Thursday, August 27, 2009

3 Influences

3 Influences

By J. Paul


There are three things in life that influence us:

1. What we believe (about God) 1
2. Who we spend time with 2
3. Our entertainment (i.e. TV, music, books, etc.) 3

These three are intertwined with each other and have great influence upon each other. For example what we watch on TV influences what kind of people we want to be with. In return, the people we hang around with influence what we watch and our music. The most powerful influence and motivation is what we believe about God. If I didn’t believe in God and was an atheist then there is no higher standard whereby I can judge either what I watch or who I hang around. On the other hand who I hang around and what I watch and read can also influence what I believe about God. These things influence how I think and what I think I should become. They shape my goals and help me prioritize for better or worse.


Points to ponder:


He that walks with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20a

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes… it shall not cleave to me. Psalm 101:3

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 What we believe about God: Christian theism, atheism, pantheism, the great mush god, cultural deity, etc. What we believe about mankind closely follows this (i.e. man is fallen, man is basically good, man is a genetic machine, man is a product of blind chance, man has no intrinsic value, etc.)

2 Parents, friends, peers, mentors, teachers, pastors, etc.

3 This may include educational and inspirational/spiritual material as well as recreational.