It's Friday the 13th, do you know where the Christians are?
Unfortunately today and this weekend many professing Christians will flock to the theaters to see the latest horror movie to grace the silver screen. This year the movie is Insidious Chapter 2, a horror movie where a family seeks to find the childhood mystery that will uncover their connection to the spirit world. Next year it will be some sort of zombie movie and who knows what will come the year after that. To the tens and tens of readers of this blog that might be believers in Christ I urge you to not join the rest of the crowd.
"What's wrong with a little fright and fear Stephen?" some might say. Well fear is a natural thing that God gave us all the ability to have but the only good that is in fear is the ability to know danger. While most don't believe that they are in danger while watching a horror movie we need to remember that danger and fear for the Christian applies to the spiritual not the physical.
Matthew 10:28 says "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
"But watching a horror movie can't destroy my soul Stephen." But remember the things that we are to be doing with our lives as Christians. The eyes are the window to our soul and what we let in is either on the side or righteousness or wickedness in the war for our soul.
Another verse to remember here would be Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if their is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
This passage alone would and should narrow the scope of ALL the things we watch and listen to, but it most definitely would apply to the wickedness that is encapsulated in the two hours of a spiritual horror movie. Some however, will still present the argument that "because I am a Christian we have nothing to fear." I would tell you first that because you are a Christian then Philippians 4:8-9 applies directly to your life. I would also point out one other verse that should help us to approach such topics with true fear and trembling.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17
True Christianity is founded in a change that no longer allows us to freely join in and "love" the things of this world. John goes on to tell us many times in the same book that you cannot love the world and love God and that you cannot walk in darkness and claim to walk in the light. These are verses that should make us think twice about everything in our lives, but with regard to this post I hope at least that some will have been convinced not by me, but by the word of God to at the very least not join the world in the love of the latest horror flick that honestly can give us nothing good in the scope of eternity.
Until the next dip in the well...
"What's wrong with a little fright and fear Stephen?" some might say. Well fear is a natural thing that God gave us all the ability to have but the only good that is in fear is the ability to know danger. While most don't believe that they are in danger while watching a horror movie we need to remember that danger and fear for the Christian applies to the spiritual not the physical.
Matthew 10:28 says "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
"But watching a horror movie can't destroy my soul Stephen." But remember the things that we are to be doing with our lives as Christians. The eyes are the window to our soul and what we let in is either on the side or righteousness or wickedness in the war for our soul.
Another verse to remember here would be Philippians 4:8-9 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if their is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me -- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you."
This passage alone would and should narrow the scope of ALL the things we watch and listen to, but it most definitely would apply to the wickedness that is encapsulated in the two hours of a spiritual horror movie. Some however, will still present the argument that "because I am a Christian we have nothing to fear." I would tell you first that because you are a Christian then Philippians 4:8-9 applies directly to your life. I would also point out one other verse that should help us to approach such topics with true fear and trembling.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world -- the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions -- is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever." 1 John 2:15-17
True Christianity is founded in a change that no longer allows us to freely join in and "love" the things of this world. John goes on to tell us many times in the same book that you cannot love the world and love God and that you cannot walk in darkness and claim to walk in the light. These are verses that should make us think twice about everything in our lives, but with regard to this post I hope at least that some will have been convinced not by me, but by the word of God to at the very least not join the world in the love of the latest horror flick that honestly can give us nothing good in the scope of eternity.
Until the next dip in the well...
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