Because I had no internet, I got a little behind on my reading and am catching up today. This was in yesterday’s reading, and it always makes me think of Karen. She is the one who first quoted to me, “I will set no evil before my eyes … ” when we were talking about R-rated movies, music, halloween costumes, etc.
I think of that often, now. Shows like Breaking Bad or Dexter are critically acclaimed … but if you stop to really think about them, aren’t they a case of “calling evil good?” We ALL do that in a degree; our hearts are deceitful and we convince ourselves that the wrong things we do are for a good cause, or are harmless, or can be seen in a positive light. The character in Breaking Bad is dying of cancer; he needs to provide for his family, right? So what if he is cooking poison … drug users are making their own choice. He’s the hero of the show … and in Dexter, he’s only serial killing the bad guys, right?
Sigh. If only I could blame these shows for rationalizing evil and calling it good … but I do the same.
I can honestly say that my spirit is better, higher, healthier, and more joy-filled since Karen has told me that and I’ve tried to guard what I see and hear more. Especially as far as music … Christian music may not be as exciting, really, as the jazz and blues and pop music I used to listen to – those can still get me fired up – but it surely does lift and calm my spirit. And in this world, that is no small gift.
Psalm 101
Of David. A psalm.
1 I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will sing praise.
2 I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
when will you come to me?
I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
3 I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.
The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
4 Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.
Hi Lori,
I just came across your post in which you discuss Christian music. I am currently working with Christian Pop/Rock artist, John DeGrazio, who has just released his third album, Stronghold.
John is an accomplished singer/composer/producer and a two-time ASCAP Award winner. He has a number one hit song to his credit, has worked with many major label artists, played in the Dove Award winning group Burlap to Cashmere, and toured with Jars of Clay, DC Talk, and Jaci Velasquez.
For more info on John DeGrazio, check out the following sites:
http://www.JohnDeGrazio.com
http://www.shoutlife.com/johndegrazio
http://www.myspace.com/johndegrazio
Sincerely,
Tom
I was doing a Yahoo search for illustrations for Ezekiel’s visions and followed a link to your blog. I’m glad I did because the illustrations you have on your site are magnificent. Thank you for posting them.
Then I clicked on the link to this page. I’m thankful I found this verse as well. I need to observe it more than I do.
Ironically, my wife likes to watch Breaking Bad and we both watched all episodes of Dexter. When I was watching the shows, I kept thinking that the show is trying to get people to feel sympathetic toward serial killers, which itself is part of a larger objective to turn people toward Satan and evil and away from Jesus and good. I think that most entertainment today is actually in the service of Satan.
I am going to keep in mind the verse which is the subject of this page. Thanks for this page, also.
Thank you so much for your comments! It’s amazing that once someone pointed it out to me, I become more conscious of what I allowed into my life and how much better I feel when I began to filter everything a little more carefully.
“I will set no wicked thing before my eyes.”
I was doing a google search to find the verse “I will set no evil before my eyes”. Something a dear friend quoted to me back in 1992 – and has resonated with me ever since.
We now have two high school exchange students living with us who think nothing of watching horror, r-rated and even x-rated movies. My family is very aware that I “don’t do” horror, terror, torture or sex scenes. Therefore I have never seen Saving Private Ryan (too graphic) or Braveheart (can’t get past the rape scene) – I barely made it through the open scenes of Slumdog Millionaire (torture scene). I can not stand to have these movies in my house, and it has been a real source of contention with our new students. They continually ask me “why?” – “what’s the big deal?” -or- “it’s not real anyway”.
Instead of getting into a long theological discussion with them (which would fall on very deaf ears) I simply say…. because I can’t UNsee something. It will always be with me, and I choose not to have that saved on my hard drive.
After a month, they seem more understanding – and if we are watching a movie which has a scene or two they know may upset me – they tell me ahead of time so we can mute it and I can close my eyes.
I can’t control what others watch or listen to – but I have dominion over the choices I make. And sometimes, that speaks louder than a three-point sermon…
Amen Deby … thank you for your comments. That’s such a great story and a great witness you are giving to those students!