For Biblical Discussion

Murder and Entertainment!


 

THE FASCINATION WITH MURDER

Murder is on the increase, not only with those who physically commit such crimes, but also those who are transfixed with their details. Many video games and apps, news reports, and television programs all have one thing in common — exploiting murder! Our world has a curiosity, fascination, and even a love affair with the “how’s” and “whys” of murder. We are being fed a steady diet of crime, served up in as many ways as possible to make the viewing and hearing about killing palatable. Murder is a heinous crime that can capture the attention of its listeners and viewers. For those taken in by the sensationalism, at some point murder goes beyond “news”. The news has the ability to feed on the psyche and can become as addictive as any powerful drug. This is a trick of an enemy!

THE EFFECTS OF MURDER ON A SOCIETY

Many know the account of Samson who was fascinated with Delilah’s ways. After Sampson’s hair was cut, he thought he had the strength he once had to fight. He found out at the critical time he didn’t have that strength at all. Likewise, one cannot be consistently curious about murder and think it doesn’t have any negative affect on them mentally and spiritually (Mt. 24:12). The Bible states: “We know that anyone born of God does not keep on sinning; the One who was born of God protects him, and the evil one cannot touch him. We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.” – I John 5:19 – Berean Study Bible

Copycat killings usually start with one who is intrigued by another’s murder(s). The intrigued person eventually “acts out” what has been sown in their heart. We should stay away from anything that is wicked — and our hearts are desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). We should also know that we haven’t experienced the utter depths of where our hearts can lead us. (“Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts.” – Prov. 4:23/GNT.) A person who is “saved” is not immune from being caught up in the spirit of murder — which is usually in some form of news or entertainment through means of broadcasting. People can be subject to this spirit, whether saved or unsaved (James 4:2; I John 3:14-15). Great spirits from history have a way of returning and affecting masses of people. We see these following accounts in the Bible. During Noah’s day the earth at that time was given over to violence (Gen. 6:13). The apostle Paul noticed that the city of Athens was given over to a similar spirit, which was idolatry (Acts. 17:16). The prophet Hosea took a wife from the land of Israel that was given over to idolatry and adultery. Habakkuk complained of the wide-spread violence of his day (Hab. 1:1-3). History has a way of coming back to repeat itself.

The first murder in the Bible was broadcast for the purpose of showing how dark sin really is, but we see the insatiable drawing power murder has to consume all who are given over to its spell — from those who commit actual crimes to those who are drawn in by the details.

Stay away from murder!

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Be Careful Following the Crowds!


Am I now trying to get people to think well of me?
Or do I want God to think well of me? Am I trying to
please people? If I were, I would not be serving Christ.
(Gal. 1:10 NIRV)

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Jesus knew crowds! He had a perfect understanding of what is modernly called “Crowd Psychology” (John 2:23-25). Crowds seemingly know everything or know nothing. The crowds of Jesus’ day lauded Him as a great prophet who had come from God. Others claimed Him as the Son of David. Still others just figured He was John the Baptist, Elijah, or Jeremiah. (Then, we can’t forget others were there just for a good meal (St. John 6:24-26 )).

Jesus knew that He was rightfully due praise (Luke 19:37-42), but He was not influenced by crowds. As He entered Jerusalem, they exalted Him with shouts of ‘Hosanna’! So, they praised Him, but near the end of His life, crowds were influenced to send Jesus to His death by crucifixion (Mark 15:9-14)!

Jesus had His ministry among crowds, but on many occasions He would retire from the people to be alone with God. Many today are caught up in the opinions of what people say and what they think (Mark 11:29-33). But, there is a secret place — a place where God wants His servants to be — which is far from the opinions and crowds of people.  We must also learn not to go to extremes to get people to think well of us by trying to impress them (Ga. 1:10). This is a distortion of what is true. The more we commune with God the less we are influenced by people’s censures of us (I Cor. 4:3-4).

It’s true that we need all kinds of people to interact with. It is also true that we need to find times to distance ourselves from people to know the mind and will of God. Crowds and groups of people will always be there; they are not going away, but how we view and interact with them is important. Let’s get away from trying to impress people and get on with the business of pleasing God!

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Are You Changing with the Times?


And he…shall think to change times and laws.
(Dan. 7:25)

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TIMES HAVE CHANGED!

The times are swiftly changing! Along with the changing times…we all have made changes that have, in some way, affected our lives. Hopefully, the changes you have made have been positive. It is becoming increasingly harder for some Christians to make wholesome and godly changes because of the decreasing worldly-acceptable standards that surround us (I John 2:15).

TRADITIONS ARE CHANGING!

As we enter into another holiday season, there has been a noticeable change in the look and feel of this time of year! The holiday cheer in the lives of many have all but been extinguished due to the economy and unemployment situations. As a result, the glitter of this time of year has greatly declined. We clearly see that when people don’t consume products and purchase as many gifts, retail stores don’t feel as cheerful and have a way of diminishing their inventory and Christmas-related displays. As people walk through malls and retail stores the feel of Christmas is not quite the same. In addition…people are not giving as many gifts. So…the “traditional” Christmas (as many of us are accustomed to seeing), with all of its marketing cheer, has lost much of its meaning.

CHRISTMAS IS SHINING THROUGH!

There has been a change in Christmas! This change may have come for the good. Instead of giving and getting gifts, this should be a time when our attention can be mostly centered on the One who was born into a dark world that still needs change! At His birth, there were no trinkets and glitter, but a host of angels lit up the black night and sung the first Christmas chorus — “Christ the Saviour is born!”

Overall, there is definitely a change in how Americans do Christmas, and yet, with this decrease of materialism, have you made any changes? Have you become depressed or indifferent because someone stole your Christmas, or are you more aware of the truer meaning of Christmas?

WILL YOU MAKE ANY CHANGES?

As seasons and times change, masses of people will continue to make changes for the worst — scriptures declare that (Matt. 24:12, Rev. 2:1-5)! What changes will you make — if any — as times change (II Tim. 3:1-5)? How will you allow times to change you?

See the information below and get some idea of where you currently stand (II Cor. 13:5).

Many things are changing, but here are
some things that should never change:

  • Keep yourself in the love of God and always wait for Christ’s return (Jude 1:21)
  • Continually be filled with the Spirit (Acts 4:29-31, 13:52, Eph. 5:8)
  • Live holy lives, that go against worldly standards (Heb. 12:14)
  • Don’t ever forget to show mercy and have truthful and loyal ways (Prov. 3:3)
  • Don’t forsake the love for family. (In the following
    verses, “natural affection” refers to love for family,
    relatives, and acquaintances – Rom. 1:31, II Tim. 3:30.)
  • Don’t stop gathering together for church (Heb. 10:25)
  • Don’t give up on living peaceful with others (Heb. 12:14)
  • Don’t leave off praying to God (I Sam. 12:23, Luke 18:1)
  • Hold on to sound teaching, as you have been taught
    (Eph. 4:21, Col. 2:7, II Thes. 2:15, Tit. 1:9)
  • Be led personally with direction from God’s Word (Ps. 119:105)
  • Don’t return to your former lifestyle (Heb. 6:4-6, II Pet. 2:22)
  • Never forget to add to your faith (II Pet. 1:5-9)
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An Imitation of Love!


Little children, we must stop expressing love merely by our words
and manner of speech; we must love also in action and in truth. 
(1 John 3:18)

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There is a movie titled: “The Imitation of Life”, that could have easily been named the Imitation of Love. The two main actors are a single black mother and her fair-skinned daughter, who conveniently passed as white. The daughter had struggles loving her mother because she wanted to “fit in” with white America during the 1950’s. The mother pursued the daughter with unconditional love. The daughter (suffering her own struggles with her skin color) rejected her mother’s love. She finally realized the depths of her love for her mother at the time of her mother’s death — which was too late. (This was a tragic story!) The movie should be seen by all people who have issues loving anyone because of internal and external pressures.

In many ways there are struggles we face with those who are considered different than who we have defined ourselves as. Many only want those type of people in their world. The church also struggles with loving certain members who are in the body. We all know that love can be expressed by words, but “I love you” means nothing if there are no actions that back up mere words. Take a moment and ask yourself how would you define love? What does it look like? Is it a nice feeling you have for someone and they, in-turn, have for you? How would you define it? Let’s go back to I Corinthians, chapter 13 and revisit the “love” chapter and see what love really is. Here is a good biblical definition of love, as well: For God so LOVED the world that He GAVE his only begotten son. The verse clearly suggests that love is a sacrifice. Forms of intense giving are expressions of love. Love means little to others if our flowery words are simply poured out on them. We must be careful because there is an imitation of love. It looks like love, and it often masquerades as love, but it can have its root in selfishness and indifference. True love cannot be imitated with just words of expressions.

God — help us to love — not just with words, but also in deeds! Amen!

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The Tribes are Not Lost After All!


The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from
the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he
had driven them: and I will bring them again into
their land that I gave unto their fathers.
(Jer. 16:14-15)

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I spoke recently with a man who claimed to be a “black Hebrew Israelite” and who appeared to have his roots in Detroit, Michigan. He was really a misguided soul…misquoting and twisting scriptures to try to justify his Jewish standing. From that conversation a thought occurred to me that the tribes are not lost after all.
There has been such debate over the years concerning the lost tribes of Israel. There was a time when the tribes from the Old Testament were a part of one nation under God. Under king Rehoboam’s reign Israel became separated and eventually scattered among the gentile nations of the world. Although few tribes in Israel can be accounted for today; the majority of the tribes are truly lost tribes with no certain identity. No one seems to have the ability to claim them or call them or even know where such people exist. Scores of peoples have come forth over the years and do claim to be descendants of Jacob’s children, but only God knows them that are His (II Tim. 2:19).
God has made a covenant with His people Israel, and He does not break his covenants. God has sworn. He knows where His people are and, in time, the “lost” tribes from all over the world will return to Jerusalem and nearby areas. History records a nation who, thousands of years ago, survived near extinction and today continues to accept migrating Jews from all over the world.
(While Israel awaits to recognize her Messiah, God has also called an “ecclesia” or church — meaning an assembly of unique believers — from the gentile nations of the world. We have, unlike Israel, different covenants, laws, and promises. We await and recognize Jesus as Saviour.)
God has not forgotten Israel! The tribes are not lost after all. They have been found. Each ones’ name has been engraved in the palms of God’s hand (Is. 49:16)! His covenant with them has not been disannulled and every chosen one will be accounted for. When the “fullness of the gentiles” has expired, God will look toward Israel with His favor in a way that has never been known since biblical history!
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God: how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Rom. 11:22)

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