Every day, our culture becomes more and more blind to evil. The world writes things off as "just" this and "just" that. We watch Fifty Shades of Grey like it's nothing. We don't see anything wrong with it because it's "just a movie." We hop into the Thirteen Reasons Why fad like it doesn't mean anything -- like it doesn't have any influence on our souls.
The truth is that every decision we make has an effect on our relationships with God. Everything we put into our minds has the power to either glorify God or to glorify Satan. Nothing is "just" anything. We know that Satan is a liar and a deceiver. He doesn't want us to glorify God and he will take any chance to stick his foot in the door, because if he can do at least that, it makes it easier for us to open it the rest of the way than to use the authority we have in Jesus to stomp on his toes and slam the door.
That's also why God tells us to steer clear of all things evil. What happens is we get too comfortable so we think, "Oh what the heck. I can handle it. It's just one show." We go ahead and watch Thirteen Reasons Why. We crack the door open to Satan, not knowing what happens to us spiritually when we make the choice to interact with something that has no glory for God.
1 Thessalonians 5:22 (ESV) Abstain from every form of evil.
Let's talk about Thirteen Reasons Why here for a second. This is a big one right now because it's popular among young people especially. As I said, our culture is becoming more and more blind to evil every day. We aren't recognizing it anymore. A lot of people have been deceived by this TV series because many have misconstrued it as a show about "anti-bullying". I watched this show in a season where I was suicidal and had strayed from Jesus. In hindsight, I can only say that it made the spirit of suicide inside of me to become more powerful and more persuasive. Now, the show didn't come forth and say, "Commit suicide. It will end your suffering," but it didn't have to. Anytime we watch something that openly revolves around sin, we are agreeing with it. It is slowly making its way into our spirits.
That's not even the only sinful nature the show advertises. It advertises rape, sexual immorality, violence, drug use, and the list continues. Obviously, you can't point out anywhere in the Bible that says "Thou shalt not watch rated R movies." However, God is obviously against rape, sexual immorality, violence, and everything else I just listed. Therefore, it's a given that viewing those types of behaviors for entertainment value cannot glorify God. All that show is, is a bunch of lost people doing what lost people do. It's heartbreaking if anything. The most sickening part of the series is that its target audience is teens/young adults -- easily influenced people.
1 Peter 5:8 (NIV) Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
When you watch evil things, that's what you're filling your soul with. That's Satan getting his foot in the door. It's not "just a movie." If it were just a movie, there would be no behavioral impact on us. For example, what happens after you watch a scary movie? You're afraid to sleep with the lights off. You hear every noise in the house. You become paranoid. That's because it's much more than a movie. By allowing yourself to partake in these kinds of things, you are making yourself susceptible to demonic presences. You're sending an open invitation. You are playing with fire. You're putting the Devil above Jesus by entertaining what the world has to offer instead of keeping God's commandments.
Jesus said in John 14:21, "Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." (NLT)
Satan is a liar. He's a thief. He's a destroyer, which is why he uses the media to his advantage. It's the most influential thing that has the ability to reach the four corners of the earth. So, guard your heart. Fill your soul with things that are of good and not of sin. Instead of trying to base your judgment of good and evil on what the world says about movies, ask the Lord Himself. If it doesn't agree with the word of God, it's not from God.
1 John 5:19 ( ESV) We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
