Being torn between popular culture and your faith

We are living in a time that was forseen by many of the prophets. I believe that we are at the doorstep of those things which John saw in the book of revelations. Isaiah prophesied of this time also. It is a time when evil has been poured out among all the earth. The Devil is gathering his army and preparing to give battle to the saints. It is a time when those of faith will be tested to their limits.

One thing that is happening is that many faithful are being torn between keeping themselves faithful in standing for all things good; and loving and caring for those closest to them who may be choosing the popular things of the world. Pornography, immorality, and vulgarity, is the way of life for many around us. With the rising numbers of people engaging in pornography and practicing same sex relationships, it is becoming increasingly harder to stand for the truth. Our young people are growing up in a society that is so accepting of sin (especially sexual sin). It is starting to be normal and natural for young people to engage in these sexual sins with no knowledge of it's true identity as sin.

We are becoming a  place like unto Sodom and Gomorrah in the bible (see the book of Genesis) two cities that were destroyed by God because they were so abounding in sexual sin. I would suppose that the children growing up in those cities were also lulled away by the Devil into thinking that sexual sins and perversions were of no consequence and a normal part of life. God very much warned in clear language to the Israelites in Leviticus chapter 18.  In verses 22-24 it says Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is an abomination. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall nay woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things...


It is a hard thing for those who would walk in the spirit of Christ to see so many around them accept and normalize sexual sin. I myself have wrestled with the fact that some of my friends and family who should "know better" being lulled by Satan into thinking that these things are ok for them and their families.  In Galations 5:16-17 it talks about the wrestle between the spirit and the lusts of the flesh and how they cannot co-exist. This I say then, walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary one to the other: so that you cannot do the things that you would.  
  

I read a wonderful article about protecting our children from the evils of pornography. It talked about some things you can do to protect and teach your children. The one action point that caught my attention: call out pornography when you see it. At first I thought, "why would I call attention to that very thing that I want them to avoid, won't that make them more curious and make them want to go to it?" Then my eyes were opened up to it.  They cannot fight something they do not see or know (an imaginary enemy). By calling out immodesty and pornography that we see on the TV or billboards, we are making them aware that THIS IS SIN. They will begin to recognize it as sin for themselves. It is very empowering practice and habit. My children now understand what I am talking about. They recognize sin when they see it. We have started calling out all kinds of sin we see on television. It is amazing. We are severely limiting our exposure to TV because of it.

Watch TV for a moment and begin to call out all the sin you see.  Lying, deceiving, backbiting, disrespectful behaviors, murder, stealing, and the list goes on. About 10 minutes of TV and you won't know what is going on in the show because you are stopping every 20 seconds to call out a sin you see. Things have changed TV today is very different then the time when episodes of Lassie or Andy Griffith show were the main things we watched, where society itself upheld Christian values and taught it to the children. Of course society is very different now, TV and our culture in general teaches the ways of Satan, but God's laws still stand and SIN WILL ALWAYS BE SIN. We have to be aware and teach our children that so many of the things around us that are accepted by others are sin and are not acceptable to us or our God. 

I leave you with the words from 1 Peter chapter 5 verse 8  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.

We must be the ones to teach our children the dangers of the lion when the world would teach them that it is just a harmless playful kitty cat. If this means that you have to stand alone and go against society, so be it. It will all be worth it in the end when you will hear those blessed words "well done thou good and faithful servant!"







P.S. I have included links to two of the most interesting books that I have read lately that have opened my eyes to the severity of the situation. They both have increased my faith, and my resolve to do good. They have deepened my desire to serve God and help others to be strengthened in their own faith.
They are well worth the time to read and study.



The Cleansing of America

Outwitting the Devil: The Secret to Freedom and Success


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