Key verses: 1 John 2:16 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.

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, 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.

Millions of Christians flocked to see the movie, The Passion of the Christ. Many were deeply moved by what they saw, and some unbelievers were even saved. The movie received a rating of "R", because of the shocking violence it portrayed. Surely, some said, this was an exception to an informal rule that Christians should avoid movies with such a rating. After all, the crucifixion of Christ and the events that led up to it were unspeakably vile and brutal, and the movie helped get that point across vividly.

That's a variation on the argument that the ends justify the means. If something obtains a good result, how it accomplishes that end is not important. The ultimate extension of that argument is that robbery, murder, rape, or any other crime can be excused if something good results. Where is the line drawn? Where are the limits? If it's all right to use graphic depictions of violence to get across the point that the crucifixion was the height of brutality, what about showing the deaths of various martyrs, who were burned at the stake, or drawn and quartered? In either case, the appeal is to the emotions, not to the mind, which is where the choice for salvation must be made. Ultimately the movie was entertainment, and engaged the senses and emotions. It was conceived and produced by a man who recently got into big trouble for drunken driving and racial slurs, some of them directed against Jews.

Modern music can also engage the emotions, and many churches use it now to draw in crowds precisely because it entertains. If someone is drawn to make some kind of confession for Christ out of an emotional catharsis, rather than out of genuine confession and repentance, the result is probably not salvation. As soon as the emotional charge wears off, nothing is left, so such people return time after time to receive another fix, like an addict to his drugs. In truth, seeking that path to God is a form of addiction, and the drug is pleasure, a lust of the flesh or of the eye. The end result is not salvation at all, but a cheap substitute.

What we take into our minds, through our eyes and ears, will determine what goes on inside our minds. Regardless of the rating the world puts on its entertainment, it's still the world's entertainment. Whether it's a cop show, a horror flick, or a music video, the object is still to evoke a response the world thinks is appropriate - and profitable. Very little of what we view on television, see in movies, or read in books, much less hear on the radio, is fit for Christian consumption. Some people, some Christians, have gone as far as removing televisions from their homes, with happy results. If we want our minds to dwell on the kinds of things that Paul lists in his letter to the Philippians, than those are the kinds of things we should spend our times watching, reading, or listening to. It isn't just a matter of not watching R-rated movies; the choices go far beyond that. God has given us our allotted time, and we should spend it to glorify him, not titillate our senses.