PFD: Twilight Edition...Part Duex

Last night I posted this. I was poking a bit of fun at the Twi-hards out there. If my jesting was not obvious, I'm sorry...I am working on my ability to communicate. But this post was in jest, not judgement. I'm pointing this out because I think there are some of us who are conflicted in our response to those are Christians and Twi-hards.

See I'm blessed to be married to a pretty amazing gal. She's been sweet on me, and me on her, for almost 17 years now, a little over if you start at our first date. She works hard for our local school to help provide in our home, she takes care of our house to provide a safe haven for our sons and I, she constantly advocates for those in need, and she's always great! And she really enjoys the Twilight series. She has read all the books, and is really going to have a fun night with her girlfriends seeing the 8 o'clock show. She will have a great time, and I hope the movie meets her expectations!

I tease her about the various double standards going on with this all the time...like how I'd be in so much trouble if I was earnestly waiting for the latest movie starring Reese Witherspoon or Jennifer Anniston or [insert the name of your favorite Hollywood beauty here]. All would not be well if I was planning months in advance for the release of "Sweet Home Alabama 2" (a movie I hope is never made). There is a double standard about this stuff and I poke fun about it and tease my Sweetie, and then I tell her to enjoy herself at Twilight: Breaking Wind! I enjoy the jest.

There's another double standard going on though. The other side of the jesting coin is judgement.

Rather than jest, I could reprimand her for enjoying this story full of macabre. I could say that her participation in this story is un-Christian. In essence I could shame her, perhaps just a little or a great deal, depending on my level of superiority in the moment. I could be as judgmental about it as I want to be.

And there may be a little bit of truth to my stance. If I take a biblical look at the storyline, I'm fairly sure I could poke some doctrinal holes. The vampires and werewolves are easy prey. I could point out that this story isn't likely to draw people to Christ. That it could easily become an idol, a type of relationship pornography, or maybe something much worse.

But, that's not my call.

You see I've got my own hangups that I'm working on. I spend more time with my iPhone than my family on many occasions. I study Facebook status updates and neglect studying the Bible. I have 450 friends on Facebook, but have trouble thinking of a real, live person that I can get together with most nights of the week. I highly enjoyed HBO's Band of Brothers, I've seen Braveheart multiple times, I laughed at Caddyshack...and Horrible Bosses...and Wedding Crashers. I overeat on many occasions. I under-exercise on even more.*

So what does the Bible say about this?

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye?

You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." Matthew 7:1-6

So here's my stance: I'm a mess much of the time. I have enough lumber in eye storage to build a 1,000 bridges from my own junk. I'm here to be a better follower of Jesus. I'm here to accept and extend Grace.

I hope that I can take the lumber from my eyes and build bridges to Jesus. I hope that my fellow Christians will join me. I hope that those who don't follow Jesus will join me too.

When I notice my brothers enjoying something that I think is out of bounds, I have a choice. I can judge them and toss a few rocks in their general direction. Or I can continue to love, bless them in thought and deed, and keep working on removing the sticks from my eyes.

If they ask my advice, I'll be honest, and hopefully humble. If they aren't asking, then isn't really up to the Holy Spirit to convict?

Hopefully you can count on me to toss a few jests your way, and reserve the judgements for myself.

Jesus loves you and me too!

Mike

*In these examples, there's gratuitous violence, sex outside of marriage, plenty of crass and vulgar language, and I demonstrate the inability to take care of myself physically, something I believe the Bible's clear about.