Be above the culture!

Read: Proverbs 4:23-27; 1 Peter 2:9-13

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life." Proverbs 4:23. "Dear friends, I warn you as "temporary residents and foreigners" to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very soul. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors..." 1 Peter 2:11-12.

Live properly, guard your heart. What does this mean? What does it mean to live properly and guard our heart?

When talking about media: movies, music, TV, internet, etc, we have to address culture. Pastor Jeff says that movies are the art of our present culture. Media is the art of our culture. It is what people are talking about, thinking about and sometimes acting out. In fact I cannot hang out with a group of people and not hear from someone about a movie, TV show, song or internet site. It is in our minds and therefore in our hearts.

As Christ followers we are called to live properly, keeping away from worldly desires and we are called to guard our hearts. This means we need to be above the culture. When culture tells us its okay to watch this and listen to that and act it out we've got to go to the Bible and find the truth. If the Bible tells us something different we have to make the choice to be above that garbage and not allow it into our heart.

Just listening to music for the beats, or watching movies for the laughs, or watching TV to have something to talk about can still allow the junk that's being spit out to get into our hearts and we have to guard our hearts.

I'm not saying or even suggesting that you should not watch TV, movies, get online, or listen to music. I'm saying examine what parts of the culture you are allowing into your life and be open for God to instruct you on what you should and shouldn't do. When in doubt, be above the culture. If we will be above the culture those that are lost in the culture will have people to look to for help!

Prayer: God help me to be above the culture living Holy for you!