Sunday Rewind: Guarding the Borders

"For someone who's a Christian, you have a dirty mind," a man said to us as he tried to show us a video on his cell phone the other night.

"Be wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove," we responded as we turned away. We quoted the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:16 (KJV). The apostle Paul explained it a different way:

Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I am full of joy over you: but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. -- Romans 16:19

We don't need to watch sinful behavior (even if it's a fake-out) to know it's out there. We've noted before how a lot of free poker tournaments occur in bars -- places known for alcohol, smoking, profane language and more.

The Bible is filled with lists about things believers should avoid. In this case, we chose to protect what fundamentalist preachers like to call the "eye gate."

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. -- I John 2:16 (KJV)

Your blogger happens to be a single man, who chooses to save his body for marriage. It's a daily choice, and we don't need even suggestions of pornographic images to get in the way of that.

If we err on the side of caution in what we see, that's OK. Come to think of it, that's a lot like playing poker. Stick around in a hand to see one card too many, and you take a big risk -- potentially a disastrous one.