Tom Furness who is involved in virtual reality inventions is concerned about the impact of violent games using virtual reality. He says the ultimate response to the full emotional impact of virtual reality is to become numb.
Can you list the top three reasons why you think Ellen White objected to living in a fantasy world through novel reading, theatre attendance etc.?Thank you.
PS "You are not toe treat your life as a romance, but as a reality. You are to be a labourer together with God in forming a character that He can approve." (TSB 51.2)
The choice to live in reality will become harder over time. In 30 years time if the majority of people have their minds connected to the Internet 24/7, those who choose not to practice this will be viewed as very strange.
60 years ago, going to the movie theatre was a hot topic in the Adventist church. Now the theatre is in the majority of Adventist homes in the form of TV. In the future, will the majority of Adventists follow close behind society and live in virtual reality?
Something to consider. I guess now is the time to study and understand what type of living the Bible and the writings of Ellen White sanction.
My relationship with God is based on reality. Ellen White cautions me to live in reality.
One prominent SOP quote that comes to mind talks about how Satan distracts people, as a means of keeping them from focusing on the atonement and the great truths of the sanctuary.
Here is the quote:
Satan invents unnumbered schemes to occupy our minds, that they may not dwell upon the very work with which we ought to be best acquainted. The archdeceiver hates the great truths that bring to view an atoning sacrifice and an all-powerful mediator. He knows that with him everything depends on his diverting minds from Jesus and His truth. {GC 488.1}
Those who would share the benefits of the Saviour's mediation should permit nothing to interfere with their duty to perfect holiness in the fear of God. The precious hours, instead of being given to pleasure, to display, or to gain seeking, should be devoted to an earnest, prayerful study of the word of truth. The subject of the sanctuary and the investigative judgment should be clearly understood by the people of God. All need a knowledge for themselves of the position and work of their great High Priest. Otherwise it will be impossible for them to exercise the faith which is essential at this time or to occupy the position which God designs them to fill. Every individual has a soul to save or to lose. Each has a case pending at the bar of God. Each must meet the great Judge face to face. How important, then, that every mind contemplate often the solemn scene when the judgment shall sit and the books shall be opened, when, with Daniel, every individual must stand in his lot, at the end of the days. {GC 488.2}
Besides these there is a multitude of fiction writers, luring to pleasant dreams in palaces of ease. These writers may not be open to the charge of immorality, yet their work is no less really fraught with evil. It is robbing thousands upon thousands of the time and energy and self-discipline demanded by the stern problems of life. {Ed 227.2}
No lie - 1 John 2:21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Lies seek to remove oneness with God, holiness is continual agreement with God. Lies create evil thoughts.
Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.
Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. ......Romans 2:29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God........Deuteronomy 30:6 And the LORD thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live........8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. What do you obey > no other Gods......no false witness........carnal mindedness = death . Lying & fiction fits all those prohibitions and sins.
Psalms 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.
Isaiah 59:4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.
Jeremiah 28:15 Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet, Hear now, Hananiah; The LORD hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.
Hosea 10:13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.
Habakkuk 2:18 What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
I assume you are saying, fiction = not true = wrong.
What about when people say harmless jokes to each other. They are funny because both people know that they are not true. Isn't this a use of God given intelligence?
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
I love jokes too, but they are not helpful in the Christian walk.
Recently I:ve been aghast to see even conservative SDAs say it is OK to tell *white lies* whatever that means. I disagree strongly, as I hate all forms of lying.
Having said that, it is true that sometimes analogies are immediately recognized as such, and as such, do not fall into the category of *white lies*. For example, the Bible talks about Israel being a vine, and the trees clapping and hills skipping etc.
__________________
Page 1 of 1 sorted by
EarlySDA -> EarlySDA -> Living in Reality vs Escaping into Fantasy
