“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and a shame unto him.                                                                                                                                     (Proverbs 18:13)

“I have fed you with milk, and not meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”  (1 Corinthians 3)

“Stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made you free.”  (Galatians 5)

 

I have said this before and I will say it again and again after this (DV), I am happy to have not a larger ministry when I write on certain topics because I know certain topics would have adverse effects upon this preacher/writer.  Adverse effects as criticism, the nonconstructive type like loss in church memberships, credibility, wagging heads, be blames for dividing relationships, lynchings, burning crosses, being dragged by horses, etc. In my capacity, I can get away with way much more than can my counterparts.  In other words I can speak my mind without reprisals.

 

I have been an enjoyer of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer for decades. I never missed an episode AND I own all episodes, books, and many of the comics.  My daughter have learned many things from this program…many Christ-ian lessons!!! One (1) lesson being, God can use an atheist to produce a very Scriptural and sound television program. In this program one learns about bullying, ignoring others and making them outcasts (very applicable to out times, would you not say?).

This program that spoke through metaphor spoke to poor decision making as to sexual relations, drugs and anything that can become one’s master through addiction, self sacrifice, the loss of loved ones, standing alone for what is right, it speaks to being called to a special purpose and the loneliness that comes with it. It spoke of the reality to Noah, and the Crucifixion of Christ, and the power of the Cross to repel evil and to the power of wood over the enemy. To be truthful (and I’m certain, offensive) I could get a lot more out of an episode of “Buffy” than I could some sermons i have heard or subjected to.

Who could have a problem with the above? The person who would have a problem with this is one who is ignorant to Proverbs 23:13. The person who presumes upon something they know nothing of.

I confess I am did one that cares for Harry Potter. That is because, it just didn’t appeal to me, but it has nothing to do with witches, wizards and the like. In fact, Harry Potter, for the person who answers a matter before they hear it, is a straight plagiarism of the Gospel. Harry Potter was a boy despised by his family, was endowed with powers, was an outcast, hated by others that saw him as a threat, was opposed by an evil tempter, and had to die and rise again to save many.  Sound familiar?

People have a problem with the above examples yet are in favor of  “Christ-ians”  film, like the Russel Crowe led film, “Noah.”  In this film they had giant rock monsters and a Noah that wanted to killed a baby. I would rather see a movie that depicts my faith, in a metaphorical sense, than one that corrupts it or takes wild liberties with it, even if the writer or produce is an atheist.

The “Shield of faith.” What is the shield of faith for?  Is it not a defense of the world’s onslaught and the attack of this worlds’s god?  Of course it is.  Yet is it not written that God gives us richly, all things to enjoys?  The shield of faith allows us to enjoy the world without being tainted by the world.  I allowed by daughters to watch scary movies with me from a young age and they were not effects by them. I explained to them that the real world is far more dangerous and is a far greater threat than Michael Myers, Dracula, the Frankenstein monster, Ghostface,  the Wolf-man, etc.

I have, for years, heard others speak on the above, without ever seeing any of the above.  A person could watch the above on Saturday and on Sunday, hear the same topic preached from the pulpit. The person that answers a matter before hearing it is like the ignorant and stupid person that follows faith healing and prosperity ministries.  These persons are ignorant of the Scriptures. These persons that attend these faith healing minsters like Poppoff and his ilk are not Bible students or church attenders. If they are their pastor knows not about their bible ignorance or they are a poor shepherd. These attenders hear the lies and eats them out without researching or comparing the claims with Scripture. The Proverb 23:13 person hears something said about books and TV shows and without looking into it for themselves disqualify such programs, outright, as bad.

To be fair, I understand the perspective of some that speak against certain programs and books and other media without seeing or reading them for themselves.  I have heard some say, “Why watch or read something that God hates?” or “How can a believer watch something about vampires or glorifies something evil?” I have heard others use the other point of certain things being a gateway to others things.

However while I understand these points, I cannot abide them. To the first (1st) point about God hating things, this is to general.  Does God not hate the shedding of innocent blood, does God not hate profane speech, fornication, pride, the world system?  The answer is, Of course. How can anyone watch anything that does not in one way or another show these things?  However when these programs depict the above, they are shown in a negative light. In most horror movies the person who uses foul language and fornicate are usually the first ones to become fodder. As Paul said, if we are to escape all these things, we need leave the world.

The second (2nd) objection, the glorification of evil is used to demonstrate the great destruction of the glorified evil. the third (3rd) objection, is a fallacy and is motivated by fear. The gateway fallacy is also called the slippery slope fallacy or even the straw man. For example, Harry Potter will lead some to witchcraft. This could be true for a small percent. However, is the movie the problem or poor parenting?

In Buffy, one of the lessons taught is ineffective parenting or parents that are not knowledgeable to their children’s life. There was always a moral to the story that could not be missed. Buffy also demonstrated the harmful effects of treating others as outcasts. In two (2) episodes it showed the effects of those mistreated by the student body, both depicted the students lashing out through violence, one was a school shooting and this episode was made before school shootings became “cool.” The youth of America are not better off without this program.

Whenever my children saw something, that Proverbs 23:13 persons would object to, we would always discuss the spiritual or life lessons that should be understood by the program. There is always a way to turn anything into a life lesson or object lesson if the parent is involved in their child and can see through all the special effects and make-up.

A word on balance. A person should be balanced in all areas. While I have no problems with my kids reading or watching somethings as long as it is balanced out with spending time with God and His Word but this can be said with Christ-ian works A person that reads only works by Puritans will lean strongly one way that could be a problem if they are not balances with Christ-ian liberty or if they understand not that puritans would write and preach higher than their personal life.

If someone focuses solely on reformed theology and apologetics, they will be contentious spirits or contentious minded and always looking to squash someone in a debate. If someone focuses on Calvinism only, they may not seek to bring others to Christ. If some focus on anything in an unbalanced way they will be unbalanced. Another problem and danger is reading works by Christ-ians and not the Scriptures, themselves.

Let me be clear, if a child is obsessed with something and their parents are not focused on them, trouble will come. If a child watches and is interested only in dark subjects, wear clothing related to this obsession, act out in dark ways, and is not balanced by good and right things and is ignored by parents, only bad will come, but again, the main issue is the parenting. If there is a lack of active loving and attention in a family, the child or person will act out, regardless of pop culture.

Pop culture balanced with good and active parenting and the shield of faith will work out alright. If this is not true, faith and good parenting is not stronger that the god of this world and his influence!!!

A word about the bad seed. I believe some persons are born bad. I believe in both nurture and nature. A child born with a good mind without the proper nurture can become a sociopath. The psychopath, however, is born and their is little that can be done in terms of nurture. Even though a person may not be a born psychopath, they can still be more “dark side” even with nurturing. In fact, many a serial killer was raised in a religious home…a legalistic, overbearing, paranoid home, that is. However with this paragraph being written, some kids are raised in terrible homes and still come out right.

As written in the title, I am fully aware, that persons that are Proverbs 23:13 minded will not change their way of thinking and may become even more die-hard and legalistic, prideful and ignorant of things. These persons believe they know what is right and cannot be shown or convinced they are wrong. These persons believe what they believe and will not entertain another point of view.

I am KJV user and I appreciate and look at other versions and benefit from other versions but find myself a user of the KJV for definitive and sound study, it is the definitive Word of God for me. I do enjoy and glean much from comparing other versions with the KJV, notice I compare other versions with the KJV and not the other way around. The “New Living Translation” reads very fluidly and is good for pleasure reading. The KJV ER is the same. The Amplified is a good study commentary and says so in it’s introduction.  The AMP defines words and uses other words that give a light to some words. The user of the KJV and has set it as the standard for holiness has made it an idol and a sower of discord among the brethren.

In summary: The above Proverbs 23:13 person does not trust or really believe in the Sovereign God and has usurped the office of the Sovereign and guiding Holy Spirit of God. This cannot or should not be disputed and doubted. We are predestinated to be Christ-like and not to usurp the office of the Holy Spirit.  The legalistic, presuming, and judgmental Christ-ian is a usurper of and intruder in the office of the Holy Spirit, plainly and simply said.

Godspeed.