Does it matter what I look at?
Introduction
I realize we live in a world that has desensitized us to sin, but that does not mean we as professing Christians should not strive for holiness. I also realize that many – if not all – people who read this have been very much desensitized to sin in many ways, and do not realize it. Such is the subtlety of sin. Such is also the power of today’s mass media and advertising agencies who have gotten us to remember TV commercials from 30 years ago and yet we cannot seem to remember what we were reading in the Bible last week – if we even cracked open the Good book.
Is it just a matter of opinion?
And yes, it is a matter of opinion regarding what we look at… God’s opinion. God has much to say about how we live and what we expose ourselves to, be it by way of viewing pornography or violence, or girl/guy watching, or anything at all that is not spiritually profitable…
“But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” [Matthew 5:28]
“And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire.” [Matthew 18:9]
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. [1 John 2:15-17]
“Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.” [1 Corinthians 6:18]
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” [Ephesians 5:15-16]
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” [Luke 17:10]
Friend, God may not stop you from sinning for quite some time, but He will surely have the last word.
God has a law that we must all obey, the law of sowing and reaping:
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” [Galatians 6:7-8]
If God does not deal with our sin in this life, we can be sure He will deal with it in our next life:
“But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” [Matthew 12:36]
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” [Luke 13:5]
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.” [1 Corinthians 6:9]
If we are true believers, genuine Christians, God will surely deal with us in this life:
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” [Hebrews 12:6-7]
“behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.” [Numbers 32:23]
We hurt ourselves and others
Sin always has consequences, usually far more consequences than we realize. Polluting our minds will always end up in greater sin, as we act out that which we have filled our minds with. God commands us to do everything to His glory. How in the world can we pollute our minds to His glory? How can we expect to have healthy relationships when will fill our minds with visual sewage? How can we expect to not have our sin found out, to the disgrace of our families, our own reputation, and that of the Lord’s reputation if we tell others that we are Christians? How can we expect our sin to not escalate if we don’t flee from it for good and avoid it at all costs by calling on the Lord to help us and by asking our spouses and close confidents to help us with our struggles?
Does it matter what we cause others to look at?
And yes, we are our brother’s keeper. We are responsible for whether or not we cause others to stumble. Perhaps it may mean that we need to seriously consider what we allow into our homes by way of TV, rented videos, internet, US mail, or even the people we invite over. Perhaps it may mean that we don’t have an internet account if someone in our home is tempted to view pornography online or other things that may seem harmless but detract from spiritual growth. Perhaps, at a minimum, we have to install ad filters or use an internet provider that has a filtering service, even if it costs us more per month for internet service. Maybe we should not subscribe to secular newspapers or magazines that have worldly or ungodly advertisements or articles which could be a stumbling block for others in our homes and that would rob ourselves of valuable time that could be used more profitably for the increase of the kingdom of God. Perhaps we should even check with the Post Office to see if they have a way of withholding junk mail since that may be source of ungodliness…
“Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing.” [Deuteronomy 7:26 ]
Perhaps we need to avoid shopping at stores that display ungodly magazines at the checkout counter… we might find ourselves eating healthier too if we shop only at produce stores and surplus stores that don’t usually have the sleazy publications that are all too prevalent at most major supermarkets these days…
“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” [ Psalms 101:3]
Also, what about the e-mails we forward that don’t glorify God, but rather glorify the flesh, that have jokes that make a mock of sin, that cater to the worldly lusts, that promote gossip, ridicule, slander, etc. What about our own web sites? Do we have web sites that are profitable for others, or that just look like what any unsaved person would have? Do images on our web sites bring glory to God or are they patterned after the world and designed to use worldly techniques to capture attention? Have we even asked ourselves if we might be causing a brother or sister to stumble or is our priority to have the most visitors to our website or to have the most financially profitable website?
“And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea.” [Mark 9:42]
Conclusion
If we are not proactive about keeping sin our of our homes and our of our lives, it surely will come in. It may start as a trickle but it will quickly turn into a flood…
“Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” [James 1:15]
God warns us in the Bible, over and over, that our sinful ways will eventually catch up to us, with dire consequences. Let us take those warnings very seriously, for they are meant for our good and the consequences are guaranteed by God – who never lies. If only we as God’s people today could have Isaiah’s view of sin and holiness. Then such articles as this would not be necessary…
Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” [Isaiah 6:5]