The Test

The following is a kind of test I made a long time ago. It is a test to use before you choose a movie to watch, a book to read, or a game to play. I can't honestly say that I have always followed it and heeded the scriptures it cites, but I have tried.

The Test

"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." I Corinthians 10:31

How can you know what a good or bad entertainment choice is? First, read these verses:

"Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good." Romans 12:9

"...hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil." I Thessalonians 5:21-22

"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness..." Isaiah 5:20

Remind yourself that,

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes..." Psalm 101:3

Alright, now go through these two simple steps:

- Think on These Things -

The Bible tells us exactly the types of things we should dwell on as Christians:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Ask yourself if what you are considering is:

True
Honest
Just
Pure
Lovely
Of Good Report (Admirable)
Virtuous
Praise (to God or Praiseworthy)

- The Fruits of the Spirit -

Look at the fruits of the Spirit. The fruits of the Spirit are the things that those who have been born again will display in every aspect of their life. Memorize them, mark them in your Bible, or write them down: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." (Galatians 5:22, 23).

Does what your considering reflect any of these? Are you displaying them when taking part in this activity?

Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering (Patience)
Gentleness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness
Temperance (Self-Control)

If you are honest with yourself, and God, it should not take long to know if whether the things you are dwelling upon are of the Lord, or of the Adversary.

God bless!

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Think of America While You Read This

¹The burden of Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

²God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies.

³The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

⁴He rebuketh the sea, and maketh it dry, and drieth up all the rivers: Bashan languisheth, and Carmel, and the flower of Lebanon languisheth.

⁵The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein.

⁶Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.

⁷The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

⁸But with an overrunning flood he will make an utter end of the place thereof, and darkness shall pursue his enemies.

⁹What do ye imagine against the LORD? he will make an utter end: affliction shall not rise up the second time.

¹⁰For while they be folden together as thorns, and while they are drunken as drunkards, they shall be devoured as stubble fully dry.

¹¹There is one come out of thee, that imagineth evil against the LORD, a wicked counsellor.

¹²Thus saith the LORD; Though they be quiet, and likewise many, yet thus shall they be cut down, when he shall pass through. Though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more.

¹³For now will I break his yoke from off thee, and will burst thy bonds in sunder.

¹⁴And the LORD hath given a commandment concerning thee, that no more of thy name be sown: out of the house of thy gods will I cut off the graven image and the molten image: I will make thy grave; for thou art vile.

¹⁵Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off. (Nahum 1, King James Version)

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