Which Way are You Pitching Your Tent?

By Rich Christiano, Christian filmmaker, Writer, Producer, and Director

The Bible says in Gen 13:12 that Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom,” which is really an example of the world. When I am talking about the world, I’m talking about the system of thought, practice, and ideas that is anti-God, anti-Christ, and anti-Bible. Satan is the ruler of this world, and he fights for keeps. He is intelligent, very deceptive, has no mercy, and is not your friend. No area has the “world” made more of an impact on society than through secular entertainment. It is the god of this country and we are in bondage to it. It has slowly corrupted our minds. You can watch the top 1000 thousand shows on TV and NONE of them have anything to do with the Lord Jesus Christ who gives life and breath to all the people that make those shows! Less than one percent of all the movies made glorify the

Lord.

And sadly, most Christians have a love affair with the world, but especially with entertainment. Perhaps the number one reason, why your kids, your parents, and your relatives don’t believe is because they have been blinded by the Satan-run secular media. The world!

1 John 2:15 says to “love not the world.” Colossians 3:2 says to “set your affection on the things above, not on the things on the earth.” James 4:4 says, “whosoever will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Yet, it seems the church has almost a love affair with the world, and we are impressed when the world takes notice. The world can offer you fame, fortune, attention, celebrity, and so-called happiness. Sounds great, right? We envy it and who wouldn’t want it?

Well, I can think of some people that might think that fame and fortune a- ren’t all that it is made up to be. For example, Judy Garland, who played Dorothy in the famous movie Wizard of Oz, had 5 marriages and died at the age of 47 of a drug overdose.

Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors died of heroin at age 27.

Marilyn Monroe, one of the most famous icons of all time, had 3 marriages and died at the young age of 36 due to an overdose of drugs.

Michael Jackson, the king of pop, wasn’t doing so well in his life, was accused of having sex with children, and died at age 50 due to drugs. John Belushi, the famous comedian, and actor, died at age 33, taking a speedball which is a mixture of cocaine and heroin. Eliza beth Taylor, at one time, the most famous actress in the world, had 8 marriages. Freddie Prinze, a famous young Mexican actor, due to depression took a gun to his head and committed suicide at age 22. Janis Joplin, one of the first women of rock and roll, died at age 27 due to heroin. Heath Ledger played the role of the Joker in the Batman movie, never got to see the film, and died at the age of 28 due to drugs. And the most famous entertainer in the 20th century, Elvis Presley, died at age 42, due to a drug overdose. But wait a minute, these people had it all. I mean, THEY HAD IT ALL! Or did they?

Sad to say that probably none of these very talented people had their sins forgiven and never made it to heaven because they never received Christ as Lord. (Colossians 2:6).

I’ll tell you what you get from the World, you get dissatisfaction and Proverbs 27:20 says the eyes of man are never satisfied.

I’ll tell you about another person affected by the world. His name was Demas. Demas hung out with Paul, and he is mentioned 3 times in the Bible. However, the last time, Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4:10 that Demas has “forsaken me, having loved this present world.” Demas is an example of how you can be around the truth, you can make a profession of the truth, you can get into the association of the most elite people in Christian ministry, and even be a companion and co-laborer, and coworker with the apostle Paul and not be the real thing. The world will pull us away from our commitment to the LORD faster than anything and the enemy works best through entertainment. So, consider the choices today that you are making. How much time do you spend in front of the TV compared to how much time you spend in God’s Word, in prayer, in fellowship, or witnessing to others? Be honest and give yourself a checkup. Do you even have the desire to do anything of these spiritual things mentioned above? And finally what happened to Lot? Bible says he pitched his tent toward Sodom. No big deal, right? Well, he lost his wife, he offered up the virginity of his two girls and 2 Peter 2:8 says that he “vexed his righteous soul every day.” You see if you are a Christian, you are not going to feel comfortable in the world and I encourage you to pursue the things of the Lord to escape its lusts. So, what about you? Which way are you pitching your tent?

--Rich Christiano

Rich Christiano is a Christian filmmaker who has been writing, producing, and directing Christian movies since 1985. Some of his films include Time Changer and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. A Matter of Faith, and his newest film, MindReader. You can find information on these films and other Christian movies at the website ChristianMovies.com.

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