Should a Christian Own a Video Store

[The*Empress]

(Kent Heaton)
http://www.svic.net/kerux/Video Store.htm

A video store is a business that is founded upon the rental and selling of movies and various other types of media. In the past number of years, video stores have grown to become a staple of every community as the desire to rent and buy movies for home viewing has become a part of our culture. The days of "Gone With The Wind" and the concern over one swear word have long faded into a distant memory. Movies today are filled with violence , nudity, cursing and immorality

that once was reserved for the "red-light" district of town.

The largest portion of movies today depicts violence :rl: , partial or full nudity and language that is an abomination against God. Christians have fallen to the wiles of the devil

to believe that watching and participating in such movies is far from harmful. We have left the days of purity and holiness to accept freely the immoral nature of the world into our homes. The world is filled with immorality and until the Lord returns, it will continue to have a greater influence upon the hearts of minds of man.

The Christian has no place owning, operating and promoting the sinful, wicked and immoral media that is found in 95% :buttsex: of the videos today. Everything the Christian stands for is brought low to a world of filth and garbage by being the owner of such a store. There is no glorifying God with this kind of business. It is impossible to let a light of Christianity shine brightly from the plastic boxes that depict every immoral nature of man within them.

Sexuality explodes upon the scene with homosexuality :buttsex: , adultery, fornication and nudity . Soft-porn movies (NC-17) are allowed to be sold next to the latest release. Shelves are filled with R-rated movies that exploit every sensual facet of humanity and Jehovah Gods name is profaned in clip after clip in nearly every movie. A Christian has as much business owning and operating a video store as an adult book store because the results are the same.

There are many businesses that Christians can own and operate that fall within the principles of Christianity. There are many business that a Christian will lose their souls if they operate. Should a Christian own a bar? In the minds of some today that would not be difficult to imagine. If a man is trying to make a business and feed his family, what difference does it make? It makes an eternal world of difference to the Christian.

When a person obeys the gospel of Jesus Christ, there are things in life that must change. The allegiance to Christ is promised in obedience. There is a price to be paid. The price to be a Christian is outlined by Jesus Himself in Luke 14:26 - "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple." You cannot be a disciple of Christ if you are not willing to give up all for Christ. This would include the type of business that we may have before we are Christians.

If a person has been out of duty with God and returns to the Lord, this same action applies. Repentance and conversion is found in the giving up of those things that are against the holiness of God. Failure to do so will result in the soul being found lost on the day of Judgment. The owner of a video store promotes the very things that are abominations to God. "Who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them." (Romans 1:32)

This also applies to the oversight of Elders who are charged by God to "watch out for your souls, as those who must give account." (Hebrews 13:17) Their work is to be mindful of the souls of every member of the church. When an Eldership allows a member of the church to continue in the business of a video store, they have failed in their watch care of the souls involved. This is not a situation that requires time to work out a plan. The plan is simple: shut down the video store.

When a person obeys the gospel or returns to the Lord, various parts of life will take time to mold into the image of Christ. However, if a person is living in adultery, the action must be swift and final. If a man owns a bar the action of giving up all rights takes place immediately. When a person owns a video store, action must be immediate and final to close a business that is an abomination to God in every way. When the Elders fail to take that action, they have failed in their work.

What is the value of the soul? Have we lost the precious nature of a soul that has not recognized the seriousness of the consequences of their actions? It is easier to blindly go through life and not want to hurt peoples feelings or upset the apple cart. Paul told Timothy to "Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2) We must all be willing to preach the word of truth and not be ashamed of the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The value of the soul is found in the love the we have for one another. This love is found in regard to the desire that all men should be saved. It makes a difference what we practice and what we believe. We must stand upon the foundation of God's Word and not be moved. Sin is sin - no matter what color you paint it - sin is sin. Love should govern the heart in rebuking sin but sin must not be allowed to have part in the work of the Lord.

The church is only as strong as the nature of the heart of purity that is found within. Have we become like the church at Ephesus that left their first love or become the comprising church of Pergamos? Are we dead as described as Sardis or have we become lukewarm as the Laodiceans? (Revelation 2,3) The church of Christ must stand upon the purity of the lives of each and every member and those who guide the flock.

and

 

[Heath]

The state of one's soul reflects the doings of that person.

50-100 years ago in both the American public and private life. We obeyed God and our American society was much more clean, appropriate and people showed respect. Now look at our American society .....

Romans 1:18-32 (King James Version)

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Now compare these movies today we see with these Biblical verses....

Titus 2 (King James Version)

1But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

2That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.

3The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;

4That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,

5To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.

6Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded.

7In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

8Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.

9Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again;

10Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

13Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

14Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

15These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

We have rampart homosexuality, banning prayers in American schools, removing of the Ten Commandments , excess violence is seen as cool when violence should rightfully belong in the arena of self defense, people abusing their own bodies and minds with illegal drugs , seeing that it is cool to denounce what is right, pure and holy for more wicked and evil things....

I pray for the soul of America to return to the Biblical values that made this country so great and be blessed by God.

 

[Dennis S.]

Nobody's listening to either of you guys, you know? The good ol' days weren't as golden as you'd like to think they were. Why are you pining for an era that never existed, and why do you insist that it did exist?

 

[The*Empress]

Well it is our parents' fault, they kept us in the dark for so long.

"Hush hush, there is a child in the room, don't discuss this in front of her."

The good old days is when we didn't know about how cruel the world is and how wicked it was.

When I was watching Archie Bunker 25 years ago, I didn't understand. Now I do understand.