Café Chat April 11th 2009

THE MR. LINKY IS CORRECT NOW...

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
Finally, brothers, 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.

Hello “Café Community”! Thanks so much for hanging in there with us while our technical problems were fixed. I was so happy to see so many of you participate in last week’s Chat too. I hope to offer a challenge to you weekly with the questions I present, but I wanted to make it known that your answers challenge me as well.

Well, it will come as no surprise to those of you who regularly participate in the “Café Chat” meme that this week’s question was inspired by a situation that happened to me last Friday. I will try to give you just enough background so that my question makes sense to you.

One of my biggest struggles of my past was an addiction to television, movies, and the whole entertainment scene in general. Over the last several years the Lord has taken me on a path to get rid of this idol in my life. Even today I can’t say I am totally free, but I am getting closer everyday with the Lord’s leading.

Today I do not watch a lot of movies or at least certain types of movies as part of my personal conviction. On the other hand, my husband who doesn’t struggle in this area will watch a movie from time to time. This Friday my husband watched a movie that he had been wanting to see for a long time. I wasn’t interested in watching it with him, so I just did chores and wasted some time on my computer.

However, with my past of being drawn to movies I ended up sitting down by my husband and began watching the movie with him. This particular movie in the world’s opinion was pretty clean. It hardly had any swearing in it, and the s_x scenes were tame by today’s standards. But as I watched the movie, I remembered the world’s standards are not God’s standards, and the verse at the top of this post came to my mind… “Whatever is pure, whatever is lovely…” I felt the Lord’s conviction, and in my heart I knew I was sinning by watching this movie.

Again, the movie was clean in the world’s eyes, but still it had killing and revenge at the heart of the story. To me those things didn’t line up with what Philippians 4:8 says.

After the movie, I told my husband what I was thinking and although my husband doesn’t have an issue with movies and such, he was silent and then agreed with what I had said. I have to keep reminding myself daily that I must measure my life by what God says, and not what the world says, or even what other Christians might say. God must be the final authority in my life.

(Feel free to answer both questions today, if they apply)
So today, I wonder if you have had any experience similar to what I described in my post today. Please give specifics if you can.

Also, if you referred to Philippians 4:8 as a standard, would there be something or some situation you would stop doing, or give up completely? (Or at least begin trying to change with the Lord’s help as I am with the situation I discussed today). As always, specifics are great, but feel free to use generalities.

I am honored to walk this Christian road with you all. Let us strive daily to live the life Jesus has called us to.

Blessings, Kim