Every once in a while, God zings you with an undeniable message. This was the case several years ago when He used my son Jerry to teach me a lesson. The kid must have been around ten years old. We were sitting together, watching television, when a show came on that had questionable content. Don’t ask me what it was; bad language, sexual stuff. . . I don’t remember.
All I can tell you, it shouldn’t have been viewed by children. “Son, you’re gonna have to leave. You shouldn’t watch this. It’s not meant for children. It’s not good for you.”
Jerry didn’t argue. I continued watching, as he got up. As he left the room, he asked, “Dad, if it’s not good for me to watch, why is it good for you?”
That was the zinger. I thought about it. Really thought about it. Much to my dismay, the kid was right. It wasn’t good for me to watch, either.
You may argue, “Hey! You’re an adult. You can handle it.” But think about it– Watching a show that portrays and belittles women as sex objects, that glorifies violence, that is filled with profane language. . . Is it truly good for you to see? Watching a show that portrays abnormal as normal, should you be filling your head with this? You may say you can handle it (Based on the rising number of sex offenders and the moral decay of our culture, I somewhat doubt that), but is it good for you?
For my Christian reader, I add, Does it glorify God?
Have we swallowed the term Adult Theme in exchange for vulgarity, crudeness, and soft porn? Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think because our culture says something is all right for an adult to view, that it is.
I believe, for a Christian, it’s also a matter of obedience to God. Philippians 4:8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
My son taught me a lesson that day. What I view, what I read, it truly does effect who I am. It matters. So now, when I’m going to watch something, or read something that is of questionable taste, I relive a version of that scene with my son- Only now, instead of me being the dad, I’m the child. My Heavenly Father stands beside me. He says, “Child, you shouldn’t be watching that. It’s not good for you.”
Am I willing to listen? Are you willing to listen?
Psalm 101:2-3. I will be careful to lead a blameless life—when will you come to me? I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. 3 I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it.