Questions

Today I'm full of questions, seeking answers and there don't seem to be any easy, formatted responses. My son wanted to see a movie with a friend a while back. When we looked at a review it indicated that there was some sexually inappropriate content and swearing including blasphemy.
So my husband and I in agreement with each other told him 'no'. He was livid. To his credit he did listen to us but didn't speak to us again until well into the next day.
At church the topic came up with someone who had seen the movie and confirmed the content that had caused me concern, but with very little concern or conviction on their part. Their children of the same age had seen it too.

Herein lies my first question.
If I feel that this is wrong for my son to see, is it wrong for everyone? Is it the same as in the Bible when Paul tells us not to get all hung up about not tasting and not touching? Is it the same as me not drinking alcohol in front of someone who struggles with it? Is it the same issue as not causing someone to sin by your example?

Another question follows. If God tells us something is wrong in His Word, do we need to pray about it or just obey what He says, not needing specific revelation on the topic as He's already dealt with it?

When God says in His Word to 'flee the appearance of evil' what did He mean? What is evil and how do we flee it?
Do we shelter ourselves and those we love, especially children with impressionable minds from as much sin as possible. Do we avoid opportunities for them to be introduced to what is in the world or do we gradually and gently introduce them so that they will know how to navigate the world once they are of age?
Are we called to navigate the world once we're old enough? Or are we called to come out from them and be separate. God chastised the Israelites when they assimilated into the culture they lived in. How then shall we live?
Are our children in danger in this culture if they are naive to what it offers? Yes! So how do we teach them to live in the world but not of it.
How much swearing in books and movies is too much? How much is acceptable? When does it become evil? If there are sexual inferences in the movies are we to be content and blind to the impact it has on us? Are we to think that our young people are above these influences when their minds are still forming and they don't fully understand the consequences of their actions.
What does God mean when He says "Be holy as I Am Holy?"
What does He mean when He says "Without Holiness you. can. not. see. God." ?

How many of us are like the frog in the pot. It's getting mighty warm in here, a little humid even, but we can't even see it.
What makes us different? Our statistics are the same as the 'world'.

What makes our Christian organizations and schools different when some of the books and music being offered are the same as what you'd get in the public school. Some of those may be okay. And some are not. Is anybody awake?
We are supposed to be different! And as I say that I keep my fingers carefully tucked in so not one is pointing at anyone else, otherwise the other 9 would be pointing straight back at me.

But how shall we live? It's not just in the not tolerating movies, books or music that pollute our minds. It's asking the question about who is my first love.
Jesus rebuked the church of Ephesus (Rev. 2:4) because they had left their first love. So I ask myself when I am tempted, just to sleep a bit longer instead of sitting with Jesus before my day explodes into activity, can I, will I say..."I love You more."
He has already completed everything on the cross, but in some ways it seems that we are choosing cheap grace and excusing our choices for unholiness.
God, will you show us how to live and give us the grace we need to understand that we don't need to work anymore? You have done it all. But help us not to spend that grace on less than You had in mind. Reducing your sacrifice to a blanket covering for whatever we're unwilling to give up. In Jesus Name. Amen

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Moody Skies

I could hear this morning's sky coming down before I even threw the sheets back. Slipping quietly into joggers and out the door, leaving family sleeping I was greeted by the canopy above angry in swirls of black and grey, broad streaks of temper stretched across the palette, matching my mood. It was stale, not moving. A movie on pause at the dark part. Rumblings and flashing bursting out and retreating. Rimmed on the east side by a red sore. Sun rising on the wrath sky like Jesus exposing the unforgiveness stored in this angry heart.
I've got to be honest. Too much hiding behind the proper English upper lip and 'fine thank you, how are you.'    Not always fine actually. Too much stuffed and not worked out. Not sure how to in the middle of attempts at perfection and appearances and that vain seeking to fill the bottomless chalice of approval. Drink it down and the thirst remains, dry, edgy and insecure. Too personal yes. But write it out and maybe the honesty will ease the need. Maybe there's a place of peace where the hunger's filled and the pastures stretch green forever. Maybe even as I write  there'll come a place where it won't matter if anyone likes these words or not, because I'll just be content to let them loose on the page slipping out of me into the blue of His will and where He'll send them, if anywhere and if He likes them that's all that really matters anyway.

Sometimes honesty's too naked, but I think it may be where the healing begins.