Paranoid or Apathetic?

Television shows are showing the wrong kind of image. That's true. Television influences the perception of people. Yes, it's true. But boys will be boys. They'll pick up guns and play at war. They get muddy. They take on heights that scare mothers half to death. But they may also like to play cooking. After all, how else are good chefs made?

So at the end of the day, boys tend to be a bit rough. And people have watched shows that seem bad but turn out alright. When JK Rowling's books came out, there were a lot of protest but really, how much of it is relevant? While everything has an effect on others, people still will reject what is lousy. So when we protest, are we really doing the right thing? Have we become too paranoid over what the enemy will use? Or have we become so apathetic, we don't realize when the enemy is at the door?

I hate the paranoia that sometimes surrounds us. Many are prone to make a mountain out of a molehill. Some shows have negative protrayals, I agree. But the viewers of that show should be able to take what is right and what isn't. Stopping kids from watching things blow up on cartoons won't exactly make them a better person. Likewise allowing them all the freedom they want isn't beneficial. There must be a certain amount of letting go and pulling back. The ultimate example is Man's free will. God gave us free will so that we can make our own decisions; whether the things we watch are good to learn from or bad that we should avoid. For example, some people can drink because they control their alcohol intake. Whereas some should avoid it entirely because it's going to lead them to destruction. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive. -1 Corinthians 10:23

Speaking of perceptions, I really hate first impressions. I hate the fact that you are judged by simply what is on the outward appearance. Yes, what's inside you will show on the outside. But what's on the outside may be incorrectly judged with the inside. If the outside truly reflected what exactly was on the inside, why does it say that God judges people by what's on the inside?

That's because outward appearances can be wrong! In fact, I'd go on and say it could be very wrong. Just because someone is wearing casual all the time doesn't mean he isn't a model professional. The girl who like to wear black doesn't necessarily have a bleak outlook on life. Wearing a suit and going to church every week doesn't mean you're holy and a good person. In fact, you could be the leader of a church and still be completely rotten!

I know that half the time, the outside judgement may be right. But I'm not willing to take that risk. Nor do I like it. A person is still a person with a soul. Whatever their outlook, whatever their personality, whatever their thinking, there's always something else there. If we only take the time to see past the insignificant outsides, we may find the gold inside. I pity not the person being judged, but the person judging. He/she misses out on a great opportunity; maybe even the opportunity of a lifetime. And those who try to put on an appearance; you also have my pity. No matter what the reason, no matter what the situation; I never believe in looking like 1 thing on the outside and being something different on the inside.