Music, movies, and media, can this have any influence on my actions or me?

Well the answer to this question is obvious, it can. The important question is, How? Let�s look at movies for a moment. When you watch a movie that involves nudity and sex, your feelings and emotions can turn from Jesus to lust and lead to acts of sexual impurity and sexually immoral thoughts. Murder, violence, foul language are all over in the movies. I remember when PG was clean, but now-a-days you have to be careful what PG movie you take a child to, there might be some inapproriate sexual or violent suggestions. When you saturate our eyes and minds with this kind of �stuff� it can become an accepted norm for you. If you watch those things that are not of favor with the Lord then you are hurting yourself and leaving yourself open to be influenced by the devil and his workers. It says in the word of God that the eye is the lamp of the body and if your eye is good, then the whole body is good, but if the eye is bad, then the body will be bad (Mathew 6:22-23). Therefore you need to keep your eyes focused on those things that are favorable to the Lord.

Okay, now it�s time to take a listen about music. Here is a subtle way in which the devil and his ideas can enter your mind. No way, right? Wrong! Music that talks about hate, sex, murder, disrespect, and things that are simply vulgar and explicit contain words that, if listened to, can become part of your vocabulary. You will in turn allow these ideas and thoughts to cloud your mind, and this what will be heard instead of what the Lord is trying to say to you. There must be some reason that recording artists (for lack of a better word) that produce this type of music, use these words and suggestions. Do you think it is because they are good people, or love God and others? Do you even think it is okay because it�s their right or their freedom? Well freedom isn�t freedom when it hurts someone else! Think about that. Think about what real message they are trying to send out. It�s not about freedom, it�s about hate and immorality. They are just as free to create music that sends a positive message. But the devil needs a venue and he will take any soul that is weak enough to control. I�d rather control my own life and walk in the way of the Lord. His message is much more satisfying.

Time to switch channels here and take a look at television and the media. What impact does this have on you as young adults? Well if you look at statistics, it shows that the average teenager watches around three to five hours of television a day. You are putting everything you see on television into your mind and this can be very harmful. Most programs on television are found to contradict the bible and the teaching and preaching of Jesus Christ. If someone is watching this much television then they must not be spending very much time in the word or in prayer. Focusing on the world and the things in it, God specifically tells us not to do (1 John 2:15). We also need to watch it when it comes to the news and media. This type of communication is doctored and sensationalized. What I am saying is that the news is not objective in what it puts out, it shows the point of view of the majority and often does not show a Christian view-point. If we pay attention only to what is being told to us and don�t examine the information through the eyes of the Lord, it may sway the way we live our lives and we may start conforming to the opinions of those non-believers and society as a whole.

I am not bashing the news, television, music, or movies, one just needs to be aware of the sources and motives of each form of communication. You see God can use all of these mediums to communicate his will and word, so you need to look for that message and avoid that which is worldly and destructive to ourselves and society. Above all else, you need to have a defined balance in your views of what you are allowing into your mind and body. Take in those things that allow you to grow spiritually for the Lord. Turn your focus on Jesus Christ and focus your life on what He would have you to do. God wants you to act Christ like in the movie of your life, sing His praises and His word in the songs of your life and broadcast the truth about Him and your salvation through Him, to all the world.