Posted on 07/16/2017 8:24:11 AM PDT by CHRISTIAN DIARIST
The sermon was titled “Fatal Attraction.” It was a cautionary message to those of us who were married members of the congregation to scrupulously observe the wedding vows we took according to God’s holy ordinance:
To have and to hold each other from our wedding day forward. To forsake all others who might come between us. To love each other, comfort each other and keep each other, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness, in health, until death do us part.
But wait, said the junior pastor. He had an additional vow to suggest to Christ- following couples – to assiduously avoid watching “Game of Thrones,” the HBO series that begins its seventh season tonight.
I was taken aback by the pastor’s pronouncement. I could understand him condemning adultery. I could understand him discouraging divorce. I could understand him warning of the evils of strips clubs and massage parlors.
But I could not fathom why the pastor saw fit to mention a lone TV show – “Game of Thrones” – as if it singular poses a clear and present threat to Godly marriages.
I don’t think the pastor was impugning the morality of those in the congregation who have a taste for HBO’s critically-acclaimed fantasy drama, which is based on the best-selling book series “A Song of Ice and Fire,” authored by George R.R. Martin.
I imagine he simply thinks the violence and debauchery fairly regularly depicted on “Game of Thrones” is inappropriate entertainment for Christ followers.
That’s where I believe the junior pastor erred – by turning a “disputable matter,” as the Apostle Paul called it, into a matter of Christian doctrine.
Indeed, in 1 Corinthians, Paul writes: “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful for me, but not all things edify.”
Now, let us not misconstrue what the apostle is saying. He is not suggesting it is acceptable in the eyes of God for him to disregard the Ten Commandments; that he can murder, commit adultery, practice idolatry (or whatever else he sees fit) with impunity.
No, what he is saying is that practices not addressed in the law, not set forth in the Bible, either directly or indirectly, are not verboten to Christ followers. However, he suggests, we would do well to avoid things that are neither helpful nor edifying.
The pastor obviously believes that “Game of Thrones” has no redeeming value to offer Christ followers. But in Romans the Apostle Paul advises: “Accept the one whose faith is weak, without quarreling over disputable matters.”
That’s good advice not only to pastors, but the entire body of Christ. Let us remind ourselves that not all of us are mature Christians; that there are many among us whose faith is week.
We do not help them grow nearer to God and stronger in their faith by quarreling with them on disputable matters. So let us not look disapprovingly upon those who, say, patronize bars. Or those who listen to secular (rather than praise and worship) music on their Ipod. Or those looking forward to the new season of “Game of Thrones.”
If displays of immorality tempt you to such a point that you’re at risk of engaging in immoral acts yourself, then avoid that particular temptation . . . . etc etc
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
You stated the obvious so much more eloquently than my contribution
That is why we have on/off switches and channel selectors.
If you don’t want to watch it. Don’t.
If I want to watch it, (which I don’t) then don’t ‘justify’ yourself by banning it from me.
I never got to see ‘From Here to Eternity’ until I was in my 40s as when it came out the Legion of Decency banned it, my ship didn’t get the ‘newer’ movies right away, then as I got older TV interfered with my drinking.
And NOTHING was allowed to come between me and my drinking.
Old proverb
WORK -THE CURSE OF THE DRINKING CLASS
(I chose work <: <:)
If displays of immorality tempt you to such a point that you’re at risk of engaging in immoral acts yourself, then avoid that particular temptation . . . . etc etc
= = = = = = = = = = = = = =
You stated the obvious so much more eloquently than my contribution
That is why we have on/off switches and channel selectors.
If you don’t want to watch it. Don’t.
If I want to watch it, (which I don’t) then don’t ‘justify’ yourself by banning it from me.
I never got to see ‘From Here to Eternity’ until I was in my 40s as when it came out the Legion of Decency banned it, my ship didn’t get the ‘newer’ movies right away, then as I got older TV interfered with my drinking.
And NOTHING was allowed to come between me and my drinking.
Old proverb
WORK -THE CURSE OF THE DRINKING CLASS
(I chose work <: <:)
I’ll ask my pastor what he thinks. He’s pretty smart. He’s from Europe. I think he’s a German Shepherd.
That reminds me of a tourist t-shirt I once saw, “Ocracoke - a small drinking village with a fishing problem.”
I wonder how many People watching Game of Thrones think that Dragons actually existed back then.
I’ll bet it’s not a small number. Probably the same number that believe in Globull Warming.
Who would argue that Christ followers should avoid the tawdry tale of David and Bathsheeba, with its sex and violence?I didn't see the movie, but it might depend on what exactly was shown.
There's a difference between telling that a man committed adultery with another man's wife, and acting it out before an audience.
I’m sin-free on this one. Never seen it and have no desire to. I watch the local news and the occasional Military History Channel show and the occasional TCM movie. But that’s pretty much it. Very little TV in my life and I’m fine with that.
“Who would argue that Christ followers should avoid the tawdry tale of David and Bathsheeba, with its sex and violence?”
The movie was pornographic? Or just addressed sexual issues?
I don’t think it’s really fair to compare David and Bathsheeba with Game of Thrones. Do you?
If you watch GOT, maybe you’re just trying to justify watching all the pornographic imagery?
Would you feel comfortable having your pastor, or Jesus, over to watch the show with you? Sitting with Jesus on the couch next to you, watching GOT? You wouldn’t feel just a bit awkward?
It’s also a sin to watch reruns of Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, SNL and Married With Children. Not to mention soap operas. Our very nature is that of sin. Thank you, Jesus, for your forgiving mercy!
Re: Interesting data (drop of PornHub access during Game of Thrones airings.)
I’d be willing to bet that there are similar drops during the World Series and Superbowl.
I’d also be willing to bet there’s a slight drop in lesbian viewership during WNBA games /s
Mark
I suppose it depends on if you think filling your mind with porn and violence is a good thing or not.
Does it feed the flesh or feed the Spirit?
If Jesus walked into the room while you were watching GoT, how would you feel and react?
Because for the believer, Jesus is closer than sitting on the couch with you watching it.
It’s a crime for sure. Horrible show.
Husband and wife dress as characters and enjoy each other.
“I imagine he simply thinks the violence and debauchery fairly regularly depicted on “Game of Thrones” is inappropriate entertainment for Christ followers.”
You can say this about almost all of American TV. The fact is Christians have become desensitized to the filth that is Hollywood today. Christians should not be watching American television.
I watched The Last Kingdom on Netflix. Loved it. Utred Son of Utred is easy on the eyes
Unlike the Bible, there is no moral of the story, no redeeming hope. The worst thing about the show is that the overall theme of GoT is utter and complete nihilism.
I watched a few episodes from various seasons on the recommendation of friends. All the vulgar content aside, I found the story boring and predicable, although YMMV on that. I'm no shrinking violet, but I think you have to tread far into the realm of moral relativism to justify watching GoT without at least fast-forwarding multiple scenes per episode.
“More Boobies!”
Works every time it is tried.
Not so. It's just the moral lesson is not the easy one: just be good and InShaAllah.
The characters and what they do matters.
"Winter is Coming" Eddard Stark
"Anyone can be killed" Arya Stark
"Perhaps I've made a terrible mistake" Robb Stark
The one overriding theme is that decisions have consequences. And Bad decisions have really bad consequences.
Of course if you are a Christian just watching it for the porn, you may miss that.
Who can forget the blond chick at the beginning with the huge butt and highly asymmetrical boobs coming out of the big bathtub at the beginning?
"The characters and what they do matters."
Again, not really. Everybody dies regardless of what they do. Realistic, I grant you, but not really fertile ground for breath-taking writing.
""Winter is Coming" Eddard Stark"
Yeah, we know, because that was aggressively pointed to in the most painfully obvious ways, from the very first scene of those Yeti guys killing people in the woods. GoT 1, subtlety, 0.
""Anyone can be killed" Arya Stark"
Yeah, everybody dies, especially if they're a character on Game of Thrones. Shocker.
""Perhaps I've made a terrible mistake" Robb Starka"
Don't know anything about him, but chances are whether he made a terrible mistake or not, he'll die simply to showcase that special effects can be really convincing.
Lame plot lines dumbed-down for the masses who want to feel like they are following intense political intrigue, with a double dose of sex and nudity and gore to draw in more viewers, with the giant billboards screaming "evil snowmen are coming!" all along the way for good measure.
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