Who Molds Your Thinking? - AVOID BEING MOLDED AFTER THIS SYSTEM

For example, we should exercise caution when choosing our close friends.  The Bible warns  us that if we keep close company with people who do not worship Jehovah, their thinking will rub off on us.  (Proverbs 13:20; 1 Corinthians  15:12, 32, 33) We can also be selective when choosing entertainment. By rejecting entertainment that promotes the theory of evolution, violence, or immorality, we avoid poisoning our thinking with ideas that are "against the knowledge of God." 2 Corinthians 10:5.

We also do well to recognized and reject worldly thinking when it is presented in less obvious ways. For example, a news report might be angled in such a way so as to favor certain political opinions. A human interest story might advance the world's view of  human goals and achievements. Some movies and books promote the "me first" and "family first" philosophies, making them seem reasonable, appealing, even right. Such viewpoints overlook the Scriptural view that our families and self-worth thrive when we love Jehovah above all.  (Matthew 22:36-39)  Also, some children's stories, though otherwise unobjectionable, may subtly lay the groundwork for accepting immoral behavior.

This does not mean that it is wrong to enjoy wholesome entertainment.  Still, we do well to ask ourselves these questions: 'Do we recognized the world's teachings even when they are promoted indirectly?  Do we limit our children's exposure-and even our own-to certain programs or reading material? Do we counteract worldly ideas heard or seen by our children with Jehovah's view of matters? By recognizing the difference between God's thinking and that of the world, we can avoid "being molded by this system of things."

WHO IS MOLDING YOU NOW?

Remember, there are basically two sources of information-Jehovah and the world under Satan's  control.  By which source are we being molded?  The answer is, the source from which we obtain information. If we take in the world's ideas, these will mold our thinking, inclining us toward fleshly points of view and behavior.  That is why it is vital that we guard what we allow our minds to dwell on.

As mentioned earlier, to think like Jehovah, we must do more than keep our minds free from corrupting influences. We must also feed on God's thoughts with a view to making them our own.  The following article will further consider how we can do that. 

Next time: Are You Making Jehovah's Thoughts Your Own?

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