The Power of The Media

Mark Chapter 7 (Read it ALL) This is just a high light. “14 After He called the crowd to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside the man which can defile him if it goes into him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man. 16 [[f]If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.”]”

Everyone who knows this story knows it’s about food. But doesn’t Jesus use parable to go deeper than the surface? So let’s go deeper.

I have a friend whose favorite rap artist is Brotha Lynch Hung. If you don’t know who he is, he is likely the MOST vulgar rap artist out there. He makes Eminem seem like a gospel artist. This friend of mine hardly ever curses, didn’t drink until recently and still only rarely, and is one of the nicest guys in America. Isn’t that an oxymoron of American culture?  How could it be after more than twenty years of listening to vulgarity this man can lead an unvulgar life

            Simply, he is responsible to his actions. So many of us are so irresponsible for our actions.  [] Tradition is why we do it. “I just don’t know why I did it. Must have been all the Basketball Wives and Bad Girls Club.” “My friends…” “My Family…” Or the worst one ever… “These kids…”

            A picture was posted on Facebook and the question attached to it was simply, “Does this offend you”

The answer to a true believer should be ‘NO’. It is possibly offensive to the person who made it. He and he alone will have to deal with the consequences of his actions. That is, unless a person CHOOSES to internalize this picture and allow it to control their response.

            What I see and am commenting on is a tradition of being influenced and/or controlled by the outside factors. The people I read about and am descendent from in the Bible are stronger than that. The power to tread scorpions is ours. “…nothing shall by any means hurt you.” That is, you/we who believe.

            What goes in doesn't defile you. What comes out does! Be aware not of what's being given to you, the media, associates, environment, family; be aware and responsible of your response (what comes out). No matter what, you are responsible for your actions. Why is it that we know better and still give all the power over our actions to outside influences? Maybe we don’t know better. Maybe we don’t believe in what we know. Maybe… we don’t believe in what we think we believe in…