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Day 14
What is Acceptable?
By Al Menconi
Hollywood
has been telling us that the responsibility
to supervise our family’s entertainment
lies solely with parents. But as a parent,
I know that’s easier said than
done. These days there is so much garbage
to supervise, that it’s become
a full-time job. And when you think about
the single parent who is just trying
to hold her family together, the job
becomes almost impossible.
What makes this issue even more difficult
for Christians is that we’re being
asked to evaluate immorality that has
become commonplace in today’s society.
There was a time when we would not have
tolerated some of the filth that passes
for entertainment today, but now it has
become commonplace. How did this happen?
It starts when a song, movie, or TV
show “pushes the envelope” of
acceptable morals and good taste. They
usually do this to get noticed and it
usually works. Then another goes a little
further, so they can get noticed. Then
someone else really goes for it (think, Ma donn a,
Britney Spears , or Janet
Jackson at the Superbowl). Before
we realize it, the immoral borders we
thought they would never cross now have
become the “norm.”
Do you remember when “Three’s
Company” was considered risqué because
two young women had a man as a roommate?
They had to pretend that he was a homosexual
so the landlord would accept their situation.
Today, however, nearly every program
on television has couples living together
outside of marriage and no one thinks
twice about it. And many of those portray
homosexuality as normal. We’ve
come a long way in the past few years,
haven’t we?
Think about the first time you heard
profanity in a movie. Did it shock you?
Now we hear profanity every night on
television and excuse it by saying “all
the shows have it.” Do you remember
the first time you saw a sex scene in
a movie? Were you offended and embarrassed?
If not, you were probably surprised.
Now, we’re surprised if a movie doesn’t have
a sex scene –even a TV movie! I’m
sure you could think of similar examples.
What can Christians do? Should we just
give in and give up? Filtering through
all the worlds’ garbage is not
our real job. Our job is to live by Christian
values. Big goals start with small steps.
Let me share just one simple, practical
step I’m taking to start redefining
what is acceptable for my family and
my community.
The local music/video outlet, The
Wherehouse, rented and sold X-rated
videos and DVDs, along with “family
friendly” films. This was not
acceptable to me, or any moral person.
I cut up my Wherehouse video
rental card. Then I mailed it to their
main office with a letter that informed
them I would not patronize their store
as long as they have X-rated videos.
I encouraged my friends to do the same.
In the following years, this Wherehouse went
out of business in our area. I’m
not implying that my personal boycott
had anything to do with it, but I had
the satisfaction that I didn’t
help them stay in business to peddle
porn.
This was not censorship. I didn’t
stop them from selling perversion. I
didn’t picket them keep others
away. But it was the first step in redefining
what is acceptable to my family and friends.
I urge you to begin looking for ways
to redefine what is acceptable in your
home and community.
Reflection: Before
you attempt to change the attitudes of
your family and the community around
you, have you set the pace by making
sure that your own entertainment is not
against biblical values?
Response: Do you
patronize any businesses that promote
or encourage immorality? Can you make
a list of such businesses? Is it a short
list or a long one? Is there one you
think you could start with that might
make a moral difference in your community?
Which one? How do you propose to start?
Verse of the Day: Proverbs 19:27
"Stop listening to teaching
that contradicts what you know is right." (Living
Bible)
Movies, television, video games, and
music are some of the most effective
teaching tools known to man. If they
are effective teachers in the classroom,
won’t they also be effective teachers
in our homes?
Once we see what the Bible teaches
about unbiblical entertainment, we are
left with some simple choices. The Scriptures
are not shy about giving us direction:
STOP listening (viewing) teaching that
contradicts what you know is right! It's
that simple.
Once a Christian is educated about
what will spoil their faith and joy,
they must make a choice. If the teaching
of this audio-visual instruction is against
what you know is right, God says stop
listening to it! Re-read the above verse.
It isn't a suggestion. It's a command.
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