Approximately twenty years ago, I was given a great opportunity. I was asked to speak to all the teachers and staff of every school in our county. My text was Psalm 127:4, which says, “As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.” I tried to convey to the teachers the great worth of children and the enormous influence each teacher had on those children. That experience led to another opportunity which would allow me to address what I considered to be some of the DANGERS of our day, especially concerning our youth. For this occasion, I titled my message: “Music, Movies, Machines, and Men.” Please consider these very brief comments as I reflect on what I taught two decades ago, before the technology had advanced to its’ present form.
I – Music – I am baffled that so many adults fail to see the danger of “un-Christian” music. You need to hear this – MUSIC HAS A SPIRIT BEHIND IT, IN IT, AND THROUGH IT! I am not talking about Rock or Rap, I am talking about ALL MUSIC. Do not forget, Satan is very subtil. Rock and Rap is not a problem for most serious minded Christians. But there is plenty of music that by comparison appears “safe.” However, a steady diet of that music will lead to a fleshy, carnal, sensual spirit. It is a spirit that invites trouble and hinders the Holy Spirit of God. BEWARE OF UN-CHRISTIAN MUSIC! (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16; 1 Sam.16:23; 2 K. 3:15)
II – Movies – You will rarely see a movie that is not “backed-up” by music! That alone is cause for concern. But beyond that, once again, the subtil nature of our enemy is evident in Hollywood. I am equally baffled on this subject as so many parents allow their children to watch what would have been rated “R” when I was a child. As I hear children talk about the movies they watch, I ask myself if the parents are ignorant (naïve), uncaring, or just lazy! While I would say some are truly ignorant (not realizing the danger), and some may even be uncaring (they just don’t care enough about the spiritual well being of the child), my personal guess is that most of the problem is LAZINESS. Television (including video movies) has become the “baby-sitter” and replaced the instruction of the father and the law of the mother. (Ps.101:3; Lam.3:51; Ezek.23)
III – Machines – When I taught this material twenty years ago, it was a warning about the television and what would now be considered archaic video games. Today, I would have to include computers, dvd players, cell phones, and a list I can’t even spell. I could give you lots of scripture on this subject and address what these “machines” of our day are doing to the minds of our youth, but I’ll simply tell you one of the most obvious problems. Modern technology is working hand in hand with modern society to destroy healthy relationships! People don’t talk, they text. They eat meals while watching television. They sit around with their ears plugged with something coming out of one of these machines. What might be a decent tool (like a cell phone) is usually nothing but a toy. America has too many toys! And we don’t own them, they own us! (2 Tim.3:4; Luke 8:14; Deut. 8:11-14 and 28:47.)
IV – Men – A wise man once said you can tell a lot about a society by the people they esteem. Psalm 12:8 says, “The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted.” The heroes of our colonial days in America were military heroes and spiritual heroes. Today, in a society that loves pleasure more than God, our heroes are athletes, musicians, and movie stars! And most of them are vile – morally very loose! What has all this produced to this point and what will it produce in the future? Time will tell, but for certain, we are seeing the development of the most SELF-centered, lazy, dependant, shallow society that America has ever known. (Ps.12:8; Pr.24:1 and 28:7; 2 Chron.19:2; 1 Cor.15:33 and Ezek.11:12).
America is in serious trouble. God’s people have become so “entangled” in the affairs of this life, that now many of them don’t even see the dangers. May God help us to “look unto Jesus” and may the things of this earth grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace!
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