DAY 51
DATE: 2/20/2013
Good Morning! My name is Deb Wappel and I was asked to give you a devotional thought from the book of Colossians chapters 2 and 3.
KEY VERSES:
Colossians 3:5-6, 8
5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection evil concupiscence (strong sexual desire) and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience.
8 But now ye also put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
REFLECTIONS:
Paul was informed of dangerous theological error circulating in the churches of Colossae and Laodicea. In response he wrote the epistle of Colossians. The heresy caused some to turn to legalism and severe self-control to weaken the body, some to angel worship, and others gave in to sexual promiscuousness, dismissing what the body did as morally irrelevant. In this passage Paul shows that the way we live in our body does make a difference. In fact, true spirituality is living a human life here on earth in union with God.
American Idol holds the record as the most-watched prime-time program for the most number of years. For eight consecutive years, either its performance or result show has been number one in U.S. television ratings. It has been described as the most impactful show in the history of television! The show’s primary audience is teen girls.
Although not a teen girl, I have been a faithful fan of American Idol over the past few years. I have defended it as a wholesome family show with a cast of young wholesome performers competing for the win. Unlike other reality shows such as Survivor (which I don’t, by the way, watch), these young people historically support each other with camaraderie and loyalty. There has been no history of lies and manipulations just to gain a win. On many occasions young winners have sincerely praised God for their success. But in recent years the devil has begun to inch his way in this show, finding it a good means to the minds of innocent young people. First it started with guest performers appearing dressed in sexually provocative costumes and moving in vulgar ways. During last year’s season, I noticed an effort to try to change these young contestants’ styles and beliefs to become more sexual in tone and move. Finally, this season seems to have started out with an obvious all-out war on what used to be normal, desirable morals and values. So far the judges have chosen to advance effeminate men, a cross-dresser, and others who have not performed well. They are bypassing those who seem to be traditional, talented young people. Front and center in these selections is Nicki Menaj, a new judge. Who is Nicki Menaj?
I did some research on Menaj. In scanning some of her performances on Youtube, I found them to be extremely sexual and vulgar. I noticed one of these videos was actually rated as #1 in a teen viewer’s survey! In addition to all her explicitly vulgar song themes, language, and dances, she performs through alter egos and claims to have a twin brother hidden inside her. She also claims to have a demon within her. I believe that part! Shockingly, Menaj claims to be a Christian!! And sadly, she will become an even bigger teen icon because she is on American Idol.
Young people all over the world are being influenced and misled, possibly to hell, by performers like Nicki Menaj, Lady Gaga, Katie Perry. They all claim to be “Christian,” yet they are allowing Satan to use them to personify exactly what the Bible warns against. They are using Scriptures like “God is Love,” “Love one another,” and those later in Colossians 3 about kindness. But people like this fully ignore the admonishments such as those in the earlier verses that say what we do in the body does concern God, and reflects on the God we claim to know and love. It is still sin!
APPLICATION:
I will stop watching American Idol. A much better use of that time will be praying for my precious, innocent granddaughters who will grow up in a world where heresy (belief or opinion contrary to Christian doctrine) is growing at tremendous rates.
Thank you for being a part of the Route 66 Bible Reading Challenge. Thanks for reading, and have a blessed day!
In Christ,
Debbie
AGE I GOT SAVED: 9 years old.
LIFE VERSE: I Samuel 12:24
FAMILY: Husband Larry, Sons Larry Jr (Katrina) Eric (Laura) and 4 granddaughters
OCCUPATION: Former Educator and Executive Director, now busy at home
MINISTRY AT VBC: New member, excited to see where God leads
DREAM VACATION: Paris
HOBBIES: Dinner Parties, Flower Gardening, Home Decorating