Journal Day 10

October 11 2006 - Day 10

Mark 7:14-23

Passage: Mark, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, tells us more of Jesus’ teaching on the faults of the Pharisees. Jesus wants to get to the root of the problem. The Pharisees believe they have to wash their hands before they eat or else they will defile themselves before God. Jesus says they have it completely wrong. He says it is not what goes in the person that defiles them but what comes out. When Jesus said “what comes out” he was not referring to bodily excrement but rather “evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness.”

Application: Reading this list of what defiles a person makes me thankful for the mercy of Jesus because I am guilty of every one of them. Not a day goes by that I do not stumble over one of these sins. What also greatly disturbs me the complete and widespread acceptance of these things in the Church. Where do I see this happening? The TV! I know countless numbers of Christian people who will sit on the couch and be endlessly entertained by these very things! In fact, the only thing that makes for “good TV” are these very sins. Honestly, people would not watch TV if these sins were not the central focus. It is a sin to enjoy such things. But wait? Am I being like the Pharisees? Since TV is simply entering my brain through my eyes and ears it really isn’t defiling me right? I’ve heard this argument before. “It’s okay to watch whatever on TV because what enters a person doesn’t defile a person.” They’re right on one point. The simple occurrence of the sight of something is not a sin, but it is rather the response that is the sin. To be entertained by and to enjoy watching a murder movie, to enjoy shows about gay men and women, to enjoy reality shows where men sexually “test out” women so that he can pick his bride, to enjoy a soap opera where divorce and adultery are the central themes is evil! These Christians say they would never do these things in real life. so why do they bring you happiness and entertainment? Christ would be and is totally disgusted by the portrayed sin that entertains the church. The church is glorifying sin! Oh God help us to see the depth of our depravity. Help us turn from enjoying evil to enjoying you.