[CS-FSLUG] OT: Potter, Halloween and Philipians 4:8

[doc]

Mash,

I think that it is important to remember the core
teaching of Jesus is that our heart condition/heart
motivation is critical.

"Do not kill" is not what the 10 Commandments says,
"Do not murder" is.  Why?  Because the heart condition
differs.

Jesus and Paul warned that life under grace is more
challenging than under the law because, for example,
one has committed adultery when one lusts in ones'
heart vs the requirement under the law that an actual
physical act occur.

So when you make the choices you listed you will need
to make two assessments:

1.  Why am I making this choice?
2.  How does this choice impact my heart?

Erwin McManus says that he has to view modern movies
so he may address his Hollywood-area congregation using
images they understand.

He says "I am a raging heterosexual and I know that if
I see certain things in a movie as soon as I walk out I
will undress and have inappropriate thoughts of the first
attractive woman I see.  I only view the movies I have
to and always bring my wife or an Elder.  We always pray
prior to and after the movie and I do not leave the theater
until I am certain that the Lord has neutralized the
power of those images as a tool of the Enemy.  I have an
elder who is a former gang member.  He has to deal with
images of violence else he will knock down the first
person who jostles him in a crowd outside."  (Paraphrased
from memory.)

To quote that great philosopher and theologian, Clint
Eastwood "A man had got to know his limitations."

HTH ... doc

>> "Stay away from *every form* of evil"
> 
> Is this all in relation to children and their influences? Because everytime
> I start really thinking about remaining completely Holy it starts an
> internal dialogues about whether I should just spend the rest of my
> life in a box on a mountain praying.
> 
> I don't quite understand the balance. How can we live in this world
> and avoid being in
> sin if it is a complete part of living. Where is the line between
> eating McDonalds(Amplified Bible)
> hamburgers and taking heroine. Or cheating at a board game or cheating
> on your wife.
> Killing a rain forest to killing a another human being.
> 
> If there is one thing that troubles me no end is this whole area of
> what is sin ?
> Is sin selfishness, is sin void of God?
> 
> I know of Christians who would not dare go watch Brokeback mountain
> due to content but
> enjoy the rock music of Queen.
> 
> I have met Christians who will not eat shellfish, prawns or pork but
> will eat chocolate from a company which is known to use child labour.
> 
> I have just finished watching "The Sphere" on TV. For those who
> haven't seen it, it
> is about an alien Sphere that lands on earth and allows three people
> to manifest there fears into the physical.
> 
> Have I just wasted 2 hours of my life ?
> 
> 
> This is merely a line of thought I have so many times.
> The only way I get round it is to focus on the Love of God and the
> relationships I have
> with others.
> 
> Your thoughts ?
> 
> 'Mash