Over a month ago, on a Sunday evening, I was approached by Ken about praying whether I should give up watching dramatic shows. I have a few I watch on a weekly basis, all of which I have followed since the first episode: Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters. He had expressed his dislike of the Oprah Show before, and I had given it up for over a year now. But, I felt he was literally telling me not to watch anymore TV. After all, I don't watch TV during the day when I am teaching the children. I enjoyed my nighttime shows, but at the same time I knew these shows did nothing for my spiritual growth.
Before Ken confronted me, I had been bothered by an episode on Grey's Anatomy, when one 28-year-old resident student in the hospital was ridiculed by her colleagues that she was still a virgin. The 28-year-old woman felt ashamed of this fact and she tried to deny and hide this secret. I continued to watch the shows week after week, because it was what I've always done on Thursday evenings.
As I began to evaluate all these shows after Ken told me to pray about it, I realized it was not Ken telling me to let these shows go, but it was the Lord. I was ashamed that I had allowed these immoral shows become part of my life for so long.
How can I teach my children to commit to their spouse for life when I am watching shows where adultery is committed and accepted? If I tell my children that God hates divorce and He says so in His Word, then how can I continue to condone actors on these shows that consistently divorce and remarry season after season? Just 10 years ago, I wouldn't have come across same-sex relationships accepted on TV, but now it is politically correct to include homosexual relationships in almost all shows. The 3 shows that I watched had all of these situations portrayed. I was at a place where I couldn't continue to watch these shows if I was to continue to raise my children in spirit and in truth. I needed to ask for forgiveness of sin and give up my old ways. It has been over a month since I've seen an episode. But I am realizing that when it comes to living an intentional Christ-like life, I need to go cold turkey, rid of all viewing; there was to be no weaning off the shows. I no longer watch Dancing With the Stars anymore once I begin to be evaluate all of my TV viewing. I felt I could not watch men and women dressed like they are out to seduce their partners, when I am teaching my children to dress modestly. Since I've made that decision to evaluate what I allow myself to watch on TV, I thought I would struggle with temptation, but I have felt more freedom than bondage.
My prayer in sharing this private life of mine is to not to convict you of your TV watching. You may not have the same guilt as I do and you may watch the same programs, but we should all be open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit's convictions in all areas of our lives. If we deny and resist the calling to change, we become more and more hardened to His voice, eventually not able to reach the potential, and useless to reaching others for Christ. (I Corinthians 10:23-24 NKJV, All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being.) If we give up worldly things, then we have room for the spiritual things.
I know some of you may accuse me of legalism. I do know that our works don't save us - - it's our faith in Jesus. But if we are in Christ, we must do good works (what He has called us) for the glory of God. We are created for this purpose. (Ephesians 2:10 NKJV, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.") Therefore, I want all my activities to be pleasing to Him because I love Him, not for personal gain or for His favor. Would you join me in giving up the worldly things for more godly things?
Yea! So true. We can't just partake of the sludge of the world. Hope you don't mind my quoting Nephi from the Book of Mormon: "It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do." All we can do is never perfect, but Christ makes up the difference for us when we are bound with him by covenant.
ReplyDeleteMay God be glorified and lifted up! Thank you for sharing opening about your struggle and the freedom that is now yours. I am so happy for you and excited that someone maybe just one person may see the holiness that God is calling all his creation(all people) to. Thanks again Grace for your transparency and for being obedient to the spirits leading and your husband:) love you!
ReplyDeleteI had dealt with that same prodding from God about my viewing of House.
ReplyDeleteAs we havent had TV for more than 10 years I had no real idea of what shows were out there except what I heard other people talk about. I stumbled upon an internet site that would show different movies and TV shows. I didnt know what House was but it looked like it might be sumthing I may enjoy to "watch someone elses life go by" as I like to say when Im past the stressed out point.
From the first show I saw (5th season) I was hooked and I purchased the entire first 4 seasons off ebay! (It's sad but it took only 2 weeks for me to watch 4 seasons.) The first season was pretty tame, nothing TOO out there. By the third and forth seasons I was feeling almost dirty rooting for these people who were well, unhealthy and unwholesome for my mind and spirit.
I found the same thing happening with my computer lately. To get ahold of my use, I store my laptop UNDER my desk on a shelf. Its not in an easy place to get to and pull it out when I want to use it but I feel keeping it there will make me gauge if its worth that much trouble to go online and take time away from my home life and other things I could/should be doing? The TOP of my desk is now dedicated to quilting and doing things that will glorify God, and to honor my family and myself.
I wasted so much time! I try to imagine what my spirtual life would have been like had I taken all that time and spent it with God.
Thank you for your honesty and putting yourself out there, Grace. I love your heart and your passion for the Will of God in your family's life. Miss you bunches! Big love!