God's name is being mocked more often than we think. It's not only when people use Jesus as a curse word. God's name is being mocked everytime we look to a movie, listen to a song or do something that contains elements that are against God.
Unwitting Scoffers
When I say 'unwitting scoffer' I have a person in mind that mocks something without knowing it. And that's exactly what happens in this videoproject I made. The scene you hear is from a movie I watched a while ago. The story is about two people who were married to each other and we see a picture of how life can go. What got me thinking in this scene is how easy people mock God's name, how normal It seems that God's name is dragged through the dirt. This scene opened my eyes and got me thinking if i want to keep watching movies like this.
To what extent do we allow ourselves as Christians to be influenced by the world around us? The most bizarre things are being normalized. It not only influences our thinking, but also those who watch with us.
The exaggeration I made in the video is that Christians would not realize that God's name is being slandered. There may be a small number of Christians who really don't get it for one reason or another, but I assume most who have seen it do. The point is that we blaspheme God's name more often than we think. I am not talking about the times when God's name is literally mentioned such as the use of 'Jesus' as replacement for a curse word, or as we saw here, when God's character is attacked.
Unwitting Scoffers
I'm talking about the times we watch movies that neglect the norms of sexuality as God intended for example, listen to music that's about following OUR hearts instead of God's path, or do tiktok dances that involves sensual movements. The endless stream of films with occult practices is sky rocketing. And yet, God's Word is clear on these subjects. Why is it then, that we still watch these things? In everything we do, we are a testimony to our environment, every step we take. If we watch these movies, listen to those songs or make those tiktok dances we're letting the people around us know that it's okay, when in reality it's not. We may do this unwitting, but it's important to know what you're watching or listening to. We look at things we don't approve of in everyday life. We absolutely disapprove of murders, but we do watch programs for fun in which people are being brutally murdered.
Lying, stealing, adultery. We disapprove of it, but we look at it. When we look at these things, we partake in this sin.
Galatians 5:19-23 says: 'The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and indecent behavior; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, division and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
We learn by watching. Children learn by watching their parents. You probably know the saying" monkey see, monkey do". To say that it doesn't matter because a movie or series is funny and not real is dangerous. The Scripture warns that those who live like this will not inherit the Kingdom. So why would we watch movies for fun that promotes actions that are straight up actions of the flesh?
It's not that whole movies are bad (allthough some of them are). But in most movies there's also a good element, but accompanied by elements I just mentioned. The devil is good at deception. He gives a half-truth that almost resembles the real truth. But if you drop a little poison in a glass of fresh water, would you drink that?
Media influences us all, consciously or unconsciously. Disney among other companies is bringing out more and more cartoons and films in which an LGBTQ character plays, or kids talking about what micro aggression is. There are so many movies and series in which it is considered normal for people to have sex with each other outside of marriage. Cheating is a normal thing, it's literally being advertised for here in the Netherlands! That's insane! We see an excessive amount of violance by the age of 18. Gossiping about others, selfishness and so on. All these are being normalized. This is not a coincidence, but this is done consciously, just like I am consiously trying to reason with you. And somehow it also makes sense, because these are the topics that are currently playing in the world and they want to tap into that. It is so often said in movies that you should follow your heart. This sounds normal, but this is not. Jesus tells us to deny ourselves. This is definitely a different message. But these are the films that our kids, our brothers and our sisters watch while growing up . These are the films we watched when growing up.
Excuses vs Holiness
Let me ask you this: Do we think it's normal for the name of God to be raped by people? I use this strong language because that is what it is, rape of the name of God.
And somehow we think it should be possible, because, so they say, "what else can we watch if we can't watch this either? We shouldn't get too legalistic about this." or " we are in the world, not of it" so that justifies our behaviour. Let me say, this has nothing to do with legalism or being in the world, this has to do with your awe of God! Scripture teaches that the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil In that it is by the fear of the Lord that one turns away from evil, not look into it.
Some may say: "It is important that we find a balance". There is no balancing with evil. Evil must be done away with, you can't be buddies with it, if that's what you think.
1 Peter 1:14-16 says 'As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Being holy doesn't mean 'i'm better than you'. Being holy means to be set apart. As christians, we're being set apart to bring the good news of Jesus and to break with the darkness. Had one of the apostles in the time of Jesus shown a movie like this where God's name is being mocked, and I don't know how fast they would run away from it. Now we are sitting comfortably with a bowl of popcorn and a drink. At most, we make a comment about it saying "that's not nice" or sit awkwardly untill it is over, but then don't turn off the movie. How strong is our word if our deed is not accompanied by it? How strong is it to say we're christians, but not act upon it?
To clarify
Let me be clear. This is not a condemnation. I've done this myself. I watched the movie featured in this video, and I kept looking, only because I wanted to know how it ended. I had a knot in my stomach when I heard God's character being attacked like that. I was the one that said "Oh that's really not nice to say", but I still kept looking.
I understand that you have to look at the purpose of something. A war documentary is different from John Wick. But it's still good to use wisdom in what you're watching, even if the goal is educational. In everything we do the goal is to draw closer to God or bring people closer to God.
I also understand that sometimes you don't know what to expect when you watch a movie. But there is a sollution for that.
I will put a link in the description to a website that is called "common sense media". In that way you can know if a movie containts sex, swearwords or usage of drugs and alcohol for example.
We can make as many excuses as we like, but I want to ask you this simple question: Do you realize that the name of the God who saved you is being dragged through the dirt, trampled upon? That His name is being mocked while we watch all these sex saturated, curse filling and godforsaken scenes on a screen?
I don't believe in Jesus
And if you don't believe in Jesus, what do you think is the reason that Jesus's name is used so often to express disgust? What about the name of Mohammed or Boeddha? I don't see their name being mocked. Why is there so much promotion in films of following YOUR heart, follow YOUR desires, be who YOU want to be? The films basically say: Do whatever you want to do, and if anyone wants to stop you from this, they're being haters, they don't get you. Think about that.
Lukewarm Christians
Christians, what kind of image do we give when we're lukewarm about this? With this we show as Christians that the name of God is not precious at all! Instead of defending the name of God, we defend the works of Satan.
The danger I see here is that we will become lukewarm. We don't look up to anything anymore. And we have the greatest difficulty giving up anything for Jesus. We reduce the cross that Jesus asks to carry with us, to a cross that we hang around our necks to show others that we are "Christians".
Our testimony to the outside world is growing weak. We want to be too much like the world to be able to win them over. But we do not gain the world by conforming to it, we gain it by what makes us different. The peace of God in us. The testimony of Jesus that frees us from the bondage of sin. The desire to live holy before God. That makes us different.
There's a theologian that says: The reason why you aren't being persecuted by the world, professing Christian, is because you have become conformed to it. Let that sink in for a moment. The reason why you aren't being persecuted by the world, is because you have become conformed to it.
Can't we see the trap we fall into? The world is out to get us to think that everything is normal. It is not only that we are being desensitized to the fact that God's name is being dragged through the dirt.
We also think it's normal that there are so many divorces, we're going to think it's normal that there is so much sex outside of marriage, cheating, like I said, is openly promoted! We are going to consider homosexuality and transgenderism normal. We are being told to chase after our careers, making our dreams come true, we are trying to make as much money as possible, Comfort and luxury is being sold on the daily, they encourage us to play videogames where we kill people all the time.
How is it possible to call ourselves 'christian' and do all these things? It's a question that I ask myself all the time. And I know this will offend some people. But if we're truly followers of Jesus, we shouldn't avoid topics like this. We must ask Him what we should do and seek wisdom, not decide it for ourselves.
I'm not using these examples to make it seem like this is worse than anything else. I use these examples because the media puts its focus on this and seems to do everything it can to make it as normal as possible, and to silence the people who have a different opinion about this. We are influenced by the media and the sad thing is that we don't seem to have a problem with it that much. We are being desensitized. People who speak out are criticized. And in the end we give in because we don't want to offend anyone, that's the spirit of our age.
Christian = Offensive
Jesus gave offense to people in His time. In Matthew 10:34-38 He said: ' “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household. “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. '
Jesus probably gave offense with these words. The apostles offended people. Christians (!) offend people because they are different! To be clear: You shouldn't be offensive because you like this or because you are simply being rude 1 Peter 4:15-16 says: 'If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. '
We should use wisdom in how we say things, show mercy to those around us, and impart the love of Jesus. But Christians are different because they follow someone who is different. If we really follow Jesus we will automatically offend some people in certain areas.
Ideologies
Many people say that Christians have been indoctrinated while being themselves controlled by the strings of the media or the opinions of people around them. Without realizing it, they themselves have been indoctrinated with all kinds of ideologies. They just don't see this because so many people around them think this is all normal. Satan can pretend to be an angel of light, and unfortunately he manages too well to drag people into his lies as well.
My heart behind this
The tone of this message may seem stern, but it comes from a sincere and concerned heart. I also want to make it clear that I am not judging anyone who has a problem with this, because I have been through the same thing. I understand.
All I want to do is make you aware of it. As a Christian it is important that we stand firm and break with sin. And if you're someone who doesn't believe in Jesus, do you see that the media wants to have your attention and to change your mind about certain things? It's not like this is a conspiracy, it's just how things work.
What's next?
Let me say this. The problem isn't that you were ignorant, but what are you going to do with it now? Will you continue with this or not?
Without knowledge of God, the concept of sin has no meaning. So let me be clear that this is a question to christians. If you never heard of Jesus, I reccommend you to look into that first because there is no point in telling you that you need to change if you look at movies like I discussed about. It's best that you learn to know Jesus Himself, so you eventually know what I'm talking about. There's no point in changing outward behaviour towards problems like this if there's no change of inward behaviour towards Jesus.
Paul also says this to the Corinthian church. He is correcting the church for certain behaviour, not the people who don't believe in God. God will judge these people themselves. The difference here is that the Corinthian church says to believe in Jesus. If christians say to believe in Jesus, they will have a new standard to live by, the one of Jesus. And with that standard comes correction of fellow brothers and sisters in the faith.
To circle back to the point. I recommend that you pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you on these topics. Don't be an unwitting scoffer. Christians in the west have a really good life in comparison to other christians in Asia or Africa for example, too good actually. And I can understand that that makes us loosen the strings a bit. We don't think we should take everything so seriously. But a frog in a fryingpan does not realize in the beginning that it is going to be cooked. The fire is low. And slowly but surely the fire rises. When the frog finally realizes it, it's over for him.
Jesus will vomit lukewarm christians out of His mouth?
Jesus addresses the lukewarm church of the Laodiceans in the often quoted book of Revelation 3:14-22)
14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write, 'These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15'I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, 'I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.20Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
Do you hear this? Jesus Himself says: "because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth". That's a serious warning to lukewarm christians. But He also says this: "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." He loves these people, but He asks of them to turn from their sin.
I want to ask you to turn away from this sin. Go to God and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive you for He is merciful to all who will turn from their sins.
Splitting Truth from lies
God is not an absent Father as the scene from this movie tells. These are lies straight from hell. He is a loving Father who is merciful and compassionate to those who are broken over their sins. He is waiting for you to return to Him. Where sin is great, His love and grace is even greater. No sin is too big for God to overcome.
I too have struggled with this, and sometimes the temptation can still be there to watch a certain movie that I like. But if I know that the name of Jesus is being mocked, isn't He more important than an hour of entertainment?