Idle Thoughts or Idol Thoughts?

A little over the top? Maybe. Be warned, this post is 100% spiritual and is not meant to preach or convert. It is simply my thoughts of what is going on in my own life.

A couple of weeks ago, I was walking past the little TV room where Charlotte and Zachary were watching Nickelodeon. I believe SpongeBob SquarePants was on. The channel was playing a clip of a new show they were promoting and this is what I heard a very young girl's voice saying, "He is SO hot, I could cook a pancake on him!" Now I am not a complete prude, but come on! It is a children's station in the middle of the day..11:30 am to be exact. Well I decided right then that the kids would no longer be watching television as I did not want their minds filled with that content! Wholesome family videos are in abundance here along with educational shows on the free spot our cable has. We watch "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader" every week and it has actually been nice that the kids are doing other activities. Little Charlotte has had a difficult time as she is very much a television lover.

Aren't I just the wonderful mother who looks to the ways of her household!! Not only do I keep our home in order, I watch out for the ways of their little spirits. My chest is puffed up with pride!

Then it deflates! My oldest son and my daughter in law proudly showed me their new cell phones and how they have a special, identifying ringer for everyone. "Listen Mom!" My ring tone was Amazing Grace!!!

NOT! It was the theme song to As The World Turns!!

I was shocked, embarrassed and actually hurt. (Not your fault kids...it is totally on me.) I had to take a hard look. I won't go into the long detail of my soul searching and communication with my God about this, but suffice it to say, I had an idol. Forget the fact that I named my dog after a character on the show, or the fact that 10, YES, 10 hours a week are sucked up with soaps (I watch 2), I am exposing myself and my children (they walk freely into the room as I watch) to worldly values. I have watched As The World Turns for almost 30 years and the other one, Guiding Light, for 15. That was really hard to "say". How do I know I have made this an idol in my life? And what is an idol/idolatry?

The Bible says idolatry is a work of the flesh and has it right up there with murder! (Galatians 5:19-21) Isn't an idol a false God? It can be, but the Bible describes idolatry as covetousness (Colossians 3:5) I could list a ton of verses concerning idolatry, and none of them have a good turn out for the idolater! Anything that you put before God is an idol. We have all done it, but when the veil is lifted and you can actually see the problem, that's when what you do, from that point on, matters. Back to "how" I know it is a major problem for me.When I realized how my kids saw me with that ring tone, I thought "I will just stop watching it!" Well let me tell you, I had a physical reaction to that thought! I mean Carly (whom I named my dog after) has a brain tumor and next week she will suffer from amnesia, all the while the love of her life and father of her child (I forget which of her 3 children is his) is planning to marry her arch enemy. I will miss it all! How do I know this is going to happen. From the CBS Soap magazine that I spend $4.00 every other week on. I figured that out...it is a yard of quilt shop fabric a month (or $96 per year) to read what I am going to watch anyway because I have no self control and have to feed my flesh now!! THE VEIL IS LIFTED!

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. 2 Corinthians 3:18

I am going on the same TV rules as I set for my kids. Very limited in time, specific to content. Television, like anything else, can be a positive in our lives. We just need to make sure it does not become our life. I know Survivor is starting tonight. I have NEVER missed an episode since the day it aired. My kids know when it is "Survivor" night. Dad is at work, and Mom is NOT to be bothered unless there is blood or vomit involved, and even then try to hold off til commercial. The premise of the show is to win a million dollars by being the best at lying, cheating, and manipulating others around you. Ummm, I think I will have to skip Survivor for the first time ever. Does that mean if you watch Survivor or a soap opera I think you are a heathen sinner. No. That is not my judgement call. I am saying I have set up an idol for myself and I must tear it down in order to go from "glory to glory".
That is the goal I have set. To attain the Prize. In order to do that I need to "flee from idolatry" (1 Corinthians 10:14). What is the Prize?

I press toward the mark for the prize of the High Calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

If I want to miss my high calling, I can find out what happens to Carly. I would rather get the prize! And kids....you will need to find a new ring tone for Mom!