provide comfort for those participating in sinful behavior. God doesn’t call us to do that. Besides, Jesus angered alot of 'religious folks' with this same message. Paul even had to confront a church that was accepting of adultery and turning a blind eye. The reason the people became upset, is because, honestly, it's difficult to look at something you are doing as wrong. It's much easier to point out the wrongdoings of others. But He wants us to expose sin, face it, and then turn from and repent of it…not just make excuses, and justify it. In my own life, I have my own battles, but I must call out my own sins, and face them, as horribly painful as it may be, which is the first step of removing them from my life.

Not saying that all Christian entertainment is good, either: There are many gospel shows that are filled with pride, lust and sin as well. ‘Pastors Wives’ and ‘Preachers Kids’ are the new reality show highlighting family drama among Christian leaders and their families. Many gospel singing shows feature glittering, flamboyant singers that seem to be taking more glory in the applause and getting people to get excited, rather that serving and glorifying God. Not to mention the wayward Pastors, famous Christian leaders being accused of indecent acts off the pulpit…while putting on a show in front of cameras every Sunday.

Where do we as Christians draw the line and say, enough is enough? When do we guard our eyes from the things that God says no to? When to we shield our hearts from the temptations around us? When do we realize that these are things that should not be “Good” “Desirable” and “Enjoyable”, just as Eve should have realized this from the beginning? We must open our (spiritual) eyes in order to see Gods truth.

Admittedly, I watched the whole first Season of Scandal. Like Eve, I saw that it “Was good” and had my husband come and watch it with me. Every Thursday we made popcorn, and were both shocked and excited by each new episode. After the season was over, the cliffhanger had me wanting more, and I planned to continue to watch. However, in the midst of a fast during the summer break, God spoke to me and reminded me about Holiness. Being set apart. He said that everything represented in that show is displeasing to Him, so even though I wasn’t participating in those things, it was causing thoughts and an excitement for things that he hated. So what was the point of watching it, unless I just didn’t care what He liked, or His position on those things. How can I hate what He hates, and yet love it at the same time? Although I still wanted to watch the show, and every Thursday wonder how good it’s getting, I must continue to DIE TO FLESH if I ever want to perfect my Christian walk to its maximum potential. I must deny myself…bottom line. If we don’t understand that, we go back to the elementary teachings of Christ: The ABC’s. We again must learn the basic foundation for true discipleship.

Part Three: TRUE DISCIPLESHIP

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves, and take up their cross, and follow me.”~ Matthew 16:24

In this verse, Jesus specifically lists 3 requirements here are involved in being a Christian, or “Follower of Christ”:

1)    Deny Themselves. I may want to look at porn, commit adultery, go to a club, etc. But I must DENY myself those things because I am deciding that I want to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus clearly lists this as a first requirement to discipleship. That means that you don’t do the things that you want to do that are contrary to the Word of God. That means that you lay down your will for HIS. That means that you are dead to sin, and even in politics dead men don’t have a VOTE. You are in a constant flesh battle that must be beaten into subjugation. Four words: Sacrifice. Submission. Unquestioning Obedience. Many Christian hate these words. Some of us are so used to rebelling against authority our whole lives, that we have no idea how to submit to anyone. Well here is a hint: You don’t want to do something, but you do it ANYWAY because God says so. These are the ABC’s of Christianity. Once we get that revelation down in our spirits, we can be a lot stronger and more powerful in our walk with Christ.

2)    Take Up Their Cross: Jesus took up a cross and carried it, knowing that it would be his last journey. That cross represented obedience to the Will of God. Like Him, as a disciple you must often do the things that you must do that may be hard and burdensome, but knowing that the sacrifice will bring greater gain. What crosses has God given you to bear in your own life? Doing the tough stuff, ministry work, loving when you don’t want to love, forgiving when you don’t want to forgive, moving when you don’t want to move, not fighting when you want to fight, holding your tongue, Pushing forward toward purpose. Being single, leading a ministry, fighting a just cause, standing firm in your values despite those around you, even your difficult marriage and wayward kids, all of these things can be our own individual crosses that we must bear...but bear for Him we must, in order to be effective disciples.

3)    Follow Me:  When you follow someone, you travel in the direction that they are going. Many of us want to be called Christians, yet are going an entirely different direction than Jesus teaches us to go.  Jesus makes it clear that being a disciple involves walking, talking, and looking LIKE CHRIST. It involves looking at his example of love, and servant hood and following it. It involves studying his words in the New Testament, and applying them in your life.

 

“To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”

 -1 Peter 2:21

Listen, we all have a choice. Life and Death, blessings and curses. This is not intended to bash anyone. It’s what God laid on my heart to write, and I must be obedient to that. You may read this and go off and continue to watch and listen to what you will. Thats fine. You must get the revelation for yourself through prayer and fasting as I did. I advise everyone to seek Gods Will for themselves, and He will reveal it.

Now if you are a Christian or thinking of being a Christian and you aren’t willing to do those things Jesus asks in order to surrender your life and heart…just do everyone a favor and just don’t call yourself a disciple of Christ, or a Christian, because it confuses others, and makes all Christians look like Hypocrites. Christian means “Christ-Like” or follower of Christ, and I’ve already listed those requirements. For some it may be too high a price to bear, which is why he says to ‘Count the Cost” before accepting the challenge and getting born again. (Luke 14:28). I personally, do not want to spend my entire life saying I’m a Christian, but living a carnal life, and then at the end, get rejected anyway; spit out for being lukewarm and straddling on the fence.

Luke 14:27: “…And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.”

Its time, in these last days, to take accountability and ownership of what distractions and negativity that we allow in our homes and families, and choose a team to represent. Either allow God to be the head and ruler, or just crown yourself God of your life, and just live the life, and just be honest about it. Just don’t deceive yourself and others with empty words, which are of no effect in the Kingdom. When you do that, you are creating more damage than hope and healing.

It’s time to be authentic, and get back to True Holy living….He who has ears…let him hear!!

 

*...And I say this with L.O.V.E!

 

~Myckelle