By Gavin Boyle
Pastor JP Pokluda explained how the media we consume influences our thoughts and feelings and attracts us to the wicked things of this world rather than the purity of God.
“Young women will come up and say, you know, ‘Pastor, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I only date lowers, you know, it’s like I’m only attracted to guys that hurt me…'” Pokluda told Candace Cameron Bure. “And I say, ‘Well, what do you want? Let me ask you a couple questions. What’s your favorite song?…’ and they’ll begin to say artists or songs that glorify sex and broken relationships.”
“And I’ll say, okay, well, what’s your favorite show? You know?… THE BACHELOR, LOVE ISLAND, you know. I’m like, here’s the deal, you’re systematically programming your heart to be attracted to people who will hurt you,” Pokluda continued. “And that’s the thing…Grandma was right: garbage in, garbage out. We’re not filling our hearts with the righteous things of God. If we’re not walking in righteousness, we’re going to hurt ourselves.”
So many of the things that are popular today direct our steps to the follies of this world, such as the pursuit of fame, money, power or pleasure. All of these things are things of the flesh that lead to death and destruction. In the Bible, the Lord is clear that His way does not align with the way of the flesh.
“For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want,” Paul writes in Galatians 5:17.
However, in recent years, the media has seen an influx of high-quality Christian content that is truly edifying. Whether it be TV shows and movies through ventures like Wonder Project, Angel Studios or Great American Pure Flix, or music, through a variety of new mainstream stars like Forrest Frank.
Related: Raising Media-Wise Children in the Age of Digital Streaming
“When I was growing up, I didn’t necessarily have cool Christian music to listen to. If I was going to the gym or if I was at the beach, it seemed like there weren’t really any Christian songs that would fit those facets of life…So, I aspired to make Christian music that I think is cool,” Frank said when explaining why he was inspired to create Christian music. “I’m just making it the way that I love it. I think that authenticity is what kids resonate with.”
At the same time, audiences continue to clamor more than ever for clean, relatable content over the excessive projects that Hollywood pushes. Christians need to keep being vocal about the content they want so Hollywood continues to change.
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