Passages like this in scripture remind me of how important it is to guard my heart. I’m so easily led astray by things in this world that fascinate me. Preoccupations with social media, television, culture… they all have a way of becoming bigger than Jesus as far as my priorities are concerned.
The evil characters I become enamored with sometimes are probably not good for me. I mean, yes I am a grown man. I know that I’m not supposed to blow up churches with a rocket launcher (Boyd Crowder, Justified) or have a collection of human heads in my study (The Governor, The Walking Dead.) It’s the more subtle things I need to be worried about like motives and attitudes. I mean, sometimes I find myself thinking these things are really awesome because they are so controversial and so different than the world I live in…
… or are they?
The Bible talks about these 2 worlds, physical and spiritual, that we must become more and more familiar with as we journey closer to heaven. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” There are probably some things going on in that spiritual place inside of me and you that are far more gruesome than anything that will ever be portrayed on television.
In the past, I’ve avoided television altogether and, while that does have it’s benefits it also has it’s share of flaws. I mean, television is a reflection of the culture in which we live. Sure, it is skewed in so many ways, but it is something that ties people together. And we, as Christians, need to be wise in those things. Obviously, we don’t indulge, but we find balance.
I do believe there is a balance that should be achieved with those things. Moderation is a good thing not only because of what it keeps us from doing too much of, but because of the things that we need to experience just a little bit to still be effective in ministering to the lost and loving the unlovely.
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