Got a tongue lashing from our pastor today

LisaTX · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 12:45 am

We know when he asks if he can be brutally honest and tells us to get our "big boy pants" on, that we better fasten our seat belts! We are STILL in the book of Acts and were reading from Ch. 19 today, where everyone was worshiping the goddess Artemis and they had the attitude of "Everyone else is doing it".

He said he has been disturbed by the number of Christian women at church who have been justifying reading the book "50 Shades of Grey" and watching the movie "Magic Mike". They justify it by saying "I have the freedom in Christ to do these things". I have no desire to read that book or watch that movie, but I felt convicted about other things I've read/watched.

It's funny, when I first became a Christian, I easily got rid of the movies, books, music, etc. that I thought God wouldn't want me to have. I didn't want anything to do with that stuff anymore. Now, I sometimes find myself playing the "freedom" card. Somehow, I wonder if those verses are being misapplied and used as an excuse to do whatever we want, even when the Bible makes it clear that we shouldn't be doing it.

Darla · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 1:09 am

Good for your pastor! I agree, the "freedom card" can be very dangerous to our souls. It's really okay that God expects something of us -- and not just something, but quite a lot. Thanks for posting.

LindaS · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:00 am

Doing this again , our computer has been loging out before I finish a post sometimes.

I myself would not read that book or go see that movie.
I got rid of dvd's that I know God wouldnot want us to be seeing.

What will you be doing when Christ returns, is it something that is pleasing to him.?
Your pastor seems to believe that neither are pleasing to God and I agree.

Women in our church take their children to see adult movies, elementary children, that is not pleasing to God,
Adult women drool over the ugly teen vampire in Twilight. Come on be an adult, Our pastor has brought that up several times.

He also gets all over the men for not putting a stop to it, and they wonder why their marriages are falling apart.

Yes it is your choice, but what would God think.
JHMO

Briva · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 9:51 am

Me and dh usually take turns taking our 15yo out to the movies. The last time out it was my turn and I took her to see Brave. Its a cartoon, but I wouldnt have taken dd if she was under 12. We got to talk about the 'spiritual' aspects of the movie which bothered me. The ancient tribes that wandered the British isles came up with all sorts of legends about fairies, spirits, etc. The movie had a positive message about pride.

Dh was supposed to take dd out this Fri, but there were NO movies appropriate. So they visited one of dd's friends and fellowshipped with the parents, too.

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

Great point from your Pastor!

Mom used to always talk about the "modern" card. You know, get with the times, your ways are old fashioned type of arguments.

She said that she was quite certain that while the Children of Israel were dancing around the golden calf, they were proclaiming how modern they were and how old fashioned Moses was.

Something to think about.

Jenileigh · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:18 pm

Again, I feel as though I'm always seeing things from a different perspective. When I first came to Christ it wasn't hard for me to stop smoking, drinking and doing drugs. All of that was easy for me. I gladly gave them up to serve my Lord. BUT I still have other issues. I feel if you feel convicted NOT to read or watch don't but it certainly is not up to any of us to say to someone else that they shouldn't. It's the Holy Spirit's place to convict. I just think that we get tied up in too much controversy over anything. Living in todays world is tough.

I know new Christians just saved that are still battling smoking, drugs and drinking. I don't preach to them or condemn them or tell them how wrong they are or that they are going to hell because of it. They are on their own journey with Christ with their own relationship with Christ and they are growing and will get there. Maybe they will never quit smoking, maybe for them its a bad habit but not a sin. The same argument could go with tattoos. We do NOT know people's hearts.

One of the biggest things that I seen on my fb when Magic Mike came out was how a godly woman wouldn't be there. BUT the same congregation was quick to say, "Well if you see me at the movie theatre we are going to see Brave NOT Magic Mike." Really? What's the difference? One is sex and one is witchcraft.

Some of us are further in our walk than others. Some feel convicted and others don't.

I just wish I seen more love between Christians and less judgement. Laws, rules, condemnation and and organized religion drive more people away from the love of Christ than to Him.

I seen the movie Magic Mike and I'm reading the trilogy of 50 shades. To me, they are no different than Dirty Dancing, Pretty Woman, Footloose, or Song of Solomon and the story of Hoseah, and books by the Christian author Francine Rivers.

There are just very few people who can say, well I choose not to watch, read or do this or that and NOT turn around and justify something they feel is RIGHT according to God when it's no different.

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

I'll try to put this as gently as I can, but this is how I see these things, Jenileigh. Please forgive me if I fall short in that attempt.

Ultimately, God judges each of our hearts.

But, too often the modern trend not to "judge others" may not be the most loving choice.

The Scriptures say to "Speak the Truth in Love" (Eph 4:15) we are also *Commanded by Christ* to rebuke others for sin (Like 17:3)

We definitely have to be patient with others, and allow them to mature at their own rate, and not hate them for their sins.

But, that is very different from pretending sins are good.

Too often, when we say "*I* would NEVER do x, but it is okay with me if my neighbor does it" what we are really saying is "I don't want to suffer the painful consequences of sin, but it is okay with me if my neighbor suffers that pain."

We must remember that God's commandments are for our happiness and well-being - if we don't warn others of their self-destructive behaviour, (as led by the Holy Spirit, and gently, in God's Love, not in harshness), then we are allowing them to be hurt while we sit by, apathetic, having our own happy lives.

In our Church, we often say that "It is not "Jesus and ME" but "Jesus and US" "- we cannot love God, but not love our neighbor enough to want what is best for him or her, and take action to help him or her (Gal 6:1).

LisaTX · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:37 pm

I really liked my pastor's perspective because he has gotten onto the men about p*rn many times because he struggled with it himself. He said you do not even want to touch that stuff with a 10 ft pole or dabble in it at all. Now was his turn to get onto the women about the same thing. It is refreshing that there are still pastors that look after their flock and warn them of stuff to stay away from. Women would be mad at their husbands for watching movies like this and gushing over them, but they justify going themselves. I just found out they are calling movies and books like these "Mommy p*rn".

About Twilight and the "Twi-moms", my supervisor in the AF was in her 30's and totally gushing over the main wolf character in Twilight. I thought it was so gross because she was way older than him and he was just a kid.

My pastor also said if we think 50 Shades of Grey is not having any influence or effect on people, we're wrong. Adult stores are having a huge increase in sales of the items that are described in the book.

I read a couple good articles about this online:

http://pastorhoagie.wordpress.com/2012/ ... agic-mike/

http://voices.yahoo.com/magic-mike-50-s ... html?cat=9

From what I've heard of Magic Mike, it sounds like a movie NO Christian should be at. It doesn't sound like there's anything redeeming to it. I wish more Christian women were speaking out against it and saying this is not the kind of "entertainment" we want.

Anna1111 · **Joined:** Sat Jun 30, 2012 7:14 pm **Posts:** 8115

I have to admit to complete ignorance about the movies in question (even Brave! - and if anyone can tell me the pros/cons of Brave, I'd appreciate it, as my little one may want to watch it one day, and I like to know in advance).

But, anything the popular press describes as P*rn definitely gives me pause.

Jenileigh · **Posted:** Mon Aug 06, 2012 3:45 pm

But my point is that what movie or book out there does have anything redeeming in it. It's like Christians hating gays. What is godly about that? Singling out sin is wrong and the bible also says that to say that you have no sin is sin itself. My point is more about loving people where they are and addressing our own selves and worrying less about others sins. I believe that if you are saved you will go to Heaven, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus. He didn't have to jump through hoops or be baptized to go to heaven. And being one that has seen the movie I could ask, what movies have you seen? I'm sure the sin is just as thick. What books do you read? No one in todays culture refrains from all forms of entertainment. I'm not trying to say that these things are right, I'm saying he without sin cast the first stone.

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