Monday night was the last part of a class at church called, “Entertaining Demons Unaware.” The class was so enlightening, profound, thought-provoking, and touched my spirit in ways that I am still processing them. It was about entertainment and media and how it affects us spiritually in ways we don’t even imagine, how it steals from our children, hardens our hearts and affects our relationship with God. Not to mention, what is happening in the USA mirrors the downfall of Rome … scary! But, not surprising considering, “What has been done will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” Ecclesiates 1:9. There is so much that instead of writing my thoughts, I will share a few of the teachers thoughts and some pointed questions to ponder ….
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained (to host) angels unaware.” Hebrews 13:2 … Is it possible that I entertain demons unaware, as well?
You become like what you worship.
Demons taste in entertainment: nudity, lust, murder, deception, violence, hatred, incest, adultery, depression …. We are subtly “entertained” by demonic qualities. For example, soap operas, romance novels, pornography, slasher movies, MTV … the character traits portrayed in these things are NOT character traits of God.
Demons cannot come into your home without your permission.
Our participation in sin and enjoyment of depravity brings honor to demons!
Children WILL imitate what they watch and are entertained by ... what am I setting my children up to imitate? Who is training up my child?
Do we mean to entertain demons? No, we think we are just “relaxing” ... while we are actually entertaining the character of demons.
It is not just about lust, it is about changing your whole attitude toward purity. Desensitization!
“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, too, you cannot have a part in both the Lord’s table and the table of demons.” I Cor. 1:21
“It is nothing but folly, nothing but pitiable aberration, to humble yourself before a being whom you would hate to resemble in the conduct of your life and to worship one who you would refuse to imitate. For surely the supremely important thing in religion is to model oneself on the object of one’s worship.” St. Augustine on theatre around 400 B.C.
Great rules of thumb:
1. Don’t be entertained by something I wouldn’t imitate in public!
2. Remember, I live in this world, but I am not of it.
3. Ask yourself, “Would God, who is sitting next to me, be watching this movie or t.v. show?”
I am convicted to think ever more carefully about what I allow in my children's hearts and minds. Even "funny" shows deliver messages that I do not want them, or myself for that matter, to be imitating. It's about guarding our hearts ... "Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23
"Lord, teach me love what you love and hate what you hate and be aware that what I am worshipping reveals my heart. May it be pure for you. And, Father, help me to be vigilant in protecting my children, Your children's, hearts. In Jesus name, Amen."
