It's Not Funny

​I dare say that if we would examine our lives and the things we allow in, each and every one of us have something we have allowed into our eye gate, or ear gate that we should not have allowed. Whether it is on accident or on purpose does not matter.

The question then would be are you continuing to allow these things? What do you watch on TV or look at on the computer or even allow yourself to be a part of in a conversation? This is a subject that I believe is very important in our day and age for Christians; however I understand that this will rub some folks the wrong way. As believers the Apostle Paul instructs us to "warn" the brethren. I Corinthians 4:14 "I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you." We MUST be seeking to please our Heavenly Father and bring Honor and Glory to Him in everything we do. We are in a battle (Ephesians 6:12) and we must be warning others (I Thes 5:14) of the sin and dangers they have fallen into.

Take the time to think about the things in your life. Does what you allow in your life line up with the Bible? TV shows and movies have either an emphasis or blatant immoral relationships outside of marriage or infidelity in a marriage, cursing, homosexuality....you name it. Yet, because it's not the "main" focus of the show and its' only one small portion you continue to watch it. Even secular music like rock and country contain messages that are sinful. What are the messages in these songs? What God calls an abomination is today's entertainment! The more you allow these things into your life, the more you WILL become desensitized (having been made less likely to feel shock or distress at scenes of cruelty or suffering by overexposure to such images) towards them. Pride right now tells you, "No it doesn't," but it does. What we watch and listen to affects our heart, it's impossible to separate the two.

Think about the things Christians will find humor in and joke about or laugh at. It's not funny to joke about your spouse having a boyfriend or girlfriend. It's not funny to joke about someone being gay. It's not funny to laugh at the sins of others, and it's not funny to joke about going to Hell. How does this separate us from the world? How does this help edify and uplift our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ? It doesn't, it brings them down.

The warnings are in the Bible Psalm 101:3 "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." It's all in this one verse. Don't put evil before your eyes! Don't hang around with those that do! I will not allow it to be a part of my life!

Have you ever gotten in a swimming pool and when you first stepped in it was cold and honestly you wanted to get out, but because your family and friends were around you didn't want to look weak, so you continued in. You go a little farther to your knees, then your waist, each time cold but now you are getting use to it!

Are you seeing the point here? It is the same with sin and being desensitized to sin. The longer you let it in the less it affects you. My plea to Christians is to examine everything you allow in. Is it in line with God's standard of purity and holiness? If not, get it out of your life now before it grows anymore! If you see it but don't know how to get rid of it, seek counsel from your Pastor. Don't be afraid or ashamed of what he might think. He will be happy to help you and see you thrive in your fellowship with the Lord!

- Shannon Grandinetti, Women's Missionary Fellowship Director, Sharon Baptist Church