I wonder how much deeper our commitment to purity and relentless devotion to the Word of God would be if we came to the collective conclusion that there is no middle ground. That the dimensions or realms in which we live are not God, Man, and the devil, but just God and the devil. And whatever we choose to do, regardless of how mundane, will honor and exalt one of the two. Always, and without exception.
Theologians will call what I am describing the non-existent third realm – humanism. The error or deceptive attitude where we start to believe that there is a space for things and beliefs, and activities that are merely for man. It is not necessarily dishonoring of God, but at the same time, also not in agreement with what the devil wants for us.
It is a place or belief system dominated by the exercise of the intellect and the satisfaction of the human emotional needs. By doing what is entertaining and pleasing to the immediate need, but permissive in that it does not explicitly seek alignment with scripture, but finds comfort in believing subtly that there are times and moments when God has nothing to say about how we choose to use our time, or our energy, or our attention. Often, it will call any attempt to the dichotomy of life too radical. Too religious and unable to live and exist in mere life.
But the fortunate or unfortunate truth is the Word of God is an unyielding mirror of right and wrong. Let me give you a few scriptures Jesus said, and then tie them in with a few questions about how we choose to use our time and our lives. I will start with Matthew 12, verse 20 “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”
We often think about this in terms only of evangelism, or when describing the error of religions that do not acknowledge Jesus as supreme. But let me ask it of music, sport, and entertainment. What does this verse mean for TV-programs and music? Be it movies, series, or even talk shows. Take a moment to think about what has been the fruit of the proliferation of television, cellphones, and the internet, as well as gaming.
The majority of programs available claim to be neutral. To have no definitive say about the message they are trying to share. Apart, maybe, from today, when certain agendas are being thrust deliberately into every media program for one reason or another. But think about it – in the West, where these have been available for multiple generations, the decline of people’s trust in God as supreme and infallible is evident.
We are taught to identify hearts or intents or the standings of people and societies by their fruits (Matthew 7:16). Surely, if we are to critically look at the fruits of how modern society and the things it exalts are constructed, can we have any doubt that anything not actively spreading Jesus is scattering? Think about what is actively taught in public schools today-evolution, a false equality of all religion, the supremacy of “science” etc. What does that do to the foundations of our faith?
Oh, that God would open our eyes to realise that we are in a war. And the ugly truth about this war is that there are no rules. It is not a war that subscribes to the Geneva convention, or any other construct we may desire, where the enemy at times takes a ceasefire, or only works through active devil worshippers and witches alone. Where we get to agree on which methods he can use and which ones he cannot use.
This is the kind of war where that old adage – “All is fair in love and war” goes. Where the enemy will use any and every avenue to try to get us out of our place of quiet, unshakeable confidence in who God is, and in who He has made and called us to be.
A soldier who has the best guns and tanks in the world, but is often in an open field without his bulletproof vest, will be wounded to the death by a mere arrow. We are called overcomers because he first overcame. And in Ephesians 6, we are told to wear the whole armour of God. Wearing it in part will leave us exposed. It works together, and any missing part will render us ineffective on the battlefield.
One of the items on this armour is a belt of truth – a centre piece to the rest of the armour and critical to guard us against the lies of the enemy. It is this belt that in this area I am calling us to reflect and once again gird it up. We cannot be blind to the reality that anyone not gathering with Christ is scattering. Anyone means any movie producer, or series director, or game developer, or teacher, or doctor, or anyone in any sphere of life. If they do not actively decide to make their work testify or reflect Christ and gather with him, it will scatter. It is a firm statement of how life goes.
So then, if this is true, it calls us to be discerning. And to be ruthless. To be ruthless in not allowing anything access to our minds and our hearts, for we are then aware of the seeds that can be planted. Seeds that can be planted that we do not want to grow. There is a Shona proverb that translates to something like “Kindness can turn on you,” (tsitsi dzinotsitsira), that holds here. We have no business being kind or lenient towards anything that can allow the enemy’s agenda and thought processes into our hearts.
If this sounds a bit extreme, and very different from what a normal life looks like, may I take time to remind you that if you call yourself a Christian, then you believe that a virgin gave birth. You believe that a man died, and on the third day, took up his own life again. You believe that your sins, which rightfully made you deserve death, are forgiven because of nothing you did except to believe, and that has washed you to be white as snow before God because of someone else’s blood.
There is nothing ordinary or normal about being a Christian. It is a faith founded upon facts that fundamentally are absurd, and against everything that our normal lives would otherwise lead us to think or believe. It is only natural for the full walking out of this journey to be radically different.
Think about some of the commands we have been given. “If any man slaps you on the right cheek, give him also the left (Matthew 5:39).” “Let the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts in Christ Jesus. (Phillipians 4 vs 7)” ” Be ye holy for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16″ Think about the overarching mission or desire of God in us that we come fully conformed to the image of Christ (Ephesians 4:29, Romans 8:29).
Do you really believe that these can be true and fulfilled in our lives without us needing to make choices that make us stand out and look weird to unbelievers? Nowhere in scripture are we afforded the luxury to believe that we can walk with him and not stand-out.
We need to come to terms with this and with the truth that, whatsoever we choose to do, we are either going to honour God or dishonor him. And that whatever we allow our eyes to see, or our hearts and minds to consume-will either strengthen or weaken our faith and trust in him.
Because when we do, I can guarantee you that we will truly fulfil Proverbs 4 verse 23. We will guard our hearts with all diligence, and see the issues of life flowing out of it. As the verse says, this is our responsibility to do, and not God’s.
Selah!