July 2
Proverbs 25:1-29:27
A number of years ago, Joy Behar said on "The View" concerning former Vice President Mike Pence's Christian faith, that talking to Jesus is one thing, but hearing Jesus talk to you could be described as "mental illness". The View has almost 3 million viewers weekly and is one of the most popular daytime TV shows. We exalt entertainment celebrities, follow them, listen to them due to the particular shows and movies they are in, in spite of their views. Daniel Radcliffe, the star of the many Harry Potter movies is an avowed atheist. How many of our children were allowed to follow this actor and watch him being interviewed being influenced by his words, etc. despite his views. Morgan Freeman played God in the movie "Bruce Almighty" and "Evan Almighty", despite both claiming to be an atheist and once stating in an interview that he himself was "God". The list of musicians who were atheists is nearly endless. We have all sung their songs and exalted them, including John Lennon of the Beatles. Most in my generation can sing the song "Imagine" by heart with its beautiful melody and godless lyrics. We in our society have either never known or have chosen to ignore what the definition of a fool is in order to embrace all that society offers.
David writes in Psalm 14:1, "The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good." If you believe there is no God, then you have abandoned all true standards of what is right and wrong. Such an attitude renders one a fool. We read in Proverbs 26:1,8, "As snow in summer and rain in harvest, So honor is not fitting for a fool...Like one who binds a stone in a sling Is he who gives honor to a fool." But this is exactly what we do. We have elevated our atheist celebrities in entertainment, sports, and the news industry to god-like status. People hang on their every word. Though they don't continually disparage the things of God, we must ask ourselves, "Isn't even one comment against God too much?" Yet we allow these individuals to shape our culture and the minds of our family and friends. We read in Proverbs 26:4-5, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes." On interviews with these various atheist celebrities, everyone claps and laughs along with anything that they say, like seals in a circus show. But we are told not to join them and give foolish answers to foolish questions or statements. We are never to join them at that level. We are to always remember that we are God's ambassadors and should respond according to Him when faced with comments by an atheist. We also read in Proverbs 26:11, "As a dog returns to his own vomit, So a fool repeats his folly." We all make mistakes, but a fool doesn't want to learn and keeps repeating the same behavior repetitively.
We all like to consider ourselves above the influence of celebrities. But we must never minimize their influence. How many lives were destroyed and continue to be destroyed by the music that we choose to listen to and the lyrics that we memorize. I was enamored by many of the Rock stars in the 1970's when I was growing up. I memorized their songs and hearing them still makes me nostalgic whenever I hear them. But when I stop and listen to the oftentimes godless lyrics I'm amazed that I actually listened and sang along to these songs. If I believe that these songs had no influence on me when I was growing up, I lie to myself. Now I find myself unwilling to listen to them. Not because I shouldn't or can't, but because why would I want to listen to anyone who disparages the name of God. But this is the choice that we must all make. Religion censors and tells you that you are not allowed. But when we are in a true relationship with God we are free to do what we want. Why would we want to do anything which does not uplift the One that we love. Just as I would not choose to surround myself with those who spoke negatively about my wife I choose not to be influenced by those who speak negatively of God. We live in a society which is becoming increasingly hostile to the things of God. Light and dark can not coexist. Those who are against God are not neutral or middle of the road, but are considered enemies of God. We, as God's children must take sides. We are either for Him or against Him.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: