Time for a Change

[Marvin D.]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum...

Violence. Strong language. Perverted immoral acts. Hardcore music. Rock songs. That's what's in the 21st century. And while we say that we, as Christians, aren't part of it, we are. More than we think. We'll sit around and listen to heavy metal music, and say it's Christian because the lyrics--which half the time we can't hear well because of the music--are somewhat Christian, or not even very much. We watch movies like Harry Potter and say it's merely entertainment. And then there are nonbelievers who know that watching it is wrong. Old values are being removed little by little. The church's music is being changed bit by bit. (For example, some churches sing Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace more than the original). We'll sit around and watch movies filled with bad words, and enjoy it just because of the plot. It seems like the meaning of the verse, "Abstain from ALL appearances of evil." It seems like witchcraft and sorcery was evil. Why do we watch Harry Potter? If Harry himself were to live back in the days of the Bible, he'd have to be put to death by law. How come we can't remember those rules?

And even if you skip by all this, I had an interesting conversation with someone who we'll call...Tyler. It was after I'd asked him what he had against a certain person. His response was "Because he's an [censored]." Sooner or later the conversation turned to the fact about Christians. He wanted to know what was different about Christians. But before I had a chance to answer, he went on to say that we weren't any different. We watched the same movies the [censored] (referring to the nonbelievers), used bad words, listened to the same sort of music, with mildly disguised lyrics, or we even listen to the same thing. He said there was no difference with listening to 'rock' music if we did the same thing. Then he went on to talk about Harry Potter, and how we watched it too. Tyler ended up leaving. Now he thinks that there's no point in joining "the [censored] hypocritical Christians].

We have to make a change, people. If we start here, think of the difference we can make. If we live a godly example, show that we're different, think of what can happen. Are we willing to make the change? Are we willing to stop listening to the hardcore music, stop watching the movies which aren't good for us? Are we ready for a change?

[Fez]

Grace, I live under Grace.

[Guest man]

Matthew 7

21

[wyguy]

Are we ready for a change?

I know I sure am!

"Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na

Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na

Autumn turns to winter,

And winter turns to spring.

It doesn't go just for seasons you know,

It goes for everything.

The same is true for voices,

When boys begin to grow.

You gotta take a lesson from Mother Nature,

And if you do you'll know.

[chorus]

When it's time to change, then its time to change

Don't fight the tide, come along for the ride, don't you see

When it's time to change, you've got to rearrange

who you are into what you're gonna be.

Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na

Sha na na na, na na na na na, sha na na na na

Day by day, it's hard to see the changes you've been through

A little bit of living, a little bit of growing all adds up to you

Every boy's a man inside, a girl's a woman too

And if you wanna reach your destiny, here's what you've got to do

[chorus]Autumn turns to winter,

And winter turns to spring.

It doesn't go just for seasons you know,

It goes for everything.

The same is true for voices,

When boys begin to grow.

You gotta take a lesson from Mother Nature,

And if you do you'll know."

[Dak]

I understand what you are saying, and I generally agree with you... but...

What about the fact that though we are not of this world, we are still in the world?

There were times in my life when I tried forsaking the things you mentioned... and God became the number one in my life.

But later on... he "brought me back" -- not like the way it was before, of course -- but still in the world.

Because God trusts me that the world will not again take his place as my number one priority in life.

For I now know the truth, and the world can never blind me again....

This has been my personal experience, and I cannot yet say that this is really biblical....

But the answer that I am getting from God is this:

He has put me "in the world" so that I can really understand the lost. So that I can bring them to Christ.

For example, I listen to rock music, but I also try to understand the lives of those who sing and write those songs....

And I watch worldly movies, but again, it is also to try to understand the lives of the characters being portrayed... To try to understand the ways and thinking of this fallen world....

And I admit it, being "in the world" makes me sin more than if I am purposely trying not to be in the midst of it....

But like Fez said, I too live under grace. And I can only trust God's love for me. Trust his plans for me.

[georgedrw81]

We are spreading His Word even though at times it may not seem so.

Blessings

[RGR]

I'm not sure if this is the right forum...

Violence. Strong language. Perverted immoral acts. Hardcore music. Rock songs. That's what's in the 21st century. And while we say that we, as Christians, aren't part of it, we are. More than we think. We'll sit around and listen to heavy metal music, and say it's Christian because the lyrics--which half the time we can't hear well because of the music--are somewhat Christian, or not even very much. We watch movies like Harry Potter and say it's merely entertainment. And then there are nonbelievers who know that watching it is wrong. Old values are being removed little by little. The church's music is being changed bit by bit. (For example, some churches sing Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace more than the original).

Hey, Marvin!!! You make some good points, some I agree with and some I don't.

The first 3 are a problem obviously. Violence in movies and games has became too extreme; gone are the days when a bad guy on the A-Team was never killed or even injured by a machine gun bullet. Gone are the days when The Lone Ranger would wing a guy with his gun. I know some would argue that such things were cartoonish and unrealistic, but I would argue that violence is too extreme now and it's a bad influence. Many of these shows/games are filled with strong language and perverted immoral acts as well ruining what could be a good story line.

Hardcore music? Well, I prefer not to bang my head on a wall lol!!!! I don't understand the purpose of listening to music that one can't understand. I really don't understand saying such music is Christian. I'll perhaps find disagreement on this issue with some of my Worthy family, but how can you praise God when you can't understand the lyrics? I'm fine with Christian rap and a lot of other Christian music sub-genres, but I don't understand Christian screamo!!! I LOVE Chris Tomlin's version of Amazing Grace!!! I find nothing wrong with singing it no more than I find singing "I Saw The Light," written by country singer Hank Williams, wrong.

I'm not much on the Harry Potter thing either, but I won't condemn anyone who watches it, nor will I argue that it's wrong. It's something my kids haven't watched and haven't seemed to have a desire to do so. However, I wonder if we go to extremes (and I'm not saying you have, brother) if we would throw out one of my favorite movies, Snow White and the Three Stooges because it has a witch in it?

We'll sit around and watch movies filled with bad words, and enjoy it just because of the plot. It seems like the meaning of the verse, "Abstain from ALL appearances of evil." It seems like witchcraft and sorcery was evil. Why do we watch Harry Potter? If Harry himself were to live back in the days of the Bible, he'd have to be put to death by law. How come we can't remember those rules?

We'd also be ostracized for having a bacon sandwich!!!! Witchcraft is a sin no doubt, but that was the Old Testament as far as "not suffering a witch to live." The New Testament makes it clear it's a sin, but we're also under grace.

And even if you skip by all this, I had an interesting conversation with someone who we'll call...Tyler. It was after I'd asked him what he had against a certain person. His response was "Because he's an [censored]." Sooner or later the conversation turned to the fact about Christians. He wanted to know what was different about Christians. But before I had a chance to answer, he went on to say that we weren't any different. We watched the same movies the [censored] (referring to the nonbelievers), used bad words, listened to the same sort of music, with mildly disguised lyrics, or we even listen to the same thing. He said there was no difference with listening to 'rock' music if we did the same thing. Then he went on to talk about Harry Potter, and how we watched it too. Tyler ended up leaving. Now he thinks that there's no point in joining "the [censored] hypocritical Christians].

Marvin, some people are looking for an excuse, any excuse, not to become a Christian. I'm afraid this is what Tyler is doing. I'm sure there are Christians who use curse words, but I'd hope it would be few and far between. And just because someone listens to secular music doesn't make them non-Christian. If he had as an example those who never went to movies, never listened to secular music, etc. his excuse would be "they're a bunch of fuddy-duddys, never having fun and I don't want to be a part of that."

We have to make a change, people. If we start here, think of the difference we can make. If we live a godly example, show that we're different, think of what can happen. Are we willing to make the change? Are we willing to stop listening to the hardcore music, stop watching the movies which aren't good for us? Are we ready for a change?

See above.

[Marvin D.]

@Fez--We all do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't not do anything.

@man--I don't exactly understand what you mean.

@wyguy--.....

@Dakilang--True, but that's why we need to be different.

@George--That's also true, and that's the main reason why we need to examine how we live.

@RGR--I'm not here to debate, in fact, I planned just to post my topic and not debate, but I didn't want to seem like a coward by....well, not answering. I'm not saying, on the Harry Potter line, to go to the extreme. Isn't in Harry Potter witchcraft portrayed as even good at points? And I don't find anything inherently wrong with Amazing Grace by Tomlin, but my friend was saying that in her chuch, they sang it more than the oringinal version. And what's so wrong with tradition that you can't keep it, I wonder. And we are under grace, but if witchcraft is bad, its starting to sound more like we're using grace as the ticket to keep us safe from danger. And I didn't say have no fun either, just a different sort of fun. I mean, you can do things without living a total boredome life.

And with that, I apologize if I have offended anyone's feelings, since I spoke my mind, and I shall exit.

[Believer1997]

Hello Marvin and welcome.

In a forum - there will always be ideas presented and people will offer their opinions and thoughts - often debate. I agree with some of your comments and have no firm ideas on others...

Hope you enjoy your time here discussing things that are important to all of us.

[Guest]

.... I didn't say have no fun either, just a different sort of fun. I mean, you can do things without living a total boredome life.

And with that, I apologize if I have offended anyone's feelings, since I spoke my mind, and I shall exit.

Hit And Run?

Nah, Stay And Enjoy The Fun!

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17