How Television Has Ruined Us

You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? (Galatians 5:7)

I blame television. No, seriously I do. They say that television reflects society but I believe that it is television that shapes society. Day after day we sit in front of this thing for hours, being bombarded by non-reality, with images, ideas and philosophies. Are we writing the shows? No, they are a few people who write from their perspective of life and it influences how we begin to see things. They are interfering in your relationship with God. Some of it is intentional and some is accidental. One of the shows that had the biggest influence on our society was called "Will and Grace". It was a clever show, well written, funny, influential and a society changer. With time, it changed people's attitude and homosexuality started to become an acceptable thing in our society.

Parents are very concerned about what their children watch when it comes to sex and violence but most people don't take into consideration the ideas and philosophies that are being presented. These are even more powerful than the violence and they are playing on the minds of not only our children but on us as well. It's not just television; movies and the internet are just as influential. We are being bombarded daily with messages that are contrary to God's Word but we accept it as normal, letting down our defenses and mixing the philosophies of the world with God's truth.

That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” (Galatians 5:8-9) 

Let that sit on your spiritual palate for a minute. If God is not influencing you who is and what is their motivation? Ideas stick with us. Presented enough times it becomes a truth for us. The Church is suppose to stand for God's truth, for the God News; we are suppose to reflect the light of Jesus Christ in a dark world, but it is getting harder to see the different between the believer and non-believer.

I don't believe for a moment that we can cut ourselves off from the world. We can't stop the noise and bombardment of these ideas and philosophies but we can be more aware of them and more alert to their dangers. We can actually start thinking for ourselves and dispute these philosophies with the Word of God. We can equip our children with a good grounding in the Word. After watching a show or movie sit down with your children and discuss the ideas and philosophies in the show and then present God's teaching on the matter. Start noticing for yourself, write down notes, think about what you are watching and then search God's Word for the truth concerning what you just let into your head and heart.

I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion will pay the penalty, whoever he may be. (Galatians 5:10)

Yes, these people who sin and convince others to participate in that sin will pay the penalty. We are in this world for one reason, to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. That is our entire purpose. We have been told to run this race with perseverance, to go the distance with Jesus. We have work to do, but what good are we if the "salt has lost it's saltiness"? We are not here to be entertained. We are here to serve Jesus Christ. Let's start thinking like servants and start doing the things that please our Master. Get your eyes fixed on Jesus and fix your heart and mind on things above, not on the decaying flesh of this world. Do not let these influences to cut in on you and stop you from obeying the truth.

Omar - I Am Sorry

It may surprise some people but I have desired to see our government bring home the young Omar Khadr for a long time now. I cannot say I feel any attachment to the young man and I cannot say I have any sympathy but what I do have is hope. Hope that he could make something of his life yet. Hope that he will meet Jesus. If we take away this hope for people what do we have left to keep our society moving forward? What do we as Christians hold on to?

He was a young man who had an idealistic father who believed that violence was a means to an end. The young man had no say in what he had to experience as a child. He may have had the same choice as any of us when he threw that grenade but did he have any choice in finding himself in that situation? Yes, he may have killed a man by his actions but was it not in an arena of war? Let him come home and stand trial as a murderer here but first bring him home.

Why would I even blog on this? Because I believe what is happening goes against our ideals as Canadians but even more importantly I believe what is happening robs us of the compassion of Jesus Christ. There are a great many things going wrong in our country but this is one wrong that can be righted. If we as Christians condemn this young man by dismissing the situation from our thoughts are we any better than those Jesus spoke against in his parables? We who have received so much grace through the forgiveness of our trespasses are we not denying Omar this same opportunity? Does anyone see any planks here?

My question is "Why Omar?" We have kids killing people on our streets and we do not lock them away for six years to be tortured with no trial. What has Omar done that is any different? Kids on our street kill for money and thrills. Omar killed because he was trained it was the right thing to do. Which is more frightening?

I am sure most of you have already dismissed this young man and hardly give him a thought. I wish it were that easy for me. The thought of that young man locked away for so long, with no contact with his mother, no word from friends, with no sign that anyone loves him tears at my heart. How much more when I hear those words, "You don't care about me"? Have you looked into the circumstances? Do you know his story? Do you know about his dad and his upbringing? Yes, it is possible that he is a murderer but let us treat him like one at home, with some compassion and hope that this young man may yet become someone great. Is that not the hope we have for all our children?

I am no liberal but I am a father. Let's bring this son home.