MTV culture vs the narrow gate
I've been intending to write about this for a long long long time. Months actually. So many different ideas, inspirations and realisations have flashed before me, yet when I finally have the time, energy, and speed of connection to do this, these ideas, inspirations and realisations have suddenly been flushed down the toilet bowl.
But I think the best way for me to share about this is to relate this to my personal journey up till today. So here goes...
I really think that my friends who are not from my community in church (or not churchy people at all) think that I'm some walking contradiction. On the one hand, I profess that my faith in God is the most important thing for me; that my life has to be structured and led according to the WILL OF GOD (whoaa... they would say). On the other hand, they also see and hear me goof about the ways of the world... the need to excel in life (whatever that means in the world), the latest fashion trends, that hot babe who just walked past us in school (actually there usually are more than one, depending on one's definition of hot) etc etc.
And well... this dichotomy gets worst.
OK. First, I have a confession to make (rhinos, you guys know this). I'm a TV addict, a couch-potato, a slouch on the couch... you know what I mean. With the variety of TV shows that cable provides (damn you Starhub! Heh!) I have now achieved the ability to be glued in front of the telly for more than 5 hours at a trot, switching from the supposedly healthy channels including National Geographic and the Discovery channel, to the Hallmark Channel, StarWorld and AXN, and of course to my staple diet of Supersports, ESPN, and Star Sports. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I have actually listed the above channels in ascending order!
However, I think that the most entertaining and most subtle of influences are given off by MTV. From the raunchy music videos that EVERY artiste have these days, to stupid no-brainer programmes like the Real World (real???) and the Summer Bashes and I Would Give Anything, our generation today is bombarded with everything that is not of God. From sex (and I mean lots of it, including orgies) to fake ideas of love and self-worth... all these are the messages from the culture of death, as our late Holy Fr JPII used to call them. And the absolutely worst thing in all this is... drumroll please...
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY ENTICING AND FUN TO WATCH. Even I am drawn to this sort of shows. Isn't that frightening? What I profess to believe in, and what I enjoy watching on the telly is such a contradiction! And sometimes, I even let my mind wander, thinking about all the "what ifs" that I could be doing (committing) if I haven't known and experienced the love of God, or maybe the fear of living through eternity apart from my Maker. Yet this also makes me realise something... that maybe I haven't fully appreciated and understood the unconditional love of God for me... AGAPE.
And why am I watching all these? The truth of the matter is... like everyone else, I'm drawn and lured to the glamour of "the dark side" (no.7... hmmm?? hahaha). I mean... they're doing all that "cool" stuff of sleeping around and gratifying their physical selves, they're wearing "cool" clothes like using the rosary as an ornamental necklace and all... And this incessant lure to watch these shows are actually taking away time for my daily QT and all.
Tommy Lee's Cool... But the rosary around his neck is just wrong.
YET, thank God that His grace is sufficient enough, for His power can overcome whatever weaknesses I have. He gives me brothers, sisters and friends in Christ that support me, remind me and keep me afloat. His Spirit within me prompts me to draw towards Him as the eternal spring. And He shows me time and time again that the things of this world are transient and passing... only a moment. His love however is eternal... He satisfies ALL my desires.
So, the challenge is to enter through the narrow gate. How hard this can be man! But I hold dear to the promise that I can do all things through Christ who lives in me. So let's all remember this, and work towards ridding ourselves of selfish desires. I really think that it's such a tough road ahead... and yet I'm gonna remember not to struggle too much on the cross.
Rhino 5
But I think the best way for me to share about this is to relate this to my personal journey up till today. So here goes...
I really think that my friends who are not from my community in church (or not churchy people at all) think that I'm some walking contradiction. On the one hand, I profess that my faith in God is the most important thing for me; that my life has to be structured and led according to the WILL OF GOD (whoaa... they would say). On the other hand, they also see and hear me goof about the ways of the world... the need to excel in life (whatever that means in the world), the latest fashion trends, that hot babe who just walked past us in school (actually there usually are more than one, depending on one's definition of hot) etc etc.
And well... this dichotomy gets worst.
OK. First, I have a confession to make (rhinos, you guys know this). I'm a TV addict, a couch-potato, a slouch on the couch... you know what I mean. With the variety of TV shows that cable provides (damn you Starhub! Heh!) I have now achieved the ability to be glued in front of the telly for more than 5 hours at a trot, switching from the supposedly healthy channels including National Geographic and the Discovery channel, to the Hallmark Channel, StarWorld and AXN, and of course to my staple diet of Supersports, ESPN, and Star Sports. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? I have actually listed the above channels in ascending order!
However, I think that the most entertaining and most subtle of influences are given off by MTV. From the raunchy music videos that EVERY artiste have these days, to stupid no-brainer programmes like the Real World (real???) and the Summer Bashes and I Would Give Anything, our generation today is bombarded with everything that is not of God. From sex (and I mean lots of it, including orgies) to fake ideas of love and self-worth... all these are the messages from the culture of death, as our late Holy Fr JPII used to call them. And the absolutely worst thing in all this is... drumroll please...
How real is this crap? Artifical place and ppl!
IT'S ACTUALLY VERY ENTICING AND FUN TO WATCH. Even I am drawn to this sort of shows. Isn't that frightening? What I profess to believe in, and what I enjoy watching on the telly is such a contradiction! And sometimes, I even let my mind wander, thinking about all the "what ifs" that I could be doing (committing) if I haven't known and experienced the love of God, or maybe the fear of living through eternity apart from my Maker. Yet this also makes me realise something... that maybe I haven't fully appreciated and understood the unconditional love of God for me... AGAPE.
And why am I watching all these? The truth of the matter is... like everyone else, I'm drawn and lured to the glamour of "the dark side" (no.7... hmmm?? hahaha). I mean... they're doing all that "cool" stuff of sleeping around and gratifying their physical selves, they're wearing "cool" clothes like using the rosary as an ornamental necklace and all... And this incessant lure to watch these shows are actually taking away time for my daily QT and all.
Tommy Lee's Cool... But the rosary around his neck is just wrong.
YET, thank God that His grace is sufficient enough, for His power can overcome whatever weaknesses I have. He gives me brothers, sisters and friends in Christ that support me, remind me and keep me afloat. His Spirit within me prompts me to draw towards Him as the eternal spring. And He shows me time and time again that the things of this world are transient and passing... only a moment. His love however is eternal... He satisfies ALL my desires.
So, the challenge is to enter through the narrow gate. How hard this can be man! But I hold dear to the promise that I can do all things through Christ who lives in me. So let's all remember this, and work towards ridding ourselves of selfish desires. I really think that it's such a tough road ahead... and yet I'm gonna remember not to struggle too much on the cross.
Rhino 5
posted by Rhino for God! at 3:52 PM
2 Comments:
Considering we grew up in the generation where almost every family owned a colour tv and of the proliferation of cable tv, I'd say you ask ALOT of yourself...Hahah.
Go easy on yourself Clem, cold turkey from cable tv is no mean feat! In fact, I'd say the flip side of the coin is that being familiar with what the youth are watching these days, puts you in good stead to reach out to them because you'll be able to speak their language and relate to the influences they are exposed to. It's just like how criminalists have to study the minds of serial and psycho killers.
Know thine enemy, savvy? =) It's fine as long as you kneel down on the ground and recite the Angelus each time you feel like emulating them folks on The Real Life. Hahah...just kidding. Try praying to the Holy Spirit, to filter what enters your mind before you switch on the tv everyday. It works.
the fool for Christ
A cool thot..
Bible or TV Guide On the table side by side The Holy Bible and the TV Guide. One's well worn but cherished with pride (Not the Bible, but the TV Guide).
One's used daily to help folk decide, No! It isn't the Bible, it's the TV guide. As pages are turned, what will they see? Oh what does it matter just turn on the TV.
Then confusion reigns, they can't all agree on what they will watch on the old TV. So they open the book in which they confide (Not the Bible, it's the TV Guide).
The Word of God is seldom read Maybe a verse o'er they fall into bed. Exhausted and sleepy and tired as can be, (Not from reading the Bible: from watching TV).
So then back to the table side by side, are the Holy Bible and the TV Guide. No time for prayer no time for the Word, the way of salvation is seldom heard. Abiding in Christ so full and free is found in the Bible, not on TV.
-Anonymous-
leo
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