Today my husband, who has become my muse for spiritual thought, and I exchanged ideas about the trappings of this life and their direct contradiction to biblical standards. We weren't discussing the obvious things like cheating or sleeping around or drinking or any other well-known vice that keeps us from knowing and communing with a holy God. We were actually talking about things that fly under the radar, like secular music, trashy television, preoccupation with appearances, otherwise known as vanity, and overeating.
Initially it stemmed from my sorority. We read some interesting info about its connection to the occult and the implications of still being associated with an org that asks for allegiance to itself. Mind you, I haven't been an active member for 15 years. Still, once you're in, you're in, even if inactive. It occurred to me that when I pledged I was a believer in Jesus Christ, but I was mostly just religious. With that being said, I knew the induction ceremony had crossed a line. Not only was I confessing another god, but I was participating in a strange rite that I couldn't begin to understand the true meaning of. From the time I was inducted I struggled with this aspect of sorority life. I had bonded with my line and some of the older sisters so strongly that I bounced back and forth between wanting to disassociate from the organization to believing I never would since I cared for them so much. My heart would remain torn throughout my undergraduate years until the organization became an accessory that defined me like wearing my hair in a ponytail or singing in a gospel choir.
In any case, our conversation regarded how well-meaning, God loving people join these orgs every year without suspecting any demonic cruelty or devilish intent. So many say they started drinking and sleeping around once they joined. That wasn't my story. In fact, at the same time I became active in the sorority I became active in Campus Crusade for Christ, which I think may have saved me the drama of getting too far away from God and too deep into defining myself by what the sorority was. I was no angel, mind you, but I didn't get too far away from the light because of the group. Any straying was of my own volition. We talked about this and how every day the world presents us with many different ways to cope with the negative thoughts and emotions that life presents. There's food, TV, movies, music, alcohol, drugs, fashion, sports, jobs, sex, relationships, sororities, fraternities, and the list goes on and on of the many things we can use to entertain ourselves or soothe our anxieties. These are all things that in moderation can be harmless, but in the spirit realm they are designed to lead us away from the cross and away from true peace of mind.
The direct contrast to this is the many churches and religious groups that dig in their heels and defy "the world" by obeying a bunch of rules to find God. Some rules; don't watch TV, don't listen to music, don't wear swimsuits, don't eat with sinners, don't wear makeup, don't go to movies, don't go bowling, don't celebrate Christmas, don't celebrate anything, don't dance...at all, and the list goes on depending on what group you're talking about. This goes above and beyond the ten commandments. And, I contend that many of these ideas could probably work. But, it's the heart that matters. If one is refraining from these activities in an attempt to show God they are good it will not work. It will probably lead to a lack of fulfillment and a desperate cry for something more meaningful. It's unhealthy for most and can be quite tragic. What extremely religious groups don't understand is that by making a host of rules the focal point of their worship they have picked up a vice of the enemy that can also be used to distract them from the main purpose. These organizations can be the most dangerous because they think they have almighty God's permission to be calculating and manipulative.On the other hand, if one is refraining from vice and corrupt activity in order to purify oneself so the unadulterated message of who God is and what He wants from you can be well-filtered, then by all means, go for it. This usually stems from a deep desire to be closer to God and to live for Him, not from wanting to belong to a group of humans. Knowing God and communing in peace with Him is the ultimate goal. He gives us guidelines to allow us to lead fruitful, happy lives, restoring Eden to those who accept and love Him.
So, no matter what satan uses to distract or tear us away, we must be consciously willing to not use those vices, but to go to God. Praying, reading the Bible, watching God's work in our lives and acknowledging His work in the earth are all ways to strengthen our faith and relationship with Him. Guard your heart and mind. Guard your eyes as well. If this means that lustful songs have to be removed from your playlist, then remove them. If this means you've got to get rid of "skinemax" and other channels with lots of lust driven images, then get rid of them. At the very least, living for God saves you money! With due diligence, keep your heart, mind, and soul protected, and allow your spirit to work with the Holy Spirit as your guide.
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