CHRISTIAN DISCERNMENT:

LEARNING TO DISCERN RIGHT FROM WRONG

In today's fast changing culture, what are you doing to safeguard your family from the influences of the media, peer pressure, social trends, religious movements and cults, moral relativism, political agendas, and countless other mediums?

Daily, you and your children are being indoctrinated into believing that:

• there are no moral absolutes
• your business is nobody else's business
• if what one is doing is not hurting anyone, it's okay
• if it feels good, it must be right
• you can be anything you want to be
• you can do anything you want to do
• you can change your look and feel beautiful
• you can choose to terminate an innocent human life while it is in the womb; but you have to save the whale and all other endangered species
• you came to existence by chance that took millions of years to happen
• you are a god or can become a god
• you are one with nature, or all is one
• all religions lead to the same god
• "family" doesn't necessarily mean "marriage" or "mom and dad"
• and other lies........the list goes on.

Questions about your children:

• How much time do you spend with your children?
• Do you read to them?
• How many hours do your children watch the TV per day?
• Do you monitor their music and videos, or the books that they read?
• Are you involded in their school activites?
• Do you know what they are being taught in the school?
• What kind of toys do you children have, are they half-man-half-beast and scary?
• What movies do they watch?
• Do you know where your children are?
• Do you know your children's friends?
• Do you know your kids?

Questions about yourself:

• How much time do you spend reading the Bible?
• Have you read the Bible?
• Do you go to church?
• Do you tithe?
• What movies do you watch?
• What music do you listen to?
• What books do you read?
• Who are your friends?
• Are your married?
• Do you invest quality family time?
• Do you do things on your own?
• Do you surf the internet?
• What do you look for when your are online?

We invite you to take time to reflect on these questions. If your answers to these questions alarm you or bother you, perhaps, we have touched a subject that is an issue to you. Our goal is to raise your awareness of the fact that there is an ongoing spiritual battle for your soul and the souls of your children.

The Bible warns us, "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may me be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:11-12 KJV)

Please examine the things in which you are investing your time and resources. Do they edify your family and God? How do they measure up with God's standards? If Jesus comes today, will you be willing to show Him all the possessions in your house? Will you let Him see every room? Is there a secret room (or maybe just a closet) that you do not want Him to see?

Our prayer is that the resources listed below will help you in learning how to discern right from wrong. May they help you in leading your family to a life that is clean, righteous and holy. Most of all, may you find security and comfort in the salvation that He offers.

In Christ,
The Howards
Click here to know God's plan for you!

BIBLE VERSES THAT AFFIRM CLEAN AND HOLY LIVING
We believe that true Christian discernment can only come from knowing God's Word. True and absolute moral standards are written in the Bible, God wants to protect us from moral decay and its consequences. The challenge is for us to read and apply all the Biblical principles to our lives.

• Romans 12:2, KJV - "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"
  
  
• Col: 3:2, NASB - "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth"
  
  
• James 3:17, NIV - "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."
  
  
• Galatians 5:22-23, NIV - "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. Against such things there is no law."
  
  
• 1 Cor. 4:2, KJV - "It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."
  
  
• 2 Tim. 1:7, KJV - "For God did not give us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and of a sound mind."
  
  
• Philippians 4:8, KJV - "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things"

SUGGESTED READING ON DISCERNMENT:
HOW TO KNOW RIGHT FROM WRONG

• Right From Wrong by Josh McDowell - This book provides families and the church with a "truth apologetic"--a defense of truth that will enable adults to equip their youth with the ability to resist the erosion of their values and determine what is right from wrong. Right from Wrong offers not a quick fix, but a thorough, biblical and practical blueprint for understanding moral absolutes and passing on core values to the next generation.
  

• Christianity in Crisis : Includes Study Guide - A book that confronts head-on a deadly cancer that is ravaging the body of Christ. Hank Hanegraaff's theme is that there are scores of influential teachers who use the media: airwaves, books, tapes, and magazines, and television, to promote antibiblical doctrines and subvert the historic Christian faith. His expose' is accompanied by solutions for restoring Christ-centered Christianity.
  

• Hollywood Vs. America by Michael Medved - The explosive bestseller that shows how and why the entertainment industry has broken faith with its audience. "This book is fascinating but disturbing reading -- a badly needed wake-up call for the entertainment industry. Anyone who wants to understand how -- and why -- Hollywood is attacking family values must read this book." --Bob DeMoss, Jr., Youth Culture Specialist, Focus on the Family; "Everyone -- left, right and middle -- is perfectly aware that we are in a period of cultural and moral collapse. But some people don't want to concede that the popular media bear part of the responsibility. Michael Medved's book should convince them that it does." --Steve Allen
  

• Learn to Discern by Robert G. Demoss, Jr. - Now completely updated and expanded, Learn to Discern is a must for any parent who is concerned about how modern media is influencing the hearts and minds of children. DeMoss exposes how advertising, TV and movies, and music teach promiscuity, materialism, violence, and low self-esteem - and shows the destructive influence they have on minds and behavior. He gives parents strategies for teaching children to discern the lies, think for themselves, and appreciate righteousness and wholesome entertainment alternatives.
  

• Invasion of Other Gods : Protecting Your Family from the Seduction of the New Spirituality by David Jeremiah, Carole Carlson - For over a decade our culture has been impacted by the subversive forces of the New Age movement. Yet as a society, we have grown numb to many of these New Age influences. The author describe this enemy in it many "new" guises, and in the process gives clear ideas on how to arm oneself against this invasion of new spirituality. The authors discuss the pervasive forces--loosely catalogued under the designation "New Age"--that seek to undermine true faith. They provide a practical guide for those wanting to understand and combat this contemporary invasion of other Gods.
  

• Proverbs for Parenting : A Topical Guide for Child Raising from the Book of Proverbs - An indispensible tool for parenting, this book arranges the proverbs into over 70 realistic, helpful topics. A sampling of topics covered include: trust in God, obedience, honesty, anger, self-control, temper, arguing, boasting, complaining, love, friendship, happiness, discretion, faithfulness, stewardship, work and many more.
  
  
• For Instruction in Righteousness by Pam Forster - For Instruction in Righteousness is a topical Bible for parents. It includes hundreds of verses on over 50 areas of sin. But it is more than just a topical Bible. Each chapter includes the following listings: What the Bible says will, or should, happen to a person who sins in this way. Ideas for discipline that parallel these Biblical consequences. What the Bible likens a person to when he indulges in this sin, and ideas for practical objects lessons using these examples. How God blesses the person who resists temptations to this sort of sin. Parallel ideas for “rewards” and encouragement for children who show progress towards overcoming this sin. Stories and people in the Bible that illustrate obedience and disobedience in this area. Fully quoted memory verses. To purchase, visit Doorposts.net
  

• THE TV GUARDIAN - Automatically filters profanity and other offensive phrases while you watch your favorite movies or television shows with your family. TVGuardian works on virtually all broadcast television, and videos played through the VCR you already own. Unlike other parental control devices, TVGuardian doesn’t require the networks to broadcast any special ratings system to function. Simply pop in a movie, or turn on your favorite TV series. Then relax while TVGuardian goes to work, eliminating practically all the offensive language from the ears of your children. Of course, parents must still select movies with content suitable for their children.

 Related Pages: Entertainment and What Are We Reading?