Thursday, 29 December 2011
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Not Sheltered: Holding Fast to What is Good
I absolutely hate when people tell me I'm sheltered. I'm 20 years old, and most people think my aversion to sexual innuendo or images and bad language means I'm sheltered or immature. What's worse is that most of the people that say this to me are my Christianfriends. Are we reading the same Bible? Because this is what my copy says... 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - "Test all things; hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (Emphasis added...some version say "avoid all appearance of evil.)
Romans 12:2 - "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Proverbs 4:24 - "Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you."
James 1:21 - "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."
Phillipians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
I am holding fast to what as good with all the might I have from the grace of God. Why does it seem like none of my friends do the same? If we are to flee from every appearance of evil, why is it that some choose to saturate their minds and hearts with perverse, corrupt, inappropriate, downright dirty things?
We are conforming to the world when we watch the same things they watch, talk about the same things, etc. It is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God that we should not be conformed to this world. So why is conforming so rampant among Christians?
Isn't there anyone concerned about purity out there? I am trying to follow Phillipians 4:8, but it is hard when others around me or not. Should I dump them as friends? Most of the time I try to influence them with my own behavior and good attitude, but times like this when I feel angry enough to write a whole blog, I feel otherwise.
What's more is that people that talk like this around me -- especially guys -- and know how I feel about it aren't respecting me or my feelings. They're supposed to be friends. Right?
Is there anyone out there with the same problem? Or if you tend to be the one making sexual innuendos and using bad language, did you take a moment think things through?
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- From: scrittore@xanga
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Comments (37)
I wrote a post about a certain filthy word being used here and received some comments that indicated that there are others like us....but there were those who thought I was making too big a thing of it. Here is the link to it and the comments: http://quest4god.revelife.com/753895382/that-irritating-word/
I hope it is an encouragement to you!
I'm 23, and I 100% agree with you. It definitely makes it harder when those who also claim to be Christians just makes people like me and you look like we're "going overboard" by them giving bad examples of what a Christian is to non-believers.
@quest4god - It was indeed an encouragement! Thank you for commenting. As for those who think we're making too big a deal, we just will have to pray for their minds to be transformed according to God's perfect will.
@eatcleantrainhard@xanga - Thank you! I honestly appreciate every comment I get, and I will always try to respond to every one of them, even if it's just "thank you."
what's funny is that you insist on refusing to conform to culture, but you want all of your friends to conform to what you believe. i have plenty of friends who don't swear, talk about sex, etc. but have no issue being around people who choose to. you demand respect, but you don't seem to really respect your friends who choose to behave differently than you.
i have a problem with conforming to the worlds temptations, I'm trying really hard to overcome my problem with cursing. More power to you for trying to do what is just and right
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - Having friends with the same high standards as one's self is only natural and healthy.
Associating with people of lower standards would tend to make one feel superior. Which is unhealthy.
@hectoramemnon@xanga - is that why Jesus hung out with all the bad people? so he could feel superior?
if you're likely to feel superior just because you have friends who might be worse off than you, you're a tad heartless and incapable of sympathy. i don't judge my friends. i love them.
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - No, I don't want them to conform to what I believe; I want them to conform to God's will, which is what, as Christians, they should be doing and I only want to encourage them to do so.
@passions_trapped@xanga - Good for you for at least being aware of it. I encourage you in your efforts, and thank you for sharing!
@hectoramemnon@xanga - @too_pretty_to_die@xanga - Exactly; having friends with the same standards is like iron sharpening iron, which is encouraged in the Bible (I'm not sure where.) As for feeling superior, I think it's in our sinful human nature to be prideful so if we're not careful, we could start to feel superior to our friends if we think they have lesser values than we do. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't hang out with them; we should encourage them to better themselves in the name of Christ.
@scrittore@xanga -
"I want them to conform to God's will, which is what, as Christians, they should be doing and I only want to encourage them to do so."
but it's entirely your interpretation that God would want you to be completely sheltered from all offending words, actions, etc. and that He cares about what you're exposed to as much as whether you conform to that exposure. for example... i, an agnostic, had to suffer through two Christian funerals recently. but being in a church, hearing the Bible read, etc. didn't make me Christian. i still doubt the existence of God, i still don't pray, and i don't plan to enter a church until the next funeral, or other special event. but by your standards, i should refuse to be exposed to any and all Christian material in existence (which would only be possible if i put myself in solitary confinement) because i find such things contrary to my personal standards and beliefs.
look at this way: a friend came up to you and said that, since they are an atheist and you believe they're going to Hell, they could no longer hang out with you because they find that offensive. would that bother you? if not, then by all means make the same judgment call yourself. because there's really no difference.
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - The truth is the truth, my friend, and my interpretation of it has nothing to do with it. We, as Christians, are commanded to guard our hearts and to be set apart, holy, from the world. That is not my opinion, it is God's will. When we as Christians are exposed to ungodly things, we are dishonoring God who created us in His image; it also ruins our witness because how can we be filled with the Holy Spirit, which is what we aim to do, if we are filled with ungodly ideas and images? So no, my standards aren't to refuse to be exposed to what I particularly don't like or have an aversion to; in the end it's about honoring God. So no, I would not expect you to refuse to expose yourself to anything you didn't believe in. That's not what I'm saying here at all.
And I am only talking here of my Christian friends, who already claim to believe in God and to want to serve Him. If I DID have an Atheist friend who was offended by my belief that he or she was going to hell without accepting Christ, it might bother me a little, but so be it. Our purpose on this earth is not to walk on eggshells; it is to boldly proclaim the truth and share the gospel to the ends of the earth.
@scrittore@xanga - *shrug* then go for it. but frankly, i say it more for others' benefit than yours. i think your friends are better off without you. they deserve a friend who doesn't think less of them because they have a different idea of what God expects.
@scrittore@xanga - and, i should add, i would imagine it ruins your witnessing to end friendships over religion. if becoming Christian means i'd have to do the same thing, i'd pass in a heartbeat.
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga - Jesus was the Savior of mankind. So comparing yourself to the Savior of mankind is also unhealthy as it is the epitome of arrogance.
People who think they're Napoleon end up in the booby hatch. But if you think you are Jesus maybe you can become an excellent preacher.
@hectoramemnon@xanga - so you're saying that people should refrain from befriending anyone who would be considered a bad influence because, unlike Jesus, they're incapable of controlling their own behavior around such influences? i'm just trying to understand your argument here.
You have obviously chosen to follow Jesus not only with your mind, but also with your heart. You are seeking to follow Jesus by being like Him. That has to please Him. From past associations, most Christians really still only profess Him with their mouths, but their hearts are far from Him. They think they can be with Him forever without making any effort on their part to change and be one with Him. Yes, we all require His forgiveness, His grace, and His sanctifying power to do those things, but He has said that He requires the heart. In fact, He requires our heart, might, mind, and strength. That sounds like everything to me.
I have been fortunate in my church to find that many people are striving to do what you are doing and what I am trying to do. But even so, there are many who are not asking, seeking, and knocking. That doesn't mean they won't try someday, so I try not to judge them. We are all at spiritually different levels, and ultimately, even with the Lord's help, the only person we can really change is ourselves. Persecution, greater or lesser, will follow those who seek to follow Jesus, but love and light will also seek love and light in others. May the Lord always bless you to find this and to be led along the path to greater and greater light in Him.
@lomal@xanga - This is so encouraging! Thank you so much for posting this. God bless you!
@too_pretty_to_die@xanga -You are the one who claims to be Jesus. And I have simply expressed my doubts.
It is plain and simple: God's will for us is sanctification. Those who reject His purity reject Him (not you, and not I).
There aren't many in this world who will be pure- don't be surprised by this. The world is not going to get better before Christ returns, it's going to get worse.
Pray for strength and continue to hold fast to what is good. Guard yourself until the day of His return.
@hectoramemnon@xanga - where did i claim to be Jesus? i simply pointed out that your Messiah doesn't seem to have had the same philosophy of who to spend his time with. there's no need to put words in my mouth, unless it's how you deal with not having a response.
You know what God commands, obviously, and you are concerned about keeping yourself set apart to God. This is something that is so very important. A good way to address that with your friends is to explain that to them. When they engage in those things, let them know that you are not interested in those things because they are not beneficial to the Christian mind.
If they want to argue or give you a hard time break out some scripture and tell them that it isn't a matter of what you or they want, it's a matter of God's command, and breaking God's command is very serious. I encourage you not to budge and to commit it to prayer. This may be a very good chance for the Lord to speak through you to those friends and to call them to something higher in their walk.
Peace and Grace sister.
God will judge in time. I try to keep in mind that some people are more easily tempted.
I had a scenario recently where a young adult group I go to was at someone's house watching the Big Bang Theory. Now I think it's a fantastic show, but one person was very iffy claiming sexual content. Was it her place to announce her views on what is generally a very clean show and wreck the humour for everyone else? I don't think so.
I couldn't care less if someone makes a joke that may be inappropriate. I very much believe in God and His ways, but things like that don't bother me. I'm more bothered by violence.
Maybe it's because I'm into nursing and sexual stuff is well, that and nothing more...? I don't know.
I think you can still joke about things God made that are pure. Do I think it can get excessive? Yes. But would I throw all the good out with the odd bad thing? No. I also believe God created us as intelligent beings who can DISCERN.
Also I think the traditional view of "bad language" as swearing needs to take a look back to the Bible about what is inappropriate- Cursing one another is wrong. Using a swear word in an appropriate context...I don't think God cares whether we say fuck or fudge- I mean really, people, we all know what you mean. :/
Tried to keep that short, hope I make sense. I think the general idea is that people need to expand what the Bible considers as wrong from "sex, drugs, and bad words" to "gossip, slander, lust, idolatry, violence"...and as much as we need to keep ourselves pure, we have to keep ourselves pure for a REASON- to be different, but more importantly MAKE A DIFFERENCE in, if I were to be frank, shitty world!
You know I have the same problem. I'm not Christian, but I have an aversion to sexual innuendos, with porn, etc. I don't say anything when I'm around people that make such comments, I sometimes make a face but I stay silent and just try to steer away from things like that. My case is a little different because I don't know why it bothers me so much. Maybe because I was raised in a more conservative env't? But anyway, my aversion extends to things like mentioning what you are going to go do in the bathroom. Like seriously, how about you just say you need to use the bathroom and go? I really don't need or want to know if its a #1/#2. ugh. But yeah people will say you are a prude or immature etc but it's like really though? How mature is it to put sex and "fucking" in front of everyone in your everyday language? It's not. People have their own views on sex, but damn, keep it to yourself.
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 - "Test all things
test all things
amen
thank you. @Movere@xanga -