Feeding Our Emotions

Almost eleven years ago, I moved in with a family here in Pensacola. Before long, I had become close friends with their daughter, Sarah, who had just turned sixteen. We had so much in common and enjoyed our time together immensely. But isn't it amazing how you can be so close to someone, and then completely lose contact in a few, short years? Looking back, I realize that both of us had a lot to learn; some things the hard way. Now, as we are renewing our relationship via Facebook, it's equally amazing how the Lord has been directing both of our steps all these years. Now we have even more in common: our love for Him.

Last week, Sarah tagged me in a note on Facebook, and I wanted to share excerpts of it with you. The Lord has been dealing with me regarding similar issues for some time, and I wonder how many of my readers struggle with the same?

    "This past weekend I was quite sick for several days, and during one of those days I had a chance to catch a few episodes of a new show everyone is raving about, called "Glee". I don't usually watch much TV, but many of my friends were talking about this show and how good it was, so I figured I'd check it out. I was thinking, "Hmm, high school glee club, how bad could it be?" Now, I wish I didn't know the answer to that. This entire show is based on a group of highschoolers that go around sleeping with each other, and trying to be popular. I watched the first 2 episodes of the season, and then one of the newer episodes just recently aired. So, in the first couple of episodes the teacher of this Glee Club is married, but having this emotional affair with another teacher (spending late nights with her alone at the school "cleaning", etc). In the last episode I watched, he is in the process of a divorce with his wife, has slept with multiple woman, and the teacher he had a crush on is angry because of the multiple women. The highschoolers are making a list of who's the hottest and who's the most popular, plus one of the former cheerleaders is pregnant."

     "Seriously, CHRISTIANS! Wake up! Why in the world do we watch this kind of garbage and then expect our lives to look different than the world! I will say, the sinful flesh in me was interested in the show, because us women are particularly weak to anything having to do with romance, relationships, or gossip. However, the fact that it was completely and utterly sinful left a horrible taste in my mouth and I couldn't continue watching it because there is nothing God glorifying about it, in fact quite the opposite. I knew that I couldn't watch the show, and still have peace from the Lord..."

     "I think as Christian women, we need to take a stand against these kinds of shows and as sisters in Christ we should encourage each other to seek out Godly ways of spending our time instead of wasting them on TV shows that don't glorify the Lord. I know how hard it is, and I know how I still battle against my flesh, but knowing I have sisters standing with me, helps and encourages me to no end! Watching garbage that Hollywood throws out there, produces in me a spirit of discontent, and makes me feel things I shouldn't feel as a Christian woman (and let alone, a Married Christian woman) It's not OK for Christian men to watch pornography, so why should it be OK for Christian women to watch shows (Allow me to add: or read novels) that completely feed their emotions and desires in ways that only Christ or their husbands should?" (Sarah Elizabeth Davison: Garbage In, Garbage Out)

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true,

whatsoever things are honest,

whatsoever things are just,

whatsoever things are pure,

whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise,

Think on these things." Philippians 4:8