I did some research and found a study that included 12,775 Christians. One of the questions they were asked to respond to was: "I look at things I should not look at." This could encompass an actual person, a TV show, a website, a romance novel, etc. (It could also possibly encompass your daughter's diary, but I doubt that's what came to most participants' minds.) It shows that 87% of Christian women admit to looking at things they shouldn't. Check out this chart ... surprised?
The crux of the issue here is undisciplined eyes, maybe we'll talk more about that in a later post.
AmyT wanted to know if the sermon series will be posted on the web. Yes, it will be, but not until later in March. Email me around then Amy and I can send you a link.
Another commenter writes, "I noticed that we can no longer request that we be notified anytime there is a comment posted on a particular subject. Also noticed that we no longer can remove a post in the event we accidentally post twice. What happened?" I don't know what happened. I'm rather blog illiterate, actually.
Can anyone else out there help us out with this??
I find it interesting that so many responded as "never" viewing something they shouldn't. I could include some commercials in the area of "things I should not look at" but am sure most wouldn't think of that, and I'm sure many would find it acceptable to read their daughters' diary ; ). All in all, I have started to be more discretionary about the things I read and watch. I used to read books that would be classified as suspense/mystery but found myself becoming more fearful of things that could happen to myself or my family and less trusting God. Try to remind myself to think of what is good, right, true and noble instead (Phil 4 I believe). got to run, little ones need me. Thanks for the posts/discussions - found so many of the comments thought provoking.
ReplyDeleteOh, just wanted to add, after I posted I had the option to get follow up comments emailed to me. My guess, if you posted anonymously that wouldn't be an option and probably deleting a post wouldn't be an option either.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to follow up and leave one of my favorite verses for refocusing our minds in any intellectual temptation:
ReplyDelete"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
I'm posting anonymous to see if that is the case.
ReplyDeleteI am more careful about the things that I watch and even listen to as well. We should be.
ReplyDeleteWhat a smart cookie. :) Angie figured it out. I posted to see and sure enough you cannot delete if you post anonymous.
Why wouldn't this be the situation for human women in this culture? We are still in these human bodies with all our hormones, passions, etc. Isn't the Bible clear that we will all be tempted as long as we live?
ReplyDeleteWe live and breathe the "process" of Holy Spirit working in us. I am much kinder on myself about temptations that I used to be when I was stiff religious church-lady. That is helping me pull on God to strengthen me so that I don't give in to temptations.
Sexual lust gets a different warning than other sins in the Bible. To my knowledge that is the only sin that Ap.Paul said to flee from. Flee to me means leave anything attached to it as soon as possible. Comtemplate and think it through once I've left the place of temptation. Flee!!!
Anyone, Christian or not, can be subject to lust, and from your graph, that's evident.
ReplyDeleteI think when Christian women fall into this category of succumbing to lust, it can be a little harder to get out of, because up until recently, it's become a taboo subject. Praise God, it is being addressed more and more, so that women (and men) can become free.
There is a really good book called "Every woman's battle", as well as "Every man's battle." It talks about things we may not even see as stumbling blocks.
A very good book, and it goes to show just how many "good Christian women" (as your commenter said) really do struggle with these issues.
There is a scripture in Matthew that says the eye is the light of the body...that if the "eye" is dirty, the body is dirty (paraphrase, of course, but found in Matthew 6:22-23). When I became a Christian at the age of 28, all I knew was the world; parties, drinking, drugs, and one night stands was my lifestyle. The Lord gave me that scripture and taught me to pray for pure eyes. I prayed for pure eyes every time my mind started encouraging my eyes to look longer. It got me through a tough time. The poll results kind of shocked me though...I've always been told men are more interested in the physical than women.
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel,
ReplyDeleteI know that this does relate to the subject of this post, however, I feel that it is something that we all need to be aware of. Perhaps you could address it as one of your monthly observations.
Oprah has been endorsing these books on her show and we need to make the public aware of the damage they can do to Chrisitan children.
If you have children or grand-children, work with children at church, or you have neighborhood children whose parents you know, please take note of the information below and pass it along to others. Schools are distributing this book to children through the Scholastic Book Club.
The name of the book is Conversations with God.. James Dobson talked about this book twice this week. It is devastating.Parents, churches and Christian schools need to be aware of it. Please pass this information on to
Church/e-mail addresses, Parents, Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, friends.
Please pay special attention not only to what your kids watch on TV, in movie theaters, on the internet, and the music they listen to, but also be alert regarding the books they read.
Two particular books are, Conversations with God and Conversations with God for Teens, written by Neale D. Walsch. They sound harmless enough by their titles alone. The books have been on the New York Times best sellers list for a number of weeks, and they make truth of the statement, "Don't judge a book by its cover or title.
The author purports to answer various questions asked by kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase,)When a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was 'born that way' because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with brown eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.
Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"
His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."
Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged."
Not only are these books the false doctrine of the devil, but in some instances quote (in error) the Word of God.
And the list goes on. These books (and others like it) are being sold to schoolchildren through (The Scholastic Book Club), and we need to be aware of what is being fed to our children.
The children of our nation are under attack. So I pray that you be sober and vigilant abou t teaching your children the Word of God, and guarding their exposure to worldly mediums, because our adversary, the devil, roams about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). We know that lions usually hunt for the slowest, weakest and YOUNGEST of its prey.
Pass this on to every Believer you know. And, if you are in doubt, check out the books yourself.
Thank you Rachel. With your help, perhaps we can put a major dent in the circulation of these books, as well as public awareness as to their content.
Through His glory,
Karyl
Bonners Ferry, ID