Input – what we’re taking in

New ‘toys’ are great, aren’t they?

Having recently acquired an iPad, I know how much I enjoy experiencing the joys of new technology.

Australians have always been amongst the earliest adopters of new technology and this characteristic continues. Recent research* has shown that 3 in 4 households with under 18s have mp3 players (72.1%) and more than half (58.1%) have wireless internet in their home, allowing the internet to easily be accessed from multiple entertainment devices concurrently. More than one third (34.9%) have Pay TV, which no doubt adds to the almost 3 hour TV viewing average of Australians. The iPhone and iTouch are now in almost 1 in 4 Australian households with under 18s (24.4%). Digital radio, the newest technological format of entertainment has already found a place in more than 1 in 10 households (11%).

We are continually bombarded with images, music and movies from a wide variety of sources.

We know the things we watch and listen to can impact us. In many instances in the Bible we see people who limit the things they see to keep themselves holy. For example King David in Psalm 101:3 states ‘I will set before my eyes no vile thing.’ Job, a man who overcame great hardship through trusting in God said ‘I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a girl.’ (Job 31:1) It’s clear Job realised the affect the things we see can have on the things we do.

Paul instructs Christians to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). In Romans 12:2 he says ‘do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.’

We are called to live, not as a result of our culture, or standards created by the people around us, but based on the way that God wants us to. By immersing ourselves in God’s Word we can learn what this looks likes and find a good pattern to base our lives on.

That’s what’s on my mind.

What do you think?

To make a comment, click the speech bubble to the right of the title of the post (above).

*McCrindle Research Pty Ltd, The Heart of Australia, p 27

Predestination

Did God choose us, or did we choose him? This is the question at the heart of the topic of predestination.

Are those people who are chosen by God so naturally attracted to the gospel message that we don’t actually get a choice? The Bible tells us that before the creation of the world, God chose his people to be holy and blameless in his sight. Out of love, God decided in advance that we would be adopted as his children through Jesus (Ephesians 1:4-5). The Bible also tells us that God knew, loved and appointed those who were to be his people before creation (1 Peter 1:1-2).

God decided in advance that we would be made like Jesus, and He called us, justified us, and glorified us (Romans 8:29-30). Jesus himself says that no one can come to him unless God the Father enables them (John 6:65 & vs 44; John 10:25-28). In addition to this, the Bible also shows that God chooses only some to be his people. An example of this is that He chose to love Jacob, but not his twin brother Esau – and this was not because of anything good or bad they had done, it was simply his purpose (Malachi 1:2-3; Romans 9:6-13). At the same time, we see that God wants all people to be saved, come to a knowledge of the truth, come to repentance, and not to perish (2 Pet 3:9, 1 Tim 2:3-4). From these Bible passages, it would seem that God chooses us.

Or is it purely up to us to decide by ourselves to choose God or leave him be? Because the Bible also shows that humans have freedom of choice; we can choose God, or not (Matt 23:37, John 7:17).

God chose us.

We choose him.

Both are equally important, and equally true. That’s what I’ve been thinking about.

What do you think?

To make a comment, click the speech bubble to the right of the title of the post (above).