Most folks who know me expect that relationship with God is the key to maintaining peace in our home, and they’re right. But people are often surprised by my answer when asked what the second key ingredient is to a Peaceful Home. It’s not a popular answer and most people aren’t willing to make the sacrifices necessary to give it due consideration or try it themselves.

In our home, we will not watch, listen to, or read anything that we wouldn’t want our youngest child consuming.

Seriously.

We do not have cable, listen to (most) mainstream music, aimlessly surf the web, or read many secular books or magazines- except for educational purposes. My husband chooses not to have Facebook. If we are going to consume some kind of entertainment, we stick to PG and G rated material— and often even turn those programs off if they do not honor God or His commandments in some way– such as celebrating witchcraft, harming others, or using innuendo.

This may make us sound like prudes… and we are. On purpose.

I could spend an entire book sharing the reasons WHY. Lots of people say we’re too conservative, ultra religious, or over the top. Surely we’re adults and can handle more! We live in the world afterall. But here’s the thing… I don’t know about you, but the hours I spent watching Sex and the City and other garbage before I knew better completely and horrifically shaped my late teens and early 20s. My relationship with the Harry Potter series had me researching witchcraft and believing there were “good” witches. I wanted to live in that world rather than God’s world. And let’s face it, these days you can’t even check out at the grocery store without being exposed to multiple images that are designed to trigger lust.

I promise you, I’m not coming from a place of being ultra religous. My heart for this subject is in protecting my relationship with God, my marriage, and my children.

I could talk to you about how monitoring what we consume keeps our marriage more pure and loving because our eyes are not being exposed to lewdness or lies about what a relationship should be like according to the world. I could tell you that the things I think about and speak about help my spirit and soul to stay peaceful– even in the midst of tribulation– because what you put into your heart comes out of your mouth….

But ultimately—the bottom line of why we are SO CONSERVATIVE about what we consume is because that’s what the bible says to do.

“But Lizzie— the bible doesn’t say anything about what’s acceptable or unacceptable to watch on TV… Don’t you think you’re taking this too far?”

No, I don’t. Not at all. And I believe the bible does explicitly address this topic and I’ll show you where. I praise Jesus for the revelation we’ve received for our family, the strength to implement it, and the good it’s done all of us.

A good friend once told me to “Preach the Word and live out your convictions.” Some of the wisest words I’ve ever heard. I’m not here to tell anyone how to live or judge how they live. AT ALL. But I will share the scriptures that helped us reach our conclusion and invite you to rightly divide the Word of God and decide what’s best for you and your family:

It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. Ephesians 5:12

I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless.  Psalm 101:.3a

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 1 Cor 15:33

The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light,   Matthew 6:22

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.   James 4:4

I know this is hard to hear and even harder to implement. Trust me. I was in your shoes at one point. Sometimes I STILL get disappointed. It’s easy to feel left out choosing this path when most people, even in the church, are talking about pop culture 24/7. It can be tricky to relate to people— especially those who do not focus on a relationship with the Lord— because you sometimes have to dig for things to talk about.

BUT… there’s no comparison to a husband who only has eyes for you or a marriage that is becoming more wholesome and pure by the day. There’s nothing like discussing your own dreams and plans and thoughts and feelings instead of living out someone else’s (a fictional character’s no less) on a TV screen. It is INCREDIBLE to have one predominant voice in your head—the precious Holy Spirit— rather than always having to discern what you’re “hearing” because you fill your mind with so many voices.

It feels very clean. And Very Peaceful.

Just some food for thought. I’d love to hear your reactions to this. It took some vulnerability to share—but I encourage you to respond even if you disagree. I think dialogue helps us all to grow closer together and closer to God… and I HATE that our culture is seeking to force people of faith to keep their thoughts and feelings silent. Let’s chat. 🙂

LOVE,

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