Life is about making decisions. We decide daily about things like morality (should we cheat or take the honest route at school), sexuality (should we sleep with the person we are dating), and economics (what job should we look for). These decisions determine the course of our lives, and ultimately the place where we spend eternity, for the greatest decision is to decide to follow Christ or Satan.
We all like to think that we are unique and that we are entirely original - that we make decisions that are not guided by any outside influence. But this is not the case as the apostle Paul shows in Romans 7:15: “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” What is it that makes us do things that we don't want to do. The obvious answer is sin. Sin makes us want to be independent of God and do what we want to do when we want to do it. But is it not possible that there are influences in our lives that cause us to do the things we do? The question is: "What influences the decisions that we make in the '90s?"
There was a time when the greatest influences on teenagers was people (parents, teachers, peers, ministers and youth leaders), but during recent years the influences have changed:
| 1960 | 1980 | 1990 |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Parents | 1. Peers | 1. Tv, films, music |
| 2. Teachers | 2. Parents | 2. Advertising |
| 3. Peers | 3. Tv, films, music | 3. Printed media |
| 4. Ministers | 4. Teachers | 4. Heroes and idols |
| 5. Youth leaders | 5. Heroes and idols | 5. Peers |
| 6. Heroes and idols | 6. Ministers | 6. Parents |
| 7. Extended family | 7. Printed media | 7. Teachers |
| 8. Tv, films, music | 8. Advertising | 8. Ministers |
| 9. Printed media | 9. Youth leaders | 9. Youth leaders |
| 10. Advertising | 10. Extended family | 10. Extended family |
Once we were most influenced by our network of relationships, but now it's the electronic media - Television, film, music, advertising & the printed media. “The whirlpool of information fathered by electric media far surpasses any possible influence Mom and Dad can now bring to bear. Character no longer is shaped by only two earnest, fumbling experts. Now, all the world's a stage. Electric circuitry has overthrown the regime of time and space and pours upon us continually the concerns of all other men. It has reconstructed dialogue on a global scale” (Marshall McLuhan). Clearly, character is no longer primarily influenced by relationships, but by images and the lives of other people that we watch, read about, or hear about. Let's look at some of the influences that surround us today, things that affect our decision making.
1. Television
In 1950 there were fewer than 5 million television sets in the world. Today there are more than 184
million sets in the US alone. The average household has television on just over 7 hours a day. Every day in
the world 250 000 television sets are produced - this is one for every child born every day. By the time
teenagers finish high school, they'll have spent more hours in front of their television set (15 000) than
sitting in a class room (11 000).
Is it possible that the soap operas, sit-coms and cartoons we watch have no affect on us? Does the sleeping around on the soaps, the portrayal of broken homes, divorce and remarriage on sitcoms, or the occult symbols and ideas in kids cartoons just entertain without effecting us? Surely not!
Why do we buy the brand of toothpaste, washing powder or tyres that we do? It is often a response to the influence of television ads. We choose the toothpaste with the red stripes because, "it has it all in one, mum!" We choose that washing powder because, "it is recommended by every manufacturer of fully automatic washing machines!" We buy that brand of tyres because, "they are the only ones with an all hazard guarantee." It is television that has taught us that Coke is It, that everything keeps going right for Toyota, and that you can rely on Defy. Do we still need to ask whether television has an influence on us?
How has this television onslaught actually influenced us?
Most disturbing is that television is able to help us lose our consciousness of God? "A man with a sense of God and all good intentions sits down after dinner to watch television and ends up going to bed hours later with all the messages and images of the world contaminating his mind. Is it any wonder then that we miss understanding the mind of God?" (Malcolm Muggeridge, London Times journalist).
Also, television is able to make us loose concern for tragedy and pain in the world. Recently, during an evening's viewing I saw: twelve people shot, two tortured, one dumped in a swimming pool, two cars explode, a rape, and a man crawling two blocks with a knife in his stomach. And the worst thing is that I didn't feel anything. We have lost our instinct to feel for those who are hurt! Television has numbed us!
2. Movies
When Flashdance was released in 1983, almost overnight, girls were not only wearing ripped shirts, but
they were able to buy them. When Arnold Schwarzenegger came on the scene there was a rush to start
pumping iron, when Out of Africa hit, there was a rush to wear khaki clothes and bush hats. Movies have
always started trends. Check the speech we use, it's influenced by what we hear on the big screen. The
role models, solutions and arguments found in movies affect the way we behave and think when we go
back home.
There have been reports in the media of the deadly influences that movies can have on people. Teenager Mark Branch loved movies with blood and gore. His hero was Jason, the killer who carefully stalked victims in Friday the 13th. But it was too much for Mark who followed, ambushed and repeatedly stabbed a young college student, Sharon Gregory. Police found his body hanging from a tree. There is no lack of evidence of the effects of movies on us.
We get together in church for on night, and then go home and have about 47 hours of Madonna, Dirty Dancing and other images that really undo what we've experience at the hour or two. If our relationship with the Lord is confined to the limited time that we spend together as Christians then we will really battle to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord. We will not have enough to be able to stand against the influences that come our way.
3. Video
There is something about a video format that attracts teenagers. At DC 91, a national youth ministry
conference, there were video monitors all over the place. Not just because of huge crowds squeezed into
the venues, not just so all could see facial expressions on speakers, but because the monitors translate the
action into a video format, which attracts youth like crazy.
Durban youth are crazy about volleyball. During the December holidays the kids spent a routing day on the beach playing volleyball. The day was videoed and the young people gathered at a home to watch the edited version of the day's action. The viewing probable attracted more interest than the day on the beach. Why? Because there is something about watching video that is magnetic!
But do the videos we watch affect us? Could all the non-Christian messages and images be going in one ear and out the other? Does the violence in Die Hard, the horror in Nightmare on Elmstreet, not to mention the themes of sex, dishonesty and corruption in other movies, have no effect on us?
4. Music
I'm sure that you have noticed that a major theme in pop music is sex. Check out the charts and you'll see
songs like: I wanna sex you up (Colour me bad); Let's talk about sex (Salt-n-Pepa); I'm too sexy (Right
Said Fred) and I want your sex (George Michael). Those are just the obvious ones. A list of cheeky song
titles would include: All the way, Get it on, Pump me up, Let's go all the way. It is no secret that sex sells,
whether that is a car, or a song, but we are being bombarded with a message that says falling in love and
sex are the same thing! We are not short on influences, when we consider that the songs with these
themes of sex, New age religion, rebellion and violence surround us all the time: hitting us in malls, on TV
and on the radio.
Many of the Teen idols, like Kylie, Madonna, and Wendy James have used sex to improve their standings on the charts. Even the guy heroes have tried their hand: Peter Burns (Dead or Alive) & Prince both appear nude on record covers. The Bible says that we become like the idol that we worship - a frightening concept, when we consider the life styles of the rich and famous.
5. Printed Media
While it is true that the visual media had more or less replace the printed media when it comes to teens,
we are still influenced by what we read. What we read about the stars’ philosophy of life has an impact on
the way we live. Young people want to be like their idols, whether in looks or actions and speech.
The magazines we read today contain advice that is way off line. We are encouraged to practise safe sex, instead of waiting until marriage. We must watch what we are reading. Remember, Garbage in - Garbage out!
Our Response
How can we live the lives that we have been called to live with all these influences. One option is to try to
hide from all the influences, but that's impossible as we cannot escape this life. We should at least practise
discernment in what we listen to, watch and read. But we also need an alternative influence in our lives.
The Bible speaks about an alternate influence: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living
according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have
hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:9-11, NIV). This is the
influence of God and His Word.
If you want to make good decisions for God, then you need to:
1. Know the God you Serve (vs 10)
The psalmist shares the key step to purity - to "seek God with all your heart." The word ‘Seek’ means "to
tread a place with your feet" or "to frequent often." The idea is that of visiting often. So to seek God
involves a busy relationship with Him, not a casual acquaintance. The LB says:"I have tried my best to
find you." We really need to apply ourselves to knowing God intimately and experientially. Then we will
know purity. Ecclesiastes 8:3 says of an earthly king: "Do not be in a hurry to leave the king's presence.
How much more should we want to stay in the presence of the King of Kings.
When I was dating Debbie (who is now my wife), I was so madly in love with her that I hated leaving her. I think that I'd have been able to go without sleep for the first six months! But with God we so often fall asleep on our date!
But where can we find God?
2. Khow the Bible you Own (vs9b,11)
What do you live by? What is your code of conduct? The psalmist says:"Live according to the bible."
What does it mean to live according to God's Word? Well, God's Word is the MIRROR - it shows up dirt
and grime (sin); and God's Word is the SOAP and WATER - it cleans dirt away.
Some time ago a railway line was attacked by millions of locusts. They covered the tracks so thickly that when a goods train tried to get up the slight incline it slid to a stop. It's wheels just spun on the `butter'. The locusts had to be swept off the line and sand spread on it to provide traction. Life is an incline, full of hurdles, and the Word of God is the sand that keeps us moving on.
vs11 - If we hide God's Word in our heart we won't sin against God. We hide it when we: read, study, memorise and apply the truth of God's Word. A black book at home by your bedside won't do much for you, but the Word stored in your memory banks will! Jesus was able to overcome the Devil's temptations because the Word was on His lips.
In my car I have a road map. When I visit a church in a new area, I pull out the map and follow it. A map framed and stuck on my study wall would be of little use out on the road. I've even got lost with a map in the glove compartment. The bible is our map - it guides us to purity.
The Bible must become a part of us, to be an inner motive and power against sin. Get to know your map! Joshua 1:8 says: “Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Conclusion
A pure life is the result of a personal and intimate knowledge of: (1) your Society - and the negative
influences that are present; (2) your Saviour - seek the Lord, talk to Him, get to know Him as an ever-
present friend and helper; and (3) your Scriptures - read, study, memorise and obey.
Don't try to hide from sin - hide God's Word in your heart and sin will hide from you. Listen to the
message again as I read it from the Living Bible: “How can a young man stay pure? By reading your
Word and following its rules. I have tried my best to find you-don't let me wander off from your
instructions. I have thought much about your words, and stored them in my heart so that they would hold
me back from sin.” Will you dedicate yourself to a life of purity?
Written by Mark Tittley: Email
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