What You Put In, Is What You'll Get Out....

This subject is on a personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves....
Is is wrong to watch that movie with questionable scenes in it? Is is wrong to listen to the music you listen to? Is it wrong to watch those reality shows on MTV, that you love? (OK... I was talking about myself there!! I love those shows!) Is it wrong to hang out with the friends that you do? How about drinking? Is it wrong to drink, and how much drinking is acceptable? Sex... We all know that sex before marriage is wrong, but what about other sexual things? Where do you draw the line on right and wrong?
These are questions that only you can answer for yourself, based on your convictions, and what these things produce in your life.
What I have come to learn, and this is only MY opinion, is that some of these things aren't wrong, in themselves... I don't believe that I'm going to hell, because I spend a lazy day on Saturday, watching reruns of the reality shows on MTV. But the question is, what do these things produce in your life? Do they bring you closer to God? Do they keep you encouraged, when you're having a hard day? Do they help you in making the right decisions? Some of these things, again, in my opinion, aren't necessarily sins, but they don't help you towards your goal, of staying on the path God has for you. What I mean by this is spending your free time in the Bible, in church, listening to church service CD's or christian music in the car, is putting good things in, that keep your focus on God. Than when you face a hard time, a decision you have to make, a temptation, you are already built up, and filled with the things of God, and can draw from the good, positive things you have put in. Having spent your drive to work listening to Lil Wayne (my temptation!), is not going to help you, when you all of the sudden are having a bad day at work! On the other hand, if you had spent that drive to work listening to your favorite pastor speak, you'll have the strength and peace of the word of God to draw from, when facing that hard day. Does that make sense?
Watching a movie with a question scene in it... How will putting that into your mind effect how you will handle the temptations of staying pure, sexually? Having friends that aren't christians, is not a sin... But the amount of time you spend around those that don't believe as you do, you're eventually going to fall into the place where you start to become numb to the characteristics of these friends, and start to maybe compromise your values, little by little. What you surround yourself with, is what you will eventually become.
"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8
It's not "wrong" to listen to a song on the radio, or a show on TV, etc. But just watch out for what you put into your mind, on a constant, daily basis. Try to surround yourself with things that are good, and pure, and help you to stay positive, at peace, and strengthened, because life is hard. There is a constant fight going on, to bring you down, and keep you down. Filling yourself with the things of God will give you weapons to pull from, when fighting this fight. Just something to think about! XOXO!