Thank you. I'll admit I haven't been restricting secular media as much as I should. But I recently cut off a friend who didn't take my faith seriously. She would pressure me into watching films that didn't necessarily remind me of or glorify Christ. I also stopped talking to a Christian boy who listened to musicians like Mac Miller despite his faith. I feel guilty for cutting the both of them off but I just can't make any more exceptions. The both of them dismissed the existence of demons and didn't take me seriously when I explained my fears.
You did very well here.
The Bible tells us that we need to take this action, if we want to have good morals 1 Corinthians 15:33; Proverbs 13:20, and draw ever closer to God James 4:4, and further away from this world, under the control of Satan 1 John 2:15-17; 1 John 5:19.
Actually, you mentioned a very dark source Satan uses. I used to be heavily into Rap music. It was my favorite music genre, but I cut it off entirely - completely. Rock music is the same.
Satanists use the music industry, and lots of artists are in the occult. I did research on this years ago, and I am so thankful, it helped me.
I'll try to reframe my perspective the same way you have: I'll remind myself that they are only attempting to scare me and that I determine the strength of their influence. Sometimes I feel guilty when I label things as demonic because I don't want people to feel offended or weirded out by me. But like you said that association is important to make.
Be careful with that fear of not wanting to offend. It will be used against you.
The Bible tells us, to keep proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. Ephesians 5:10
Notice it did not says, to prove what is acceptable to your friends.
If you have friends who are offended by your beliefs, you need to ask yourself some serious questions, "whom am I walking with? Will they help me to be wise?"
Association is very, very important. We cannot make a mistake about that.
The media knows this, and use it.
If you have the time to respond: How do you explain to loved ones and friends your aversion to certain types of media? Without being ostracized? I'm 20 years old and I want close relationships and friendships but it seems like I always have to sacrifice my closeness to God for the sake of it.
I am available to answer any question you have, and am happy to do so.
First of all, let me say, I understand how you feel. We all love friendships.
God made us to have close friendships.
The reality is though, that Satan created a different environment, and so, God wants us to have friend who are his friends. We have an example ... in fact many examples, in the Bible, of persons who chose friends, on the basis that they were righteous, rather than chose friends, on the basis of blood relations, popularity, or other.
A really fine example, is Jonathan - Saul's son.
Notice what we learn about his friendship, that can help you with your question.
1 Samuel 17:57-18:5
57 When David returned from killing [Goliath] the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand.
58 Saul asked him, “Whose son are you, young man?” And David answered, “
I am the son of your servant Jesse of Bethlehem.”
1 When David had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bonded to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself..
2 Saul took David that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.
3 Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
If you know this account well, you would know that Jonathan took sides with David, over his father, and for good reason. Saul was really being influenced by Satan.
We could say Saul took Satan's side, because he tried to kill both David, and Jonathan... his own son.
Though it may seem hard, it is the right thing to do.
Sometimes we do not see the good results doing the right thing will bring... until we do the right thing. Only then, will we see the benefits.
This is what Jesus meant, when he told his followers... “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for My sake and for the gospel who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age which is coming, eternal life. Mark 10:29, 30
So, indeed, Jesus said you have to make sacrifices. Matthew 10:32-39
It cannot be avoided, if you want friendship with God.
Remember that this world is Satan's, and the majority of people are going down with Satan. Only a few will survive, and live in God's world, forever. Matthew 7:13, 14
Do you want to live forever?
I have close relationships with my spiritual brothers and sisters.
We do things together - worship together; preach together; have wholesome recreation together. Acts 2:42
Doing this will have a good effect on your life... and yes, I do understand that at times, we may feel lonely, because we may feel we do not connect, but I remember words someone said years ago... To have a friend, you must be a friend, and I found this to be true Acts 20:35. When you look for the interests of others, instead of self, you gain friendships. Philippians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 13:5
