Tuesday, June 05, 2007

  • Hell and Netflix

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    Biblical Womanhood in the Home (Foundations for the Family Series)
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    I listened to this short (2 minute) excerpt from John Piper this morning and wanted to share it with you. I took notes in case some of you can't listen to it online. I thought it was awesome and it has me thinking of how I can maximize my time in the evening for the glory of God! I tried my hardest to copy most of it but I'm sure I didn't succeed 100 percent.

    "The fact that Christ has come, died, risen, reigns,  beckoning me to spend eternity with Him, makes me very much want to NOT buy into Netflix. (John Piper told his wife, Noel, that he was afraid for his family and the church to buy into these deals on the internet where you can download unlimited movies, songs, computer games). Everyone is thinking - maximize entertainment- how many things can I download? We wake up and realize that Christians are just like EVERYONE ELSE in the world. Every night we eat, put our feet up and watch 'clean videos' while the world goes to hell.

    I just don't want to be a part of that. I have a tiny, little life to live and only what is done for Christ will last. So, what's driving me is the lostness of hell. I really believe in hell and I'd rather not people go there if I can have any influence on them at all. I want to maximize my joy in God and I know that happens through service. It's more blessed to give then receive.

     So, driving me is ... hell is horrible, eternity is long, Christ is beautiful and my heart is designed for Him . I want to maximize my joy and take as many with me into that everlasting pleasure as I can."

    Here is the audio excerpt if you want to listen to it personally.

    http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/2178/AudioExcerpt/

    So, what do you ladies think?

     

    "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or WHATEVER you do, do ALL for the GLORY of God." 1 Cor. 10:31

Comments (10)

  • Marmee_Ann
    Thanks, I'm passing this on...I know people who get Netflix!
  • Lucy_or_Ethel
    Okay,my opinion for what it's worth. Anything can be used for good or for evil. One can even visit the sick(a good thing) too much and neglect their families(a bad thing). I listened to the the audio and maybe I understand where he is coming from. I agree we are a nation of people who really indulge in entertainment. Seldom having a quiet moment.........piped in music in every store and shop as an example. I disagree when he mentioned Netflex and would have if he had mentioned WalMart or McDonalds. Anything can be used for good or evil. Like food for the body can nourish us and we stay a healthy weight or we over use it and become fat and out of shape. The food isn't the problem. Movies are  not the problem. The internet is not the problem. Yes I do agree that the internet is like a vicious hungry lion and if you don't keep it under control it can take you over....like TV or shopping or eating or whatever. We recently signed up for Netflex. In our social situation it is a treat to look forward to a movie night. But like overeating or excess in anything it can be bad. The devil doesn't care if we play too much baseball, watch too many movies or whatever it is that takes our eyes from Christ...........Long before modern technology humans have been distracted from Jesus.......maybe there are more distractions now than ever but it still is a matter of one's heart. We can even be proud of how little we have to be proud of LOL ......sorry to preach. I know too many Amish who live the "simple" life and struggle with the issues of the heart just like we "English" do. Possibly the speaker was trying to spur everyone on to not waste time,Hell is real,Christ is returning.
  • MercifulGrace

    I'm so glad you shared this.  I've just started getting John Piper's podcasts, and have been very blessed by his teaching.  After listening to the excerpt, I'm really looking forward to hearing this full message.  Thanks for sharing.  I do so agree with the message of it - our time is very limited and only what is done for Christ is going to last and matter in eternity. 

    I've been spending a lot of time these past couple months studying God's holiness and the passages in the Bible which give us directives for living holy lives, and even those directed specifically at women. The Lord is bringing conviction after conviction of stuff that doesn't matter and doesn't belong in my life, along with things that do matter, that I should be doing.  This just fits hand in hand with all these thoughts & lessons.  The Lord has been blessing our family with messages at church in much the same way, a lot about what the Word says about how we should be living holy lives as we are in this world but not of it.  Thank you SO much for sharing this today, Georgene~  Praying for you as you serve Him wherever He has placed you!
  • georgene

    Lucy_or_Ethel... absolutely correct that there is nothing, so to speak, wrong with Netflix. He was specific in saying that it's the concept of  "MAXIMIZING ENTERTAINMENT". That was his point. Where the focus is put on excessively entertaining ourselves when the focus should be on seeking the kingdom of God FIRST.

    The older I get the more I realize that time is SHORT. I have no idea how many breaths I have left on this earth. I want to MAXIMIZE my time for Christ. Does that mean I will never watch a good clean video?  Nope! I took 2 hours off and watched Ma and Pa Kettle on the Farm on Memorial Day weekend. But, I feel the same way as Piper. I don't want to get distracted from why I am really here... which is to bring God glory in all I do and to be used in drawing others to Christ.

  • BooksForMe
    Amen to this! I think the extreme need for entertainment is a sign of an extreme spiritual emptiness.

    Like you said, there is only so much time alloted for each on of us. It's a good idea for us all to take a step back from our current habits and ask ourselves how our time is being spent.
  • trustinghisheart
    I'm not a media fan, so I can agree easily.  But I will have to admit, there are many other things that get my attention to neglect being His love, His hands, His feet, His prayers, His words of encouragement or just to listen to other's hearts.  I can be too busy to find my all in Him, to be His daughter.  Satan keeps us occupied in ourselves and we play in to it.
  • millermom812
    One of my favorite verses..."Let your Moderation be know to all men"  can apply to anything...including Netflix.  I think there needs to be a healthy balance whether it be food, entertainment, dress, etc.  Not that these things are wrong in themselves as long as they're kept in balance.  my 2 cents =)
  • innacanoe
    I agree that entertainment has become wayyyyyy too important in our lives. And I also agree that anything - even the simple life - can take our eyes off Jesus. Including Xanga! Tell me about it. Thanks for posting this, Georgene. I think Piper's right on.
  • militarymomof2
    I have 1 question, who has their TV turned on as soon as they up in the morning and never turn it off?  When I am home alone if I watch the TV I am im the room when I leave the room I turn it off. it's not back round noise, I don't even have a radio on most of the time. If the radio is on it's on Spirit FM.  Anything can be over done. You had some very good points.  thanks for sharing them.  Dawn  
  • DiscipleshipAcademy

    My husband is seriously addicted to TV. He is one that has it on all the time. Since he works from home it is rarely off. We are a part of Blockbuster's Online program and I can't even count all the movies he has rented since the first of the year. We have a new movie almost every night and two on some nights!!! It is awful. I feel as if I am loosing my sanity.

    It is a particular challenge for those with spouses not on the same page.

    Blessings!~Margie

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    • From: georgene
    • Posted: 6/5/2007 5:24 AM

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