Tag Archives: love of the world

Jun 21 2014

Game of Thrones or Game of Lust?

What is the most popular show on TV/Cable these days?

It is a show called Game of Thrones on HBO.  I do not have HBO so I was not aware that for 4 years this show has been rising in popularity to its current pinnacle.  We are talking about the kind of popularity that trumps everything else on TV. I even hear people at work talking about Game of Thrones parties, where they get together to celebrate by watching the episodes together.

Why is Delight in Truth writing about this?

Because I looked into what the fuss is all about, and I must share with you the disturbing results of my research.

The show is a medieval type fantasy laced with graphic violence and graphic sexual deviancy. Pastor and theologian John Piper was asked about whether a Christian has any business watching something like this. His answer was a bit shocking, but I agree with it. He said that the Christian who indulges in watching this level of violence and nudity and actually enjoys it, needs to ask whether he/she is re-crucifying Christ again!

But the producers push this show beyond nudity and violence. How about repeated rape scenes mixed with murder? How about graphic incest?

The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) describes it this way: “The sexual content on this show is very consistent and graphic.”

And our society loves it! Look at the ratings! I had no idea that in a difficult economy people had the money to spend on premium cable channels…

I said this in a prior sermon at some point… If a person is a Christian by name, but delights in the nudity, foul language, violence and sexual deviancy of today’s movies and shows, that person might not be a born-again Christian. It is not consistent with a holy character given by the new birth to LIKE or LOVE depravity. On the contrary, the child of God is repulsed by such depiction of depravity.

Here are some powerful Scripture references to set our priorities right:

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. James 4:4

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. 1 John 2:15

If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. Matt 5:29

image credit

Aug 6 2013

Treading on the Spiritual Edge

Moher Cliffs, Ireland

The Moher cliffs in Western Ireland (pictures here) are a stunning natural monument which attracts scores of daredevils every year.  Some of these adrenaline junkies walk or bike a tight path, sometimes less than a foot wide in order to satisfy the need for excitement knowing that they are inches away from death.

While only a few brave people will do in real life what the bikers in the photo are doing, there are many Christians who walk on the spiritual Moher Cliffs.   Spiritual disaster may be small step in the wrong direction because they are at the very edge of the cliff.

As Christians, we live in the world but we are not of the world.

When a Christian indulges in the things of the world, its philosophies, its entertainment, its pleasures, he is walking dangerously close to the cliff.  We are not called to see how close we can get to the edge without falling, but we are called to be hidden in Christ, far from the dangers of falling.  Hiding ourselves in Christ is the opposite of experimenting in the world.

Apostle John gives us a clear warning against flirting with sin and the things in the world in 1 John 2:

15Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. 16For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.

The spiritual Moher Cliffs are the association with the world and its elements.   By walking these cliffs, the Christian comes dangerously close to falling in love with the world.

The only reliable solution is to flee sin and hide ourselves in Christ.