Pressure Points - Biblical Advice for 20 of Life's Biggest Challenges
By Hayes Press
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About this ebook
CHAPTER ONE: BECOMING MORALLY DESENSITIZED?
CHAPTER TWO: INUNDATED WITH INFORMATION?
CHAPTER THREE: IMPACTED BY ILL HEALTH?
CHAPTER FOUR: STRUGGLING TO MAKE ENDS MEET?
CHAPTER FIVE: DROWNING IN DEBT AND MATERIALISTIC ATTITUDES?
CHAPTER SIX: TROUBLED BY THE THEFT OF TIME?
CHAPTER SEVEN: UNSETTLED BY UNEMPLOYMENT?
CHAPTER EIGHT: FIGHTING FEAR?
CHAPTER NINE: BROUGHT DOWN BY DEPRESSION?
CHAPTER TEN: DESTABILIZED BY DOUBT?
CHAPTER ELEVEN: STRUCK DOWN BY SUFFERING?
CHAPTER TWELVE: ABUSING ALCOHOL?
CHAPTER THIRTEEN: SUCCUMBING TO SEXUAL TEMPTATION?
CHAPTER FOURTEEN: MISMANAGING MONEY?
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: DEALING WITH DEMENTIA?
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: AFFECTED BY AUTISM?
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: HANDLING MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES?
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: COPING WITH CHILDCARE?
CHAPTER NINETEEN: PROBLEMS WITH PARKINSONS?
CHAPTER TWENTY: STUDENTS LEAVING HOME?
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Pressure Points - Biblical Advice for 20 of Life's Biggest Challenges - Hayes Press
CHAPTER ONE: BECOMING MORALLY DESENSITIZED? (JOHN ARCHIBALD)
It is wise for us to regularly review the effect on our spiritual lives of the worldly entertainment we allow ourselves. In particular, regularly watching popular entertainment on TV can be spiritually damaging.
The Kind of World We Live In
The situations and attitudes depicted in popular TV fiction inevitably reflect the values of the world, and we must pay attention to what God says about the world. Through James, we know that ‘the friendship of the world is enmity with God’ (Jas.4:4). Therefore we must expect that much of the thinking and attitude of worldly people is not acceptable to Him, and should not be shared by those who are His own.
Through John we know that ‘the whole world lieth in the evil one’ (1 Jn.5:19), drawing our attention to the fact that Satan’s malign power is directed at turning the minds of men and women away from everything that is precious to God. As the ‘god of this world’, Satan blinds the minds of the unbelieving to prevent the light of the gospel dawning upon them (2 Cor.4:4). Disciples of Christ are also his targets, where the objective is to distract from the service of the Lord and, if possible, corrupt their thinking and desires.
On the same subject we have the words of our Lord Jesus Himself about His disciples, ‘They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world’ (Jn.17:16). As His followers we must never forget that we have heavenly citizenship, and should have a set of ambitions and interests that are very different from those of worldly-minded people.
Damaging Consequences
The chief constable of one of England’s largest police forces once said that violent crime would continue to rise in the country because of the way such behaviour was portrayed in peak-time dramas which were meant to reflect real life. He said, Violent crime is steadily increasing. These increases are hardly surprising given the constant diet of aggression, undress, innuendo and dishonesty portrayed on television.
Another police chief said, I think we have seen a wider dumbing-down effect on television over the last few years. There is undoubtedly more violence and obscene language being shown as entertainment. When situations on television are portrayed as real life, it is difficult to detach oneself from what we are seeing.
If this is the perception of secular authorities, how much more concerned a disciple of the Lord should be about the effect of such programmes on his or her own spiritual state! It is true that we cannot be unaffected by what we see and hear, and the impact of impressively designed drama adds to the material presented and makes it more memorable.
The effects of this are twofold. Firstly, in the parable of the sower, the Lord spoke of seed that fell among thorns, ‘and the thorns grew with it, and choked it ... these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection’ (Lk.8:7,14). Most of us would feel that we live fairly busy lives, and time given to worldly entertainment is therefore likely to be at the expense of time spent with the Lord in prayer and in His Word. This is true regardless of the content of the entertainment.
Secondly, constant exposure to the portrayal of ‘aggression, undress, innuendo, dishonesty and obscene language’ will undoubtedly erode the spiritual quality of our lives, combat the effect of the Word of God upon us, and grieve the Holy Spirit in us. Compare the guidance given through the apostle Paul, But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks
(Eph.5:3,4).
What Should We Do?
1. Do what our Lord Jesus would do. Model our behaviour and practice on Him. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof
(Rom.13:14). This implies organizing our time to avoid activities which we know are conducive to sin.
2. By spending time with the Lord in the Word and in prayer, condition our minds and our ways to serve and please Him rather than ourselves. Be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God
(Rom.12:2).
3. Follow the good example of David who was a man after God’s own heart. That means he cared about the things that God cared about, and he set the course of his life to please God. In the matter of entertainment we should adopt his resolve, I will set no base thing before mine eyes
(Ps.101:3).
A Far Higher Enjoyment
If then ye were raised together with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated on the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are upon the earth
(Col.3:1,2). In his letters Paul says a lot about how we should direct our thoughts. He had found the delights of God’s presence, and his understanding of all that Christ had done and secured for him was a never-ending source of wonder and joy. This shines through despite all the difficulties and hardship of his daily life. We must learn to appreciate what it means to be raised up with Christ and made to sit with Him in the heavenly places. Then the pleasures of the world will lose their attraction for us, for we have so much more.
Not long ago I came across a suggestion that a framed text should be placed on top of the TV set so that it can be clearly seen by the watchers. A good choice of text would be, Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honourable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, 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
(Phil.4:8).
CHAPTER TWO: INUNDATED WITH INFORMATION? (GEOFF HYDON)
The Problem
Many of us grapple with numerous sources of information, trying to see which are useful. ‘Junk mail’ pours in; instruction manuals abound; ‘essential reading’ escalates; the internet is a seemingly unfathomable global repository of digital information (and misinformation). The challenge of assimilating it all is a source of stress in this ‘information age’. Intrusive 24-hour global and local news bombard