What are we downloading?

What Are We Downloading?

A word about the things that we are putting into our heads...

On the night of the Fourth of July it happened that as I was sitting in the Benedict House here in Bremerton, playing a game of chess with a new resident, a very abhorrent thing came onto the television. This was a program which I've noticed is a favorite of many of the men who live there; as well as many other people I know, even some who came to Christ long before I, perhaps even some who stay in the word and do not forsake the fellowship. This program is misnamed "Family Guy". I have not seen a more vile, low, base, insipid, repugnant, reprehensible, despicable, foul, filthy, depraved, totally wicked, and Satan-inspired show on public television; and by the fact of its existence mine heart knows that the end of the dispensation of grace must be near.

What I saw and heard is this: Jesus Christ was blatantly blamed for all the problems in our world today. In the episode, two characters found a way to go into a parallel universe in which Jesus Christ was never born [and by the way, there is absolutely no scientific evidence for such a thing as a parallel universe - but a ton of evidence that supports the Bible]. In this parallel universe, 2011 looked like the harmonious global government of Star Trek's Federation, a blissful utopia of progress, and all because - supposedly - the Middle Ages would have never happened if Christ hadn't been born. They even claimed that we would have a readily available to all cure for AIDS if not for the life of Jesus Christ.

The loud and clear message was this: all our woes and ills are the fault of Jesus Christ. Not sin.

If anyone says that my reaction is a bit strong, or that I should get a sense of humor, I urge you to examine yourself. There is nothing funny about trying to make Jesus a joke, or blaming God for the problems caused by man's rebellious behavior, and there never will be. And my "how dare you?" not only goes to those who were responsible for putting this abomination on television, but also to those who give hearty approval, and even to all those who are willing to look the other way in such an instance as this, but who then continue to support those villains that made the program by watching a further episode.

Romans 1:28-32 says this: (28) "And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; (29) Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers (30) Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, (31) Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (32) Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

If we are declaring for Christ, it is imperative to our witness that we separate ourselves from such as this. And we need to start sending a clear message to those who want to pollute the world with such wickedness that we don't want to see it and will not support it. Remember that when you view their program you are casting your vote for it, giving them the ratings they need to continue their evil.

And consider also this. The human brain has been aptly likened to a computer. In many ways it is: for instance, we often find with human minds and computers both, that greater complexity correlates with a slower processing speed. There is also a clear relationship between input and output. In other words, what you program or download into your computer determines how your machine will process and operate. (Or as Joie is fond of saying, "Garbage in, garbage out.") It is the same with the mind; this is what makes brainwashing not only possible, but simple. Considering this, would you say that it is a wise choice to download a virus? Literally everything we take into us has its work in us, unless we are protected by the full armor of God [Ephesians 6] - in which case, if we are obeying the Spirit, we will not be entertaining ourselves with such filth in the first place.

I exhort you therefore to be firm in your stance against the work of the evil one, yielding no ground, denying yourselves, being steadfast against the temptations of the world, not a joiner and partaker with the sinners, but a sanctified (separated) temple of the Holy Spirit and a light in the midst of this present darkness.

Remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ [Matthew 5:13]: "Ye are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

Now as they used to say: The grace of our Lord be with you all. Amen.