In Reply to: Re: We do need fantasy posted by Donny on March 08, 2003 at 15:22:46:
Hi Donny, The reason I didn't respond to that question is because I don't know the specific verses that you are refering to. Unless I can examine those verses in comparison to the excerpts from the Greek plays that he was supposedly quoting from I cannot comment on such. I am sure however that sayings from the theatre would have found their way into common usage and even if Paul used such that wouldn't mean that he approved of the Greek theatre as a proper venue for Christians. I commonly use expressions from the TV when such are sufficiently known by others, and such usage helps to better convey a point. This may surprize you, but I have a very acute imagination, a natural acting ability and a wild sense of humour that is quite spontanious and I routinely blow people away. I like to make people laugh because the joy I find in Jesus compells me to lighten the load that others carry in this world. Yet, I know that only the Lord can truly lift the burdens that weigh men down and so I hope that the fact that I can laugh in the face of the grim realities of life that make others tremble will serve as a beacon inspiring others to want to know the Lord. I can understand where you are coming from because I have read a good deal of fiction and have spent countless hours absorbed in the TV, but let me ask you two questions. What do you have to show for all that time spent? What will you say to the Lord when He asks you what was your purpose and intent, in following such pursuits? I couldn't come up with a good answer, (Using my imagination to picture having to give just such an account of myself.)and so realized that I shouldn't be doing stuff that I might be ashamed of before the Lord Jesus Christ. Even so, I do believe that it is up to the individual to determine according to their own conscience what participation in worldly amusements is contrary to their spiritual health and whether or not they can afford such indulgences. Years ago after abstaining from TV for a period of time (months?) the Lord told me to go turn the TV on. He must have told me about three times because I hard time believing that He would suggest such a thing. When I did turn it on, I found there was a documentary on Israel that tied into the studies I was engaged in at the time. I have also been shown from films where the Lord is being mocked by film producers through somewhat subliminal means. Do you remember I mentioned before about having seen into the future. I was shown where the Lord was being mocked in TV programs. (This is from about 1982.) I was given the name South Park, the Simpsons, and a description of a cartoon for adults where Jesus and Satan fight it out with boxing gloves. Being the only person I know who was essentially given previews of this stuff, I can assure you that the Lord was not at all impressed with any of it. It won't surprize me in the least to see this generation jack booting it after the anti-christ. Very few today have a realistic view of earthly things let alone spiritual things so it is very unlikely that many will escape the strong delusions just ahead. When men can walk around in religious costumes blaspheming the Lord right from the pulpits, making a mockery of the Gospel and living in wickedness; only to have people throw money at their feet, you can be sure they will just adore the 666, 'man of sin'. It won't be long now!