gdog Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 We know and claim quit often that God is never changing.Malachi 3:6For I am the Lord, I do not change.Let me give a very specific example of where I am going with this. When I was young I used to watch Three's Company on TV during the late 70's and early 80's. At that time, that show was very much on the fringes of inappropriate not only for kids but adults alike. I do know an apostle at the time warned against watching the show especially children. Now a days the show can be seen on TV Land and it has become a show that almost seems kid friendly and now we of course don’t talk about the “bad” affects the show has on our spirituality.Now take the current show Desperate Houswives. The comparison of the brash inappropriateness to Three’s Company is quit obvious, as are most TV and movies in general compared to 25 years ago. We all know how straight in the face smutty Desperate Housewives really is and we all know multi thousands of LDS members watch it either regularly or periodically. We can also safely know that Jesus would not be relaxing on a couch with us while we indulge in such a display of violence, sex, adultery, and many other atrocities.Now here is the dilemma that I see. Take these shows and magically place them in the time of the early church. This straight forward trash would be so rejected it wouldn’t even be funny. Just imagine the repercussions not only in the LDS church but any church. They would condemn you most likely to be as of the Devil. In our heart of hearts we all know that viewing these shows and other shows and movies are not good for us and frankly waist time and don’t add much of any to our spiritual lives but…….many of us condone this viewing in various ways. Does God now approve of us watching these things? I assume he didn’t back a couple hundred years ago, 25 years ago or today. How many PG-13 movies would Jesus approve of us watching? Seriously…ask your self that question.Why do we condone in immersing ourselves in something clearly not assisting in our spiritual growth? Why do some of us make excuses for something we know we shouldn’t be doing? Why does the church not put more emphasis on this? Is God now allowing us to partake but not those people who lived 100 years ago???
Zakuska Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) With all the vile, pornographic, graphic and gory language put in the mouth and at the hand of God in the OT?!PG13 is nothin! Edited October 18, 2011 by Zakuska 1
Zakuska Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 I think the God of the Bible isn't the God that most people Imagine him to be. The God that is Imagined up in the heads of most people is too Holy to be God.
altersteve Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 God doesn't approve of it any more now than He did at any other time in the past. It's just part of our culture now, so much so that we're often not even fazed by it. This is definitely a problem.
Sky Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 I think the Church's (and God's) standards are pretty clear about appropriate entertainment and media.I'm not seeing how God could have changed on the matter. Our society has certainly changed.
gdog Posted October 18, 2011 Author Posted October 18, 2011 I know I am dissecting a bit but what honestly would affect your spiritual life more...a cup of coffee a few times a week or watching Desperate Housewives? According to God I bet we can assume one is not worse than the other but coffee has such a taboo attached to it and keeps you out of the temple but watching and soaking in smut on TV or the movie screen is in my mind much more accepted even thought the results are maybe more damaging. Some LDS people even say....What I watch is my business and I can handle it, but they don’t tend to say that about coffee as much. We can say times have changed and society has changed but since when did God tell us to go with the flow when it comes to sin?? I don’t think our moral compasses are where they should be and we will be judged for that.
Zakuska Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) For the record... I think Ive only watch maybe 11.5 minutes of Desperate house wives since it came out. I've never got what the alure is. (I prefer, History, and Discovery, PBS my self) And I do agree that our moral compass has went down the tubes. Back when I was growing up it was Harlaquinn Romances and General Hospital that were being preached against. Now we see those types of plots and content on an hourly basis. Violence in Cartoons has gotten worse too. Edited October 18, 2011 by Zakuska
cinepro Posted October 18, 2011 Posted October 18, 2011 (edited) I think when it comes to books, music, plays, movies and clothing, God can be a cultural relativist to some degree. Else the Book of Mormon would probably be filled with exhortations for the women to put shirts on. Edited October 18, 2011 by cinepro
gdog Posted October 19, 2011 Author Posted October 19, 2011 So with God being a cultural relativist he will eventually let us know that coffee is in fact ok to drink? We infact have scientific evidence to back it's health benefits. And it time gays will be allowed in the churchand garments will get shorter and shorter and evetually we won't be asked to where them.Does God really change or do people change and when we do we make excuses??
altersteve Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 So with God being a cultural relativist he will eventually let us know that coffee is in fact ok to drink? We infact have scientific evidence to back it's health benefits. And it time gays will be allowed in the churchand garments will get shorter and shorter and evetually we won't be asked to where them.Does God really change or do people change and when we do we make excuses??You have to use the guidance of the Holy Ghost with things like this. Sometimes what is appropriate for one person (such as a certain movie) is inappropriate for another. Listen to the still small voice, and if it feels wrong, don't do it. But don't judge others if they claim they feel it is okay for them. For example, a friend of mine decided to serve in the military instead of serving a mission. He made the decision after a very long period of prayer, fasting, going to the temple, etc., and finally came to the conclusion that God's plan for him was to serve in the military, and that a mission can wait. God does things like that quite a bit.
cinepro Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 (edited) So with God being a cultural relativist he will eventually let us know that coffee is in fact ok to drink? We infact have scientific evidence to back it's health benefits. And it time gays will be allowed in the churchand garments will get shorter and shorter and evetually we won't be asked to where them.Does God really change or do people change and when we do we make excuses??Since Church members and leaders used to be able to drink coffee, and garments started out long sleeve (and leg) and have only gotten shorter over the years, what do you think?Oh, and I've got bad news about the gays and the Church. Edited October 19, 2011 by cinepro
David T Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 My wife and I love Desperate Housewives. I guess reason 319 why we're hellbound. 1
Calm Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I think God is like most other parents, in the most important areas he draws obvious lines that should not be crossed while in others he teaches general principles and then allows people to make their choices on how to interpret them for themselves, understanding that as spiritual maturity comes their choices will change overtime becoming closer and closer to his own...how close depending on how fully someone desires to be one with Him.Since we mature at different speeds in different areas of our lives, I am reluctant to judge another for a particular choice unless it is a major one...and even then..... If all we knew of someone was their TV viewing habits we might think that someone who watched the more vulgar or sexually permissive or violent shows was less of a Christian than someone who limited their viewing to Little House on the Prairie and such because he wanted to create a positive, righteous environment in his home...but then what if we found out the first individual used his weekends to volunteer at the local hospital while the 'Christian' used his weekends to picket weddings and funerals to 'spread the gospel warning' by screaming at brides they were whores and at grieving families their loved one's were burning in he.ll? 1
gdog Posted October 19, 2011 Author Posted October 19, 2011 Let's bottom-line it. Would you watch Desperate Housewives with the Prophet? If the answer is no then you shouldn’t watch it. What is there to debate other than...I will watch it even thought it isn’t the best thing for my spirituality. Just come out and admit it and not say. It's simple. So I can watch Porn but if I am truly a good person, good husband and give weekly to charitable things then it's ok to do it correct? And nobody should judge me even my bishop correct? I can tell him, Bishop, I watch Porn about a couple hours a week but I can promise you I am ok and it does not affect me. We're good right?
altersteve Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Let's bottom-line it. Would you watch Desperate Housewives with the Prophet? If the answer is no then you shouldn’t watch it. What is there to debate other than...I will watch it even thought it isn’t the best thing for my spirituality. Just come out and admit it and not say. It's simple. So I can watch Porn but if I am truly a good person, good husband and give weekly to charitable things then it's ok to do it correct? And nobody should judge me even my bishop correct? I can tell him, Bishop, I watch Porn about a couple hours a week but I can promise you I am ok and it does not affect me. We're good right?You don't seem to be understanding what we're saying.
gdog Posted October 19, 2011 Author Posted October 19, 2011 Since Church members and leaders used to be able to drink coffee, and garments started out long sleeve (and leg) and have only gotten shorter over the years, what do you think?Oh, and I've got bad news about the gays and the Church.And I assume you believe that those changes were straight from God? So I assume you feel that one can grow closer to the Lord while partaking in rated R films but not quit as much because one drinks a cup of Joe in the mornings?Your not one of those that think one can drink 12 regular Cokes a day and abuse their body and become 85 pounds over weight and diabetic and go to the Temple but would never touch coffee because it against the WOW? Or, I will die of a heart attack by eating 5 Guys all day long before I would ever touch coffee. Right?
Saints Alive Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I think the God of the Bible isn't the God that most people Imagine him to be. The God that is Imagined up in the heads of most people is too Holy to be God.I think God is too complex for any mere mortal to fully comprehend
thesometimesaint Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Does God Really Change?NO, but our understandings of what it is he wants us to do does.
gdog Posted October 19, 2011 Author Posted October 19, 2011 You don't seem to be understanding what we're saying.I get exactly what you are saying and that was in my first post. We are all buffet Mormons. We pick and choose what we want to do and find ways of approval for our behavior even thought deep down we know what the spirit really wants us to do. It's human nature. 1
altersteve Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 I get exactly what you are saying and that was in my first post. We are all buffet Mormons. We pick and choose what we want to do and find ways of approval for our behavior even thought deep down we know what the spirit really wants us to do. It's human nature.You did not get what I was saying, obviously, because that's not what I was saying at all.
gdog Posted October 19, 2011 Author Posted October 19, 2011 gdog, "Judge not, lest ye be judged."Then why do us as LDS judge so much?
altersteve Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Then why do us as LDS judge so much?I'm talking about you. Stop judging.
Saints Alive Posted October 19, 2011 Posted October 19, 2011 Then why do us as LDS judge so much?Because we know its ok to Judge if you're giving righteous Judgement.
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