It's not a sin, but does that make it right?

A few years ago, when I was a fairly new Christian, I felt convicted by the type of books I read and the movies I watched, so much so that I threw away over 300 hundred books. I threw away all of my R.L. Stine books, I threw away my Robert Jordan, Wheel of Time books, my Harry Potter my Twilight books. I threw them away instead of donating them because I reasoned that if these books are bad for my soul, then they must be bad for everyone’s soul and I want no part in polluting someone else’s soul. I also stopped watching shows like American Dad and Family Guy.

When I talked to fellow believers about how I stopped watching and reading these things because I did not want them interfering with my spirit, they said to me, “I don’t struggle with that. As in, “I can watch these shows, and read those books, because they don’t affect me the way they affect you.” The scripture they were referencing is Romans 14:5 which says, “Let each man be persuaded in his own mind.” For one it may be a sin, but to another it is not a sin. For a long time I bought this excuse. For me to watch and read these books would be bad, because it offends my conscience, but it doesn't offend everyone’s conscience. Which begs the question; what’s in their conscience?

See, the thing about Romans 14:5, is that it only applies to doubtful things, things that God has not explicitly called a sin. The Bible itself talks about food, and even which day to keep as the Sabbath, for all you Sabbath keepers. These are things that God allows us to decide for ourselves. However, things like witch craft, adultery, blasphemy- God is very clear on where He stands on these issues. Yet, day in and day out we fill ourselves with books, movies, and TV shows that promote what God hates and calls a sin. 

We call it, “entertainment”, and lie to ourselves about the effect it has on our spirits. Let’s face it; if you are watching Scandal with all of the adultery, fornication, murder, etc., something is going to rub off on your spirit. Recently Adult Swim has decided to create a program that is blasphemous at best. The show is called, “Black Jesus”, and it is about a black man in Compton, California who thinks he is Jesus. That alone would be one thing, but the people around him call him Jesus, and lord, while they curse and drink and even this “Jesus” character curses and apparently smokes all the weed.

Yet, so called Christians tried to defend the show and call it satire and criticized other believers for getting angry. Is it not right to be angry when someone mocks your God? Is it not right to be angry when someone defames His character or His nature? But why should this show make us angrier than any other? Many shows blaspheme the name of God; many shows uphold sin as a standard to follow. We watch them.

Paul said, “…[W]hatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things” Philippians 4: 8. It’s time for us to stop paying attention to the things of the world. We need to stop giving our eyes and our minds over to sin. Even if we are not partaking in them physically, we are showing our agreement with them in our hearts when we watch programs that promote sin.

In closing, I challenge each of you to take a look at yourselves. What are you putting in to your spirit? Is it affecting your relationship with God? Be honest about it.

And if you think these types of shows are damaging, especially the show about “Black Jesus,” please sign this petition, "Cancel 'Black Jesus'".