The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
– Matthew 6:22
Tonight we had a little curveball thrown at us for Valentine’s night. Our youngest daughter had a last minute babysitting job cancel on her, so our plans of a nice evening at home that included a long walk, looking at some old pictures, a nice dinner of lobster and steaks was turned into a quick dinner of the same and then a drive to town to see the latest movie release. NO, we didn’t take our 15-year-old to see Fifty Shades of Grey. What we did see though, is what has me pouring my heart out tonight on this computer.
Several weeks ago we saw the previews for the upcoming spy/action thriller titled Kingsman: The Secret Service and I remember saying, “that sounds and looks pretty good.” Let me preface this with a little piece of information – I am a sucker for a good spy/action thriller movie. Whether it’s James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan or Ethan Hunt – I love a good spy movie. So tonight, we decided to venture out to our local movie theatre and watch this new release.
While my opinion is just that – my opinion – I won’t spoil the movie for those that still wish to see it. What I will say though is that as Christians we are so concerned about the other big opener this weekend regarding 50 shades of some color when in reality, we should be just as appalled and taken aback by this movie.
There is a line that is repeated twice in this movie that had me shaking my head at the irony I witnessed – “Manners maketh man.” The irony is that when I think of manners here’s what comes to mind:
As we sat and watched this movie with our 15-year-old sitting between us, my heart literally hurt for the world we live in today. We are quick to call out the sin of pornography in a movie like 50 Shades of Grey and yell from every mountain top why all us good Christians should not even consider supporting that filth. But God forbid we call out a movie that seems as wholesome and chivalrous as Kingsman: The Secret Service because it only has some foul language.
In Ephesians 5, Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and he says “But among you there must not be EVEN A HINT of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person…has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” It seems like one movie (50 Shades) is doing a lot of IT, but the other movie (Kingsman) is sure talking a lot about IT! And God’s word is pretty clear – NO OBSCENITY! NO FOOLISH TALK! NO COARSE JOKING!
Forgive me Father for failing in my job as the guardian and keeper of my family’s collective eyes, ears and hearts tonight. Forgive me Father for lowering my bar of what is right and wrong and not holding true to your call of NOT EVEN A HINT. Forgive us all Father that we have marginalized what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. In a desire to be loving and accepting, we have been willing to sacrifice Your call on our lives to be different, holy, set apart. Father, show me how to live my life so that others see something different; show me how to be Your hands and feet, but still hold to the calling to be in the world but not of it. Tune my heart to Your heart each day Father – not just on Sundays. Help me live my life like a Week Full of Sundays.
– Matthew 6:22
Tonight we had a little curveball thrown at us for Valentine’s night. Our youngest daughter had a last minute babysitting job cancel on her, so our plans of a nice evening at home that included a long walk, looking at some old pictures, a nice dinner of lobster and steaks was turned into a quick dinner of the same and then a drive to town to see the latest movie release. NO, we didn’t take our 15-year-old to see Fifty Shades of Grey. What we did see though, is what has me pouring my heart out tonight on this computer.
Several weeks ago we saw the previews for the upcoming spy/action thriller titled Kingsman: The Secret Service and I remember saying, “that sounds and looks pretty good.” Let me preface this with a little piece of information – I am a sucker for a good spy/action thriller movie. Whether it’s James Bond, Jason Bourne, Jack Ryan or Ethan Hunt – I love a good spy movie. So tonight, we decided to venture out to our local movie theatre and watch this new release.
While my opinion is just that – my opinion – I won’t spoil the movie for those that still wish to see it. What I will say though is that as Christians we are so concerned about the other big opener this weekend regarding 50 shades of some color when in reality, we should be just as appalled and taken aback by this movie.
There is a line that is repeated twice in this movie that had me shaking my head at the irony I witnessed – “Manners maketh man.” The irony is that when I think of manners here’s what comes to mind:
- Chivalry
- Opening a door for a woman
- Saying things like “please,” “thank you,” and “your welcome”
- Giving up your seat for a lady or someone that is older than you
- Saying “yes ma’am,” “no ma’am,” “yes sir,” and “no sir”
- AND never – EVER – EVER cursing
- “More than 100 f-words and 30 s-words. A wide variety of crudities dodge in and out of that volley, including "a--," "b--ch," "h---," "pr--k," "b-llocks," "ballsy" "bloody." God's name is misused a handful of times, twice with "d--n." Jesus' name is abused once. The n-word is spit out once.”
As we sat and watched this movie with our 15-year-old sitting between us, my heart literally hurt for the world we live in today. We are quick to call out the sin of pornography in a movie like 50 Shades of Grey and yell from every mountain top why all us good Christians should not even consider supporting that filth. But God forbid we call out a movie that seems as wholesome and chivalrous as Kingsman: The Secret Service because it only has some foul language.
In Ephesians 5, Paul is writing to the church at Ephesus and he says “But among you there must not be EVEN A HINT of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity…because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person…has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” It seems like one movie (50 Shades) is doing a lot of IT, but the other movie (Kingsman) is sure talking a lot about IT! And God’s word is pretty clear – NO OBSCENITY! NO FOOLISH TALK! NO COARSE JOKING!
Forgive me Father for failing in my job as the guardian and keeper of my family’s collective eyes, ears and hearts tonight. Forgive me Father for lowering my bar of what is right and wrong and not holding true to your call of NOT EVEN A HINT. Forgive us all Father that we have marginalized what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. In a desire to be loving and accepting, we have been willing to sacrifice Your call on our lives to be different, holy, set apart. Father, show me how to live my life so that others see something different; show me how to be Your hands and feet, but still hold to the calling to be in the world but not of it. Tune my heart to Your heart each day Father – not just on Sundays. Help me live my life like a Week Full of Sundays.