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When our children were young, my husband
and I
decided we wouldn't watch R-rated movies. We wouldn't
allow our children to watch them, so we decided
that to watch them ourselves would be confusing
to them. We made this decision in good conscience
decided we wouldn't watch R-rated movies. We wouldn't
allow our children to watch them, so we decided
that to watch them ourselves would be confusing
to them. We made this decision in good conscience
and never regretted it. I found, however,
that
it made me feel judgmental toward other parents
it made me feel judgmental toward other parents
who watched R-rated movies. I began to
feel they
weren't fully committed to Christ because
they watched
things I'd decided not to watch.
Even as I write this, I realize how ridiculous
things I'd decided not to watch.
Even as I write this, I realize how ridiculous
it is to judge someone's relationship with
God by
what rating of movies he or she watches,
but it was
so subtle at the time. Since it was a sacrificial
so subtle at the time. Since it was a sacrificial
commitment for me, I instinctively
evaluated other
people's spiritual dedication when they
talked
about the latest movie they'd watched. As I
about the latest movie they'd watched. As I
made this judgment, I never thought about
my own
sin or all the things that person was
doing right.
Instead I focused on this one thing I thought
Instead I focused on this one thing I thought
they were doing wrong.
The ability to see sin in others and ignore it
The ability to see sin in others and ignore it
in your own heart is one of the
distinguishing
characteristics of a Pharisee, and being a
Pharisee is so
easy. It's great to make rules to guide our own behavior,
easy. It's great to make rules to guide our own behavior,
but when we extend those rules to everyone
around us, we're in danger of becoming
pharisaical.
By JoHannah Reardon
By JoHannah Reardon
Midi: I Am A Pilgrim
