Special Brownies

Many parents have difficulty explaining to their youth why some music, movies, books, games and websites are not acceptable material to bring into the home.   One parent came up with an original idea that was hard to refute.

Dad listened to all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie.   It had their favorite actors.   Everyone else was seeing it.   Even church members said it was great.   It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex.   They never really showed it.   The language was pretty good.  They only used the Lord's name in vain three times in the whole movie.   The video effects were fabulous and the plot was action packed.    Yes, there WAS one scene where a building and a bunch of people got blown up, but the violence was just the normal stuff.   It wasn't very bad.

Even with all these explanations for the rating, Dad wouldn't give in.   He didn't even give them a satisfying explanation for saying "No."   He just said, "No."

A little bit later that evening, Dad returned to the family room and asked if they’d like some brownies he’d just prepared.    They leaned forward expectantly, reaching toward the pan.  He explained that he had taken the family's favorite recipe and added something new.

They asked what it was.  Dad replied, “Dog poop.”   The kids’ faces were a mixture of horror and disgust as Dad went on, “but only a little bit!   All the other ingredients are gourmet quality!”    

The children groaned, arms falling to their sides.  Dad explained,  “Oh, don’t worry.   I baked the brownies at precisely the right temperature for the right amount of time.  I’m sure they’ll be superb.”

He waved the pan under their upturned noses.  “They certainly smell delicious, don’t they?”      

But even with all his explanations of the perfect attributes of the brownies, the teens would not take even one bite.   They turned their faces away in disgust.

Dad was surprised by their resistance, “Go ahead; try one!     I’m sure you’ll hardly notice the dog poop at all.”    

* * * * *

None of us would eat Dog Poop Brownies because even just a little bit disgusts us! 

Are we just as disgusted when our favorite TV program or movie shows even just a little bit of violence or bad language or sex?   Do you change the channel, pop out the CD and do something else?

What about when your favorite home décor magazine or TV show features the home of active homosexuals?   Do you complain to the editor?  Would you discontinue your subscription?   Do you change the channel?

Satan tries to deceive us into believing that just a little bit of evil won't matter.     
How much garbage are you serving to your children, your spouse, yourself?  

How much filth are you allowing your children to see on TV or read in books?    


Even a little bit is too much.  

A friend once described it like this:   when you open your door to Satan, even just a little bit, you are welcoming (!!) every kind of evil into your home—and those demons will tear the door off its hinges.  How much harder will it be then to shut Evil out?

“Whatever is noble, right, pure, 
lovely, admirable
—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—
think about such things.”   
Philippians 4, verse 8, NIV, paraphrased


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