Idleness and the Internet

Saluations from Kingston! I’m honoured I’ve been invited to join this blog. I look forward to participating in this forum as we discuss and meditate upon what it means to be “Wholly Yours.” It’s a wonderful opportunity for brothers in Christ to grapple with (and enjoy) living redeemed in a fallen world. It’s an electronic dialogue of sorts.

I’ll continue the dialogue about being good stewards of the time the Lord provides in regards to our usage of technology and media. I’ve generally avoided movies, secular music and television since high school, and can attest that it is edifying. What struck me about the Full Tilt Media Challenge is what’s missing on the list of recommended media to avoid. Namely, the Internet.

As we will hopefully experience with this blog, the Internet can be a terrific tool for encouragement. But it can also be a huge time-waster.

Some websites require login names, and so for a few years, I’ve chosen a name that reminds me of God, and subsequently the necessity of avoiding unproductive idleness that dulls the mind and deadens the soul.

The login name is Clay Rock. I think Clay Rock exemplifies what it means to be a Christian. It’s a reminder that we are created beings, crafted by God in the manner that clay is molded and shaped in the hands of the potter (Isaiah 45:9). As Isaiah said, “But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand” (Isaiah 64:8 ESV).As clay, we have no authority to question, quiz or critique God. We are reminded in Romans: “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to the molder, ‘Why have you made me like this?’” (Romans 9: 21,22 ESV).

The Lord is not subject to evaluation. It is folly when the reprobate offer their view of God as though they were scrutinizing an armchair at a furniture store.

Despite our vulnerability and vileness as clay, we are transformed following regeneration into “living stones” by virtue of our association with Christ who has vindicated us. Peter noted, “As you come to Him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:4 ESV).

This image of being built up as a spiritual house returns our focus to the Lord, for Jesus is the Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4). David says in Psalm 18, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (v. 2 ESV). He asks, “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? – the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless” (v.32 ESV).“Clay Rock” reminds us of our frailty and the absolute allegiance we owe to God as the Potter who formed us, and the Rock by which we have been redeemed.

May the Lord instill within us a fear of His name, that we may approach His throne in awe, humbleness and reverence. May He also spark within us a desire to avoid idleness and poor productivity as we seek to bring Him honour and glory.

Media Challenge

How much does media affect your life? The songs you hear, the movies you watch, and the games you play... Sure you can "handle" them, but are their messages really the kind that you should be hearing?

There's a free 30-day Full Tilt Media Challenge that will help you focus solely on God-pleasing media for a month. Then, try going back to your old music albums and other media, and get a better picture on how they've been affecting your life.

I first came across this concept a few years ago. Before one summer, I was pretty good at listening to clean music. But then after working a few weeks while listening to my friend's CDs and preferred radio station, I was shocked to find myself subconsciously adding crude comments and swearing. I found that media really does affect your life.

I'm not telling you to restrict yourself solely to christian music and christian films... just to create that conscious filter that is sensitive to what media you should, or shouldn't, be consuming.