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.”
*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?**
Yes, it should be obvious to those professing to be followers of Jesus Christ. I suspect that he would not watch a second of such ungodliness. The tv screen would probably go to ‘snow’ after he cast the devil out of it.
In my day it was Harry Potter.
In any event, 98% of what’s on TV is unhealthy garbage, so why single out GOT? No, it’s not a sin to watch it, but it’s not good for you either - sort of like eating a bunch of fried Twinkies.
You aren’t watching David and Bathsheba have sex. You aren’t reliving it for your own sick pleasure.
I have a hard time appreciating the “Christianity” of someone who doesn’t know the difference. I would say you have a better grasp on sophistry than Christianity.
considering that the one thing about Game of Thrones that almost everyone is aware of is that characters, good bad and indifferent, are capriciously killed off, kind of blunts the argument that that is the point of the showI would question the word "capriciously"
Other than the (admittedly large) number killed while engaging in armed conflict (always dangerous), the number of named characters who were killed who made no choice which then resulted in their death is very low/
(Lommy, Mycella, Shirleen is about it)
I feel so ashamed. One of the best shows in TV history.
The strongest part of GoT was the early seasons which was pretty much a rip off the English war of the Roses which made it pretty compelling and realistic. Once they got past that material it’s just been one long snooze-fest of feminist propaganda, feminist porn (rape and torture porn is the #1 form of porn consumed by feminists), and feminist revenge porn winding up with all the kingdoms ruled by women with nothing but weak men running around serving them. Oh and the primary enemies is a bunch of Zombies that no one actually cares about.
These examples are in scripture so that we AVOID acting in this poor behavior and suffering the consequences that David and Bathsheba received from God. They are given for our edification-not so that we can relive them over and over.
That being said, there is something to be said about knowing what is being peddled these days. The question really is whether you would invite Christ to sit and watch the show with you? Christ wasn't a snob. He ate with sinners. But he didn't frequent those places.
Short answer - in my book yes, I like to follow Psalm 101.
>>Did you read the books? There’s much less sex in the books, less descriptive. However, the killing off of major characters is definitely a major theme of Martin’s. And, it makes the plot much more realistic.<<
No never read ‘em. It doesn’t change the content of the show.
You know.
More Boobies!
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