Blurred Lines

Our eyes can see the bridge, we know it’s a bridge, but there’s something just a little bit off. The photo is blurry, but it’s good enough. The more we stare at it, the more we become familiar with it and it no longer bothers our eyes. We then begin to accept it as a bridge instead of a blurry bridge.

Often times we don’t realize that the things we are watching or allow our eyes to see can be harmful to us. We don’t realize the music we listen to, or the words we speak can take away from our spiritual growth and personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The world can easily desensitize us. When this happens there becomes a blurred line of what the Bible says is okay and what we as individuals are okay with.

If we are watching a “family” TV show that sends the message saying that it’s okay to laugh at people then how can we really teach our kids empathy?
I’ve seen Spotify stations advertise a “break up” playlist. If we’re already feeling sad and we turn on that playlist, it will only bring us more sadness and possibly turn that sorrow into anger. If we play uplifting music that sends messages of joy, soon our sorrows will turn into happiness.

I remember when my son was around three years old we were watching reruns of a “family safe” show that made fun of a clumsy neighbor who was often dismissed and viewed a nuisance. He seemed to break things quite often or have grand ideas that would turn out to create disasters.

…And right on queue, we laughed. That is until we noticed that our little boy had tears streaming down his face. In between his soft cries, he explained he didn’t understand why everyone was so mean to him and he asked why we were laughing. He went on to explain that the character couldn’t help the way he was and went on to say something that I will never forget. His exact words were, “That’s just the way Jesus made him”.

He was right. We had taught him not to make fun of people who were struggling or having hard times. We taught him to accept people who are different, and yet here we were, tuning into the television to laugh at a character that could very well possibly resemble a real-life person.

Somewhere along the way, we allowed our lines to become blurred. As parents, we apologized and acknowledged that he was right. We changed the channel and still seventeen years later, we have not watched that show again.

Proverbs 4:18- 27 says, “18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day. 19 The way of the wicked is like darkness; They do not know what makes them stumble. 20 My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings.
21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 For they are life to those who find them, And health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, And put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, And your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil”.

We need to keep our eyes on Jesus and be rooted in his word so we are not influenced by the world and let our lines become blurred. We cannot have one foot in and one foot out. You are either hot or cold. You cannot be lukewarm. You are either following Christ or following the world, you cannot do both.

How many people are we following on social media that are not following Christ? What are they posting that we have to scroll by quickly, or how often do we read things that take away our joy or our peace? We need to be sure we are truly living out the life we are meant to live in every aspect of our lives. Including all forms of media.

Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof”. What are your words saying?