James 1:21 – 22 NIV
“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so decieve yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 1:27 NIV
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
“To keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
I believe as Christians we should give most careful thought as to the belief system in which the information/entertainment we consume is crafted and filtered through. Is it one that regards God’s word as true and tenable? (Matthew 4:4 NIV “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”) Or is it one that disregards God’s word as unbelievable and irrelevant? (Psalm 14:1 NIV “The fool says in his heart that there is no God.”)
What we believe to be true is the basis and motive of our action. The way that we see and understand things shapes who and what we are.
“You are what you eat” is just as true for our spiritual being as it is for our physical.
Romans 8:6-9 (NIV) says, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh can not please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.”
Again in Romans 8:12-14 (NIV)
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation – but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. For those who are led by the spirit of God, are the children of God.”
“Tryin’ to pound a square peg into a round hole – it won’t work that way – never gonna work that way.”
In this information age of mass media, who shall we choose to listen to?
Lyrics
Tryin’ to pound a square peg into a round hole
It don’t work that way – never gonna work that way
Movin’ lips for the light lovin’ darkness in the soul
It can’t work that way – never gonna work that way
Oh who you been listnin’ to?
Who you been listnin’ to?
Who we been listnin’ to?
Just the fool of a fool – just the fool of a fool
Now take that junk on the world wide web
Just streamin’ and screamin’ noise in your head
You can’t walk in the light when your chillin’ with the dead
It don’t work that way – you know it won’t work that way
Fill your space with shock and awe
I can’t scrape from my mind the things I saw
How’s lust gonna work if Love is the law
It won’t work that way – never gonna work that way
Who you been listnin’ to?
Who you been listnin’ to?
Who we been listnin’ o?
Just the fool of a fool – just the fool of a fool
Let me tell you what I heard
The Narrow way is the way of His word
Close the door and quiet your mind
In a secret place He’s waiting to find
You – and me
Say it’s time you change your data plan
You gotta stream livin’ water from the Son of Man
Get your life – get it while you can
Think it’s gonna work that way – you know it’s gonna work that way
Oh love your brother as you love your self
Just might make for a world of health
A rich mans’ need and a poor mans’ wealth
I think it’s gonna work that way – you know it’s gonna work that way
Now take that soil and take that seed
Listen so you hear careful what you heed
Know what you want plant what you need
He’s The King of the kingdom and The Shepherd of the sheep
Well He never does slumber and He never does sleep
And He came for your heart and He’s playin’ for keeps
Let me tell you what I believe
God sent His Son for you and me
To cover this mess with His Mercy and His Grace
To lead us all out of this war torn place
And He prayed in the garden, where He let it all go
To be cast into a darkness, even He could not know
Then He rose from His groanings, they bound and led Him away
Where they mocked Him and despised Him
But even then He would not say
Because we were prisoners, He would not be set free
So He took up that cross, and hung naked on that tree
Then He prayed Father forgive them, for they know not what they do
And He finished the work He’d come for, when He died for me and you
They say the Heavens they did thunder, and the veil it was rent
And they laid Him down in a borrowed grave
To be Risen in a Life, He knew would save
I think it’s gonna work that way, He said it’s gonna work that way
Believe it’s gonna work that way
Gotta get alone and pray, He said it’s gonna work that way
Believe it’s gonna work that way
He said it’s gonna work that way