Watch your eyes what they see

 

As a child I learnt a song in Sunday School that included the lines

"...watch your eyes, watch your eyes what they see..."

Until I became an adult I never realised the profound reality expressed in its simple words; but do we even take a second thought to how deliberate we are in choosing what we see?

During the preview segment at the movies lately I was reminded of the way the god of this world has attempted to nullify the seriousness of the existence of evil.  Patrons are seemingly more amused or excited by the darkest films.  The closer their resemblance to demons and creatures associated with them, or the more extreme the bloodshed or amoral the actions of the characters is the more success the films seem to have at the box offices.

I agree with those who believe that although the Biblical prophecies in Revelation do not speak to literal beasts, if one did in fact appear our world would embrace it.  Sad reports from survivors from the Aurora, Colorado cinema shooting revealed that when the gunman initially opened fire many patrons had assumed the tear gas and shooting to be props inserted by the theatre to enhance the thrill of the movie experience.  It was not until people started to die that they recognised the gravity of their situation.

I am an avid movie goer but have had to seriously tailor my choice of movies for the mere fact that I do not wish to become accustomed to that which will alter my response to evil and immorality.  That means I now go to the movies perhaps once per month instead of every weekend and only a few select television programmes have become my source of entertainment. 

My extreme attitude has come on the heels of the realisation that what I see affects me far more than I even considered, and Scripture highlights that.  Several years ago I had a defining moment when I realised the profanity that was whispered from my lips or in my thoughts when I had a bad experience with a fellow motorist, stubbed my toe or had something slip from my hands.  This had become a part of me not because anyone in my regular circles spoke this way, but because I had taken no care as to what I viewed on a regular basis.  This was how the characters of the programmes I watched behaved and very soon I had become so accustomed to this type of response that I adopted it as well.

I hold firmly to the belief that in order to be a disciple of God radical actions have to be taken to insulate ourselves against that which will subtly influence us.  We cannot adopt a frivolous approach to what we take in or very soon we may be forced to marvel at the man in the mirror.