Entertainment-itis Part 1

Folks, this topic is so important that I sought out the services of a young writer named Brian Quirk to help me frame the arguments herein. Brian has three attributes I badly needed to strike the right tone for the article, specifically, youth, intelligence and a stellar writing style. 

Just for fun, see if you can figure out where my discourse ends, and Brian’s begins!

 I'm Thinking of Creating a New 12-Step Group.

One for entertainment junkies.

I've written about this before, but this time I'd like suggest an alternative.

I'm attempting to "recover," to use proper support group jargon, from a "disease," as pundits like to call everything that, when you get right down to it, really just amounts to compulsive sin.

The "disease," AKA, sin problem, in question is called "entertainment-itis," and I suspect I'm not the only one who suffers from it. In of her books, Jane Austen manifests this “condition,” as it were, in a young girl named Catherine, who almost misses out on finding true love due to the unwavering stranglehold placed over her by romance novels of the day. Because she can never resist their intoxicating bouquet, she ironically impedes herself from finding the very thing she truly seeks.

In my case, the music and film/television industries have a way of thrusting me into worlds I don't belong in with questionable characters I have no business entertaining, even in daydreams. In today’s world especially, such temptations are mighty difficult to avoid.

To date, I haven't met anyone in Christian circles who will outwardly own up to ever having suffered from this affliction. Most believers seem to fall into one of two categories: first, those who avoid Hollywood and "secular music" altogether (I put the latter in quotes because I wonder if Christ would hold Himself to such rigid standards in today’s fast paced, ever-evolving society); and then there are those who allow themselves to taste and even devour treats from a broad, somewhat questionable entertainment menu, under the risky but convenient canopy of religious liberty (the same umbrella term that allows them to label folks like teetotalers and Sabbatarians as legalists, while failing to offer solutions to those who can't resist overindulging).

What I’m hoping to do here is dissolve the “us or them” dynamic that seems to exist on either side of this spectrum. I believe each end of this stick has its own roses and thorns.

I'm not trying to cause division in the ranks. Truly, I'm not. It's just that, for years, I've been straddling a wobbly line between these two camps (as I suspect many of us have been guilty of at one point or another), and I'm getting to the point where things just need to be clarified.

Diagnosis: Binger

The problem for me is twofold. For one thing, I'm a binger (pronounced binjer) in general, so I'm always asking God to help me keep down my consumption of anything and everything. Then, too, I've found over the years, I have to be very careful what entertainment I consume because I also tend to be an obsessor, meaning my mind gets stuck on things. So, an otherwise uneventful Friday night can find me glued to my easy chair for hour upon meaningless hour, followed by a Saturday morning "hangover" consisting of mental involvement in the fictitious lives of the characters I binged on the night before (and, if the actors interest me enough, checking out their personal lives on the Internet).

I can hear my reader groaning, then uttering, "So, what's the big deal? Lots of people binge watch to unwind, and they don't have any problem stepping back into reality."

To that, I reply, "Good for them."

Seriously. I mean, I can have an occasional drink without turning into a falling down drunk, and I once walked away from a casino with my scant but intact winnings tucked safely into my pocket, feeling no urge to continue gambling. I was satisfied with my take (however ill-gotten), and had no desire to try for more or even return to the site of my "big win" another day.

Those temptations don't pose a problem for me, but clearly, they do for many people, or we wouldn't have AA and treatment centers for gambling addiction.

As has been said, everything in moderation, but some may find that moderation a lot easier to come by than do their fellow agents in the field. Everyone has vices, and unfortunately each allurement makes itself at home in a unique way. It’s easy for us to speculate and comment about the downfalls of others, but as the Good Book says, how dare we point out the speck in our brother's eye before first removing the log from our own? We all wrestle with something.

Years ago, as a young Christian who hadn't yet figured out the folly of feeding myself Biblical truth with one hand and soap opera trash with the other, I organized my life around daytime dramas. It really meant a lot to me to keep up with the comings and goings, triumphs and tragedies, of the overburdened characters in those stories. I can remember holding a huge grudge against a college professor whose class interfered with my viewing of a certain story line that had me riveted.

VCR's and DVR's were nothing but clumps of letters in those days, and I'm pretty sure society was better off before they stood for something.

Then one day it dawned on me that I was countering the word of God I'd been pouring into my mind with trash (much like following a healthy vegan meal with a BK suicide burger). Not only that, but from a purely logical standpoint, the folks on General Hospital weren't sitting around watching other people on TV ruin their lives - no, they were getting up and out, making messes of their own!

I think part of the enormous appeal of film and television in today’s world is that the scripted, prefab doings of our favorite characters’ lives help us feel less alone in ours. When we view a drama focused around family strife, struggles of adulthood, relationship issues, or what have you, it comforts us to know that others undergo the same angst and everyday problems we face, and on such a universal level that some media mogul was able to profit from providing us that reassurance. Sometimes it can feel good to think, “At least I’m not Ian from Eastenders!” It’s nice to know someone understands, and is going through the same things we are.

Facing the Music

Having spent a great deal of time explaining my addictive tendencies towards visually consumed media, let me add that I can become equally obsessed with music. Under the influence of an older sister and best friend who were Beatle freaks, I cut my teeth listening to the Fab Four croon out love songs. Rock bands of the 70's and 80's, philosophic troubadours like Don McLean and Jackson Browne, and even a healthy helping of John Denver, have never failed to touch my soul and scoop me up into the artist's world. Much like the appeal of mainstream television, it never hurts to hear that we’re not the only ones going through growing pains.

Except it doesn't always end there for this listener. As I've grown older, I've become especially wary of concert-going (something I loved to do in my salad days). The combination of musical enchantment and the glamour of stage presence - well, I just can't fight it. It gets in my head, and along with it, preoccupation with the presenter of the magic. It’s difficult not to see someone as larger than life when he’s, well, larger than life.

Not to mention that it can be hard to hold to the constraints of law when indulging in the winsome warbling of a favorite star bathed in ultraviolet light and smoke machines. It’s so easy to get swept up, swept away and swept off our feet by melodic messages. Before we know it, we sweep our best intentions under the rug, our inhibitions out the door, and, well, all bets are off. 

All or Nothing?

In light of the potential pitfalls, is it necessary to swear off the entertainment industry altogether, or is there a recourse?

I believe there is. The next installment of this article will address some possible “treatments” for “entertainment-itis,” so stay tuned!

Entertainment-itis Part 3

Part 1 of "Entertainment-itis" dealt with the addictive tendencies many of us face in the realm of visual media. Part 2 made the case for contemporary Christian music. In this final installment, we will broaden the discussion and tie up any loose ends.

Let’s Not Stop There

Could this same ideology not be applied to the world of print and film media today as well? Many of us retreat to books, movies, plays, etc. for most of the same reasons stated in parts 1 and 2 of this article. Therefore, it is important to note that the lens applied to the evolving nature of music and popular culture must also be pointed toward the aforementioned industries. While reading material can fall prey to the same dangers we have previously described, generally speaking, broad-brushers are less likely to summarily condemn print media as they might more modern forms of recreation, such as film. Therefore, I’ll confine my final arguments to the latter.

  

Finding and Supporting Finer Films

Motion pictures first saw the light of day in the early 1890’s, long after the Bible was written, and were not readily available to the common man until decades later. The first films were short, simple, and devoid of dialogue and color. Fast forward 100 plus years, and we have large-scale productions with huge budgets, covering a plethora of topics from zombies to war, romance, and even the gospel.

Can we not agree that a theater in 2019 hosting a revived showing of The Ten Commandments or The Greatest Story Ever Told, both of which were well received in their day, would likely be anything but filled with impressionable adolescents looking for a riveting stimulation of their senses? Especially when delectable, modern day actors are blowing up robots, unraveling plots for world domination, and portraying questionable love scenes two theaters down the hall. This returns us to our previous point – we must seek out healthy alternatives to compete with less desirable ones.

I’m not suggesting parents introduce young children to horror flicks and R-rated films in the name of family bonding and child development, any more than I would endorse serving young people musical indulgences glorifying sex, violence, or illicit substances. However, the stark fact remains that these options are all too real in our vast world of moving media, and to many of today’s youngsters, they offer the forbidden fruit we discussed in part 2. That being the case, we must ask ourselves the question, do artistic works render themselves harmful to us as believers simply because they have been adapted to suit the modern eye (or ear)? If the answer to this is no, we must next ponder, in a world where the line in the sand is so fluid, how do we know where it should be drawn?

While discretion and discernment are certainly called for when making viewing decisions, I hardly think our Lord and Savior would be flipping over concession stands at the local AMC, especially when it’s playing life affirming films like Unplanned and Gosnell. I have found that the secular media is usually loathe to advertise such movies, but rather, does everything in its power to bury them. For this reason, while I'm usually much too frugal (OK, cheap), to take in first-run films, I make it a point to put out cash for movies like these that are often the targets of ideological discrimination due to the important messages they bear. 

For example, Unplanned saw its Twitter account suspended the weekend of its release, and received an "R" rating, rather than "PG," for its mature content, forcing parents to think twice before bringing their children. Interestingly, Hollywood powers-that-be are largely silent over the fact that little ones are increasingly being indoctrinated  with pro-choice propaganda and hypersexualization in the name of gender freedom. In fact, entertainment moguls seem stunningly unperturbed about the link experts say exists between sexual content viewed by minors and their subsequent risky behavior; on the contrary, Hollywood continues to release pictures that fuel this phenomenon. Meanwhile, the Motion Picture Association of America, which assigns ratings, is more than willing to slap "PG" ratings on kids' movies with questionable content, while kneecapping a comparatively tame film like Unplanned by assigning it an "R" rating. If consistency is key, Tinseltown sure doesn't measure up.

But I digress. The main thing to remember is that the vehicle itself, i.e., the theater, is not to blame for the content it may at times be made to carry (think back to our discussion in part 2 of the fact that technology is a great tool, even though sin-stained hands may at times misuse it). I believe Christians should support worthwhile films when they manage to find their way into theaters.

The point is, it behooves believers to consciously consume with their families some of the finer productions available in theaters and home entertainment venues. Entities like Pureflix and the Kendrick Brothers are offering high-caliber film alternatives to Hollywood’s less desirable menu of options. In addition, Movieguide and Plugged In are online tools to help parents navigate and decide which movies will best reflect the values they wish to impart to their children. Here again, we see technology, rightly harnessed, being employed to serve rather than scare the believer.

Overcoming the Octopus

The scope of entertainment and worldly distraction has come leaps and bounds from the days of playing with a Jacob’s ladder in the schoolyard. The evolution and progression of the world has simply brought us to a place where practicalities are ever changing. As these things continue to develop, we find ourselves having to conform to a certain degree simply to be able to keep up with the pace at which life moves. After all, the wheel used to be a square. When was the last time you saw a car with square wheels? We are simply taking steps forward.

Children will be exposed, sooner or later, to the entertainment octopus. I’m nicknaming it thusly because this industry has arms and tentacles everywhere. Unless we decide to lock young people away with no technology or communication devices, the vast array of leisure options will find them. Some, like myself, may be rudely awakened by the manner in which this inevitability occurs. I tried very hard to prevent my sons from becoming interested in video games, which I saw as time wasters at best and mind corrupters at worst. To my dismay, the first person to bring them into our home was a parent from the Christian school they attended.

I can’t emphasize enough that children will not escape exposure to a vast array of recreational activities. As the previous example demonstrates, there is great diversity of opinion among believers as to what is and is not acceptable for Christian consumption. What we ought to be able to agree upon is the need to prayerfully and sensibly expose our youth to what’s out there while they're still under our roof and our authority.

God honoring adults must first lasso the entertainment octopus in their own lives, then wisely guide the next generation.

12-Step or Sidestep?

I began this article series by joking that we could use a new 12-step group for entertainment junkies like myself. This may seem to suggest total abstinence as the only way to conquer addiction. In many cases, such as alcohol dependency, there is no other way. However, when complete avoidance isn’t possible, prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit can help us safely navigate the minefields of modern life – and that includes recreational choices.

We then considered the idea that good messaging can be presented through today’s technology, but it must be palatable. Just as toddlers first receive medicine via sweet treats to make it taste better, the things of God can be introduced to an unchurched world in a similarly delicious way.

Come to think of it, a 12-step program may not be necessary after all. Perhaps we just need some help swallowing our pills.

Entertainment-itis Part 2

All or Nothing?

I ended part one of this article with, “In light of the potential pitfalls, is it necessary to swear off the entertainment industry altogether, or is there a recourse? I believe there is.”

I know what kinds of visual entertainment are going to give me trouble, and I avoid them (most of the time). Fortunately, there's a whole host of wholesome alternatives that I can even buy in box sets, so when the urge to chill comes along, I'm ready.

But what about music? 

Here's where I must respectfully disagree with some fellow believers I dearly love and deeply respect. I'm speaking of those who hold the position that: a) only psalms should be sung in worship services (sometimes even sans instrumental accompaniment); or b) only traditional hymns will do. There also seems to be much discord over whether "praise bands" should serve in churches to enhance the musical component of worship.

I even remember one dear saint who wreaked havoc in a church body over whether or not drums should be permitted in the assembly.

The old hymns are wonderful and many, even magnificent. It Is Well With My Soul, and the story behind it, can't be called anything but a monument to God's enduring love in the midst of cruelest hardship. Likewise, A Mighty Fortress is Our God stands among Martin Luther's finest accomplishments, and has served to comfort our country in its deepest distress. And who would deny that blind Fanny Crosby's hymns demonstrate more vision than the keenest spectacles could afford?

I wouldn't think of taking anything away from such lyrical masterpieces.

But let's face it, the world - and music - have evolved. Not every tune in the dog-eared hymnal is a work of crowning achievement. While music with a Christian message has developed over the years, many of the classic hymns and gospel songs carry with them quite a dated birth certificate. Some are less than singable, and many fail to resonate with modern listeners, especially the youth.

This is a problem. In a world where full albums can be had with a click on a phone, young listeners simply must be offered inspiring musical choices that can stand against the plethora of filth often churned out by unbelieving but oh-so-talented entertainers. In the light speed world of today’s music industry, million-dollar record moguls pump out earworm hits like it’s their job (and good for them, because it is their job). While not everyone’s cup of tea, these infectious tunes will have even the least interested of parties tapping their feet to the same line repeated over and over. It only stands to reason that removing said styles and voices of music altogether for fear of a fruitless message would certainly inspire curiosity and almost a “forbidden fruit” kind of allure. What makes this so bad? Why can’t I have it? There has to be a middle ground for an adventurous palate. A sip of wine as opposed to the whole bottle.

Contemporary music is constantly being adapted to the modern listener for one purpose - money. Just as record conglomerates design their music for a specific purpose (money), should we not support doing the same for another purpose (spreading the gospel)?

Enter, Contemporary Christian Music

Recognizing that tastes have changed, many modern Christian musicians have stepped up to showcase work they've composed with hearts, I believe, every bit as full and sincere as those of the great composers we've just mentioned. These songsters possess a true gift for melody and poetry which, unlike the foolish servant whom Christ condemned, they are attempting to wisely steward. 

Why shouldn't they be encouraged to use their gifts for the betterment of humanity in general and their Christian brethren in particular?

Think of it this way. Nobody enjoys taking a big, fat pill every day, especially children. I remember when I was a child, encountering my first antibiotic pill. I dreaded taking this pill each day. It was scary and I couldn’t understand how this unappealing, almost certainly life-threatening chore was going to benefit me in any way whatsoever. After several days of me probably driving my poor parents up a wall by refusing to take my medicine, they decided to start hiding them in spoonfuls of ice cream. I must say that this timeless tactic is absolutely brilliant. It’s an easy plot to see through as an adult, however, as a nine-year-old, I had no clue that this treat I was receiving was also doing me some good!

I believe the same concept can be applied to Christian music. The gospel can be a hard pill to swallow for some, especially in the modern world where so many are unwilling to listen. I get it, it’s hard to hear that none of us is worthy, that only by the wonderful grace of another Entity alone, we are saved. To many, the concept is unappealing, and with so many other fast paced distractions, there is certainly a fair share of competition. Here is where the ice cream comes in. As we discussed, many of these hymns and the messages behind them can be hard to swallow. However, disguised under the right flavor of "ice cream," listeners may have no idea that the treat they are receiving is also doing them some good.

Can we really argue that there isn't room alongside Spafford and Luther for the likes of Casting Crowns, whose reworking of time-worn hymns only freshens and beautifies them in a new way for a newer, younger audience? Should we tell front man Mark Hall (who also happens to be a youth pastor) to leave it at that, and shut off his own creative juices, lest he surpass the old-time greats? We could, but then he'd have had to hold back on Just Be Held, which speaks to millions of cancer survivors like himself, as well as folks like me, whose cross isn't cancer, but may seem just as heavy.

Are guitars and drum kits less holy than harps and violins? In what way do synthesizers diminish traditional keyboards? Why can't these different musical modalities simply coexist in the church, as they do in other venues?

Bottom line: palatability does not necessarily have to equal compromise.

Modern or Menacing?

Consider this. In today’s world, one would look a little ridiculous searching for a horse to ride to the grocery store. The ‘99 Corolla parked outside might have been viewed as a manifestation of witchcraft to our ancestors, but this is simply the way the world has evolved. It’s what we do now. It’s how we experience and navigate the home God has given us. Technology has changed and will continue to change, and I submit that it’s almost the Christian’s responsibility to acquaint himself with that technology and use it responsibly.

The computer on which I’m typing is a modern convenience. So is the Internet, which I’m using to link readers to stories and songs that will hopefully inspire and enhance their walks with the Savior.

Would my article somehow be more worthy or honorable if I had needed to make countless trips to the library to do my research? Or if I had had to start with a fresh sheet of paper whenever I made a mistake, instead of cutting and pasting? True, I’m risking temptation each time I log onto the Internet, what with all that’s available on that dangerous highway, but what a blessed instrument of time-saving and information gleaning.

My point is, just because something is modern doesn’t automatically make it a menace. Typing is still typing, whether it’s done on an old Smith Corona or a brand-new HP. The tools and means of delivery may have changed, but the product can be every bit as valuable when created by people with principles.

I, for one, derive great inspiration from songs like We Believe and Even If, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit if God in His wisdom situates Matthew West's heavenly mansion right next to Fanny Crosby's, so together they can sing His praises throughout eternity. After all, God wants us to relish and enjoy his creation, using all the gifts with which He has blessed us during “our watch.” Let’s just make sure we are doing so responsibly.

Let’s Not Stop There

Part three of this series will offer further suggestions to combat “entertainment-itis,” so don’t leave town! Oh, wait, this blog content can be accessed with the click of a phone (that’s called progress and advancement, which is a major theme of this article).

So, go ahead and leave town! Just don’t forget to check your email for part 3 of “Entertainment-itis" - coming soon to a cell phone near you. 

A Matter of Conscience

Dear readers, sadly Blogger has again made decisions for me with regard to font and format! The text as I have it in my Word document is uniform, but somehow got rearranged once I exported it to my blog. Thanks for putting up with the inconsistencies; Blogger has been a good platform for me over the years, pretty user friendly, but does have this one glitch. But, hey, it's free!

Thankfulness

Thankfulness has no meaning without an object.

I realized this simple fact years ago when I worked at a day care center. It was Thanksgiving season, and the staff had organized crafts and projects on the themes of gratitude and giving thanks. I saw a lot of blank stares from little ones whose faces reflected the fact that they had never been taught to thank their parents, let alone a Creator God, for Whom the holiday was declared.

It saddened me then, even as it does now.

Entitlement

Thanklessness and its evil twin, entitlement, have become commonplace in our youth, as the postmodern, post-Christian generation is raising children who have no idea why they should give thanks, or to Whom it is due. Nor should it come as a surprise when individuals who have never received instruction in a moral code based on absolute values struggle with concepts like respect and concern for others, both of which are outgrowths of morality.

Conscience

It naturally follows that a thankless society has little reason to develop a conscience.

Reliable old Merriam Webster offers this explanation of what the word conscience actually means:

“Conscience… derives from… Latin roots—the prefix com- (‘with,’ ‘together,’ ‘jointly’) and the verb scire (‘to know’), and the combination, conscire, means 'to be aware of guilt’—and… relates to… a state of… moral awareness.”

It seems clear that internalization of a basic moral code is a needful prerequisite to the operation of conscience. Just as thankfulness requires an object, conscience needs a reason to exist. In other words, development of that internal voice goes hand in hand with the inculcation of moral principles in daily life.

This brings to mind an incident I recall with bewilderment. Years ago in my day care career, one of our students was misbehaving. The staff was instructed to try to curb the behavior without causing the child to feel any remorse. Since then, I have raised my own family, and noted an interesting phenomenon in school evaluations. When behavioral interventions became necessary, documents often contained the following kind of language:

Johnny struggles to control his impulses. Susie struggles to stay focused. Benny struggles to (fill in the blank).

I humbly suggest that the child in question is doing the very opposite of struggling, as he or she has likely been deprived of the very impetus which would bring about inner conflict in the first place – a feeling of remorse based on a rudimentary moral understanding.

Disclaimer: I am NOT recommending instilling pathologic guilt or shame in our youngsters. I, myself, am a recovering shame addict (not brought on by my parents, just residing in my brain for as long as I can remember), and it’s no fun. Rather, what’s needed is a sensible, balanced message of morality and awareness of other people’s rights. Basic religious underpinnings are helpful, as they provide the rationale for following a moral code. Our country was built on this foundation, and requires nothing less to continue.

The Three C’s – Confirmation, Conviction and Causation

One of my church leaders recently preached on the subject of conscience. He broke down the Bible’s teaching on this topic into the following “three “C’s,” stating that conscience:

·         confirms the existence of God (Romans 1:20-22 and 2:14-16)

·         convicts of sin (John 8:4-11)

·         causes or enables people to take hold of salvation (Hebrews 9:7-14 and 10:22; Titus 1:15; 1 Timothy 1).

The Fourth C – a Clear Conscience

This same gentleman followed up with a second sermon explaining how one can enjoy a clear conscience. Rather than summarizing these two excellent sets of teaching, I have linked them as resources for my readers, especially those who may be experiencing guilt about choices they have made. It is worth noting that one of the points he emphasized is the fact that the conscience can become defiled or “seared” when not cultivated or, even worse, once it has been squelched. That still, small voice can be snuffed out rather easily and, once stifled, can be surprisingly resistant to reawakening.

The Shaping of Conscience

There are many ways to categorize humanity, some of which have been called into serious question by an unbelieving world in a frighteningly brief period of time. The very idea of categorizing has come under fire in recent years! Nevertheless, along with basic groupings such as ethnicity and religion, let us consider the less obvious distinction between conscience driven versus conscience deprived individuals.

It seems to me that most meaningful activity is governed by the absence or presence of conscience, which, in turn, is often shaped by consequences. Inborn curiosity is bridled or unbridled by consequences – do consequences matter enough to check the behavior? Who is issuing the consequences, and is that person a solid role model, someone whose behavior is worth emulating?

One caveat: I am an enthusiastic proponent of positive training of children, i.e., linking positive feedback and rewards to desired behavior. I am fully on board with using this technique in conjunction with consequences – but therein lies the key. It is the combination of two vital ingredients that makes for success.

Soup without salt is flavorless. Salt without a medium to disperse it is overpowering. Likewise, consequences without praise may lead to devastation and hopelessness; praise without consequences can result in egocentrism and entitlement.

Balance is essential.

Takeaways

As the United States has ousted God from such basic institutions as education, family planning and most recently, marriage, our country seems to have lapsed into ever more dangerous behavior. If we want to stem the tide of rebellion and destructiveness that we are seeing in our youth, we must start with the end in mind with our children.

Instilling the sister virtues of thankfulness and conscience isn’t a guarantee that all will be well. Sadly, the numbers of religiously trained kids caught up in the world’s system closely mirror those of the unchurched. That’s because the human heart remains just that – human – and we live in a fallen world in which temptation and instant gratification are the desirables du jour.

Furthermore, we can’t, nor should we attempt to remove the Pandora’s box of technology from the public square. The tools it offers are vast and beneficial. However, knowing most of our kids have the equivalent of an adult bookstore at their fingertips before they’re old enough to cross the street independently ought to give us great reason to instill the counteragents of conscience and accountability from the moment they can mouth syllables. Realizing the daunting array of choices available to their little minds, we must at least give them a fighting chance to combat the impulses of entitlement and self-gratification.

A Happy and Hopeful Ending

I love the old Dick Van Dyke show. This classic sitcom is a product of its time and, therefore, assumes some sex roles that have become outdated, but it sure found a way to combine humor and principles without ever uttering a four-letter word or even taking the Lord’s name in vain.

One episode in particular illustrates the point I’ve been trying to make in this article. Rob has the opportunity to work for Drew Patton, the equivalent of Hugh Hefner, and the job will come with all the fringe benefits of Playboy Mansion. Laura is understandably fearful that her morally upright husband will “crumble” under the pressure. Her relief is palpable when she overhears Rob opine to his would-be employer that “marriage, like a lot of other things, has boundaries, and to some guys, those boundaries represent walls, and that makes marriage a prison to them. But to other guys, those boundaries hold everything that’s good and fun in life.” Our hero turns down the job.

This is the kind of thinking that conscience begets – the idea that boundaries, be they in marriage or any avenue of life, need not be viewed as prisons. They are, rather, safeguards that offer security and protection, so that those who abide by them may proclaim with the psalmist, “The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” – Psalm 16:6

For more like this, check out: Entertainment-itis Series 

and 

Thoughts on the Suicide/Addiction Epidemic Among our Youth