About a week ago I wrote an article on Temptation and I received some comments from Facebook and friends. The discussions were about how difficult the suggestions I made would be to actually implement. I realized that it is easy to list things that people should do when I myself had never done them and never planned to do them.
So last week I decided to implement the plan. I stopped watching all secular movies, television shows and tv series, including all my favorite shows that I watched religiously. I spend more time each day in prayer and study. My wife and I even watch sermons during our morning workout while on the treadmill or bike.
I understand that for me it will be easier than most because we have no children living with us and therefore it remains just two adults to follow the plan. But it was not easy for the first few days regardless. I found that I have an involuntary response to reach for the television remote. There are certain times of the day when it is natural to tune in a show.
However at the end of the first week I believe that my mind is clearer. I understand when the Bible says in Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
To be true disciples of Jesus, you must hate the world and the things of this world. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30. The question is, are the shows and the movies and the music we consume from God, promoting Godly values or not? On the weekend do we serve God and through the week we serve the world and Satan? We fortify our lives with Bible study and church attendance. We even attend Bible study during the week and share our faith with others. Yet we struggle daily with sin. The Bible says that if we resist the devil he will depart from us (James 4:7). Yet the devils attacks seem unrelenting.
Somehow, we must be leaving an opening for sin. Can it be that daily we work contrary to the will of God? Can it be that daily we invite the devil into our homes? Many may feel that our faith is strong regardless to what we watch or listen to. But I suggest that our faith is bound and powerless as our minds are surrendered to the programming of our secular media. “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house.” Matthew 12:29.
There is perhaps another danger in substitution.
For a very long time it was expected that most evenings of the week during dinner we would watch a show. Often it would be the latest installment of one of our many favorite television series.
This past week, we spent our evening watching Christian sermons and programs.
The danger is that both are regarded as entertainment and the act of viewing anything could be 
the habit. There is nothing wrong with watching a sermon, or a Christian movie. However, if it is being done because of habit it may not be as beneficial as you would hope.
For this reason, the second week will aim to limit all media (Christian Video, Christian Movies as well as secular). My aim is to spend the week in reading the Bible and other Christian sources and spend more time in prayer. For those that are taking this journey as well, try enhancing your week with:
- No media. (On Friday evening and Sabbath afternoon I will watch Amazing Facts and 3ABN).
- Spend time with your family without distraction
- Spend more time discussing Bible stories with family
- Spend more time sharing your faith in God (the God of the Bible) with others.
I pray that as you do this, or if you are just following along that you will be blessed and drawn into a closer relationship with our Father in Heaven.
Temptation – Week One
