Are there any things that you enjoyed before, but gave up when you became a Christian?
(Certain TV shows, movies, habits, hangouts?)
As far as entertainment goes, I used to watch/read a lot of romance and romantic comedy...and in the last year or so I'm finding that I'm not able to stomach any of it anymore. There's a lot about those genres that just doesn't fit in with what's right and Biblical; all the premarital sex, for instance, or how disrespectful the people are with each other, or...yeah, it's a pretty long list.
Other things I've given up (or am trying to give up)- gossip, in any form, and dang it that's hard to do sometimes...not because I thrive on other people's drama, but because it's so easy to cross that line between sharing/obtaining information (say, about family members), and gossiping about a person.
Smoking.
Arguing with the goal of making someone agree with my perspective.
What specifically did you give up, if you don't mind sharing? Oh...yeah, that ^^^
Why did you feel that it was no longer acceptable? Did you know it was wrong before, or did it suddenly dawn on you after coming into contact with the Lord?
Much of what I've given up/been working on have been things that either (for lack of better words) poison my heart, or poison my relationships with others (which I guess are both pretty much the same thing). This stuff, I started realizing, was distancing me from people, but also from God.
I did know most of it was wrong before. I was raised Christian, I knew wrong from right...but it just wasn't until more recently that I felt truly convicted about any of it.
Are there things you feel like you SHOULD give up but haven't been able to yet? I've always been one to withhold information (either about a situation or about myself) from people who could actually help me...my parents, my friends, my pastor, and my husband. It never seemed like lying or being disrespectful or secretive; I just felt I was protecting my privacy. But I'm learning that it's important Especially with my husband to share these things, that it's wrong not to trust him with everything- because that's really what it comes down to, and it undermines our marriage. I feel like God has been pushing me to be more upfront about the things I least want to share with anyone, but it's really rough and I've not done very well with it.
As Christians, how "in the world" should we really be?
Just enough to know what to guard against, and to reach out and make disciples, as we were commanded.
Should our lives look visibly different to outsiders?
Absolutely- light is supposed to look different than darkness, yes?
Where do you draw the line on what movies, shows, books or language is okay for Christians?
That line has been hazy in our home for a long time, but it's becoming more clear- Most of the time I find myself shutting off the TV or closing a book in the middle of a show/movie/story because of excessive bad language, violence, sex, or other behavior that just makes me cringe.