Apostolic Friends Forum - Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

As a child, I remember my mother teaching me the words to this song. There were many verses added which covered everything from my hands to my ears, and anything else mom thought I needed to bring under control. The last line was “for the father up above is looking down in love so be careful little ___________ what you ________.” While most often this song is sung in the toddlers Sunday school class, the principle of the song is far too heavy to abandon as mere child’s-play. In particular I want to focus on the verse of the song from which this article draws its title, “Be careful little eyes what you see.”

The Word of God is replete with many warnings that equate the guarding of the eyes with protecting the very soul of man. In fact, one does not have to look far to find the disastrous results of unguarded sight. Genesis 3:6 tells us; And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. Yes the enemy had engaged her in conversation, but it was not the conversation that convinced her to disobey God’s command. It was directly related to what her eyes beheld. Notice, “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes” I submit that what she heard simply reinforced what she saw. The lust of the eyes awakened the lust of the flesh bringing about her spiritual and natural demise.

Many studies have been compiled revealing an overwhelming correlation between what a person sees and how their body, emotions, and actions, respond. Children have been documented as having violent outbursts after watching violent fighting scenes. And the commercial advertising industry is proof that people desire what they see. Jesus, in his “Sermon on The Mount” stated that the light of the body is the eye. (Matt. 6:22-23) From this description, many have called the eyes the “windows of the soul,” and indeed the eyes serve as a gateway to our soul and spirit. Understanding this, why would we ever want to give free passage to ungodly material that appeals to the base nature of the carnal man into our soul and spirit?

The writer of Psalms 73 understood this principle all too well: Here he gives his personal testimony.

1Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 16When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. (Psalm 73:1-3, 16-18) (Some scholars attribute the writing of this psalm solely to David, while others assert that Asaph and David wrote it jointly.)

Surely a man seasoned by life’s experience can chronicle for us what chain of events left him disillusioned with God on the brink of compromise, and unable to find sure footing. Yet his explanation heralds a warning to all subsequent generations; “When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” It was not the trials he had been through, nor the ridicule of his friends, it was not the betrayal by his own son, or the contempt of his wife, which he sights as the cause for his shaken faith. This man who could kill a lion and a bear with no weapon save his own hands, and could chase down Goliath with a slingshot, admits that while the lion, the bear, and the giant could not defeat him; what he saw nearly destroyed him. No doubt it was this revelation that prompted him to write: I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. (Psalms 101:3)

Some years ago I walked into a pastor’s house, a TV was blaring in the family room where his wife and some other guests were watching some kind of “talk show.” They were discussing topics that should not be talked about in front of children and using language that most sinners would find offensive. (This pastor belonged to an organization, which allowed TV.) I will never forget his words to me as we walked into his home office that day. He said, “I cannot understand how anyone with the Holy Ghost can listen to such language, and watch violence, nudity, and perversion of all kinds, yet it does not offend the Holy Ghost within them.” He went on to say he wondered if a person could really have the Holy Ghost if they felt no offense at such things. If Isaiah was convicted when he saw the Lord, how can we not be convicted with God living in us?

I have heard all of the arguments. I can turn off the TV any time I want. I only use it to watch the news, educational things, sports, etc. If you can put a filter on your computer I can put parental controls on my TV, and the list goes on and on. These arguments are weak at best. How many actually turn off the TV before any curse words come across or semi/full nudity is flashed across the screen. There are some (very few) who will turn it after the fact, but by then the damage is done. I even know of families who have a three strikes and you’re out policy, meaning if they curse or there is inappropriate content more than three times they change the channel/movie. How absurd is that? Do you tell your children; well if I hear you curse three times I’m going to whip you?

I know it has been asked before, however, at the risk of being redundant I ask again: Would you allow someone to smoke cigarettes, pot, or crack in your living room? Would you allow your neighbor to commit adultery with his mistress in you bedroom? Would you allow rape, murder, domestic violence, gang activity, etc in your house? Would you allow a gay or lesbian individual to baby-sit your children, how about a child molester? Men, would you want someone in your home hours a day ridiculing your masculinity and attempting to make everything you do seem buffoonish? Yet many will allow these things to come into their house with little or no objection.

We need to address those who say they monitor everything their children watch so there is nothing to worry about. First, if your children are very young, they are impressionable, and they emulate what they see. Having said that, nearly all of the children’s programming and movies, including Disney, are very agenda driven, teaching acceptance of “alternative” (abominable) lifestyles and witchcraft. Secondly, don’t be so naïve, you did things your parents didn’t know about, and your children will too. If they watch TV at home they will watch things when you’re not around whether at home or somewhere else. I know, I know, your children are the exception, and they would never do that; I’m sure your parents probably thought that about you too.

Let us not be deceived, this is not a “TV” only issue. Guarding our eyes applies to any medium that provides a visual gateway to our spirit. Many of our critics charge us with promoting a double standard because the perils of the Internet are as great, if not more so, than TV. Unfortunately, our critics may be right to some degree. As watchmen we must not only warn of real and present dangers, we must also keep a watchful eye on the horizon. I have often stated that so much focus was placed on TV, that we did not recognize the imminent threat coming quietly into the homes and offices of those who valiantly fought against TV.

The enemy delivered a “gift” that was so helpful and had such potential, yet most of us did not see it as a Trojan horse elaborately designed to bring much devastation. Subsequently, far too many ministers, and saints alike, have been drawn away and enticed by the material they saw awakening their own lusts and facilitating their destruction. Recent developments in technology will merge TV and Internet within the next couple of years, what then? This scriptural principle of guarding our eyes must be fervently taught, regardless of the technology or we will fail to protect those who look to us for leadership.

The good news is… if what I see can be detrimental, if I’m looking at the right things it can also be beneficial. David said “Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.” The English word used in this passage for understood, is from the Hebrew biyn, which means to discern or perceive with the eyes. While David was shaken in his faith and nearly succumbed to the slippery road of compromise because of what he allowed himself to see, when the focus of his vision was redirected to the things of God he immediately regained his steadfastness.

Today, we are in a great tug of war. However, I feel compelled to warn you that this tug of war is not just for bragging rights. Indeed there is more at stake than getting our clothes wet and dirty from being dragged through a muddy pool of water, or the insult of being out muscled by a group of girls who refuse to give up until they have pulled you across the line of demarcation. While claims that we are over reacting abound, the outcome of this tug of war has eternal consequences. I, for one, refuse to pay the interest of compromise on the mortgaged souls of my children and grandchildren.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
Then the things of this earth
Will grow strangely dim
In the light of his Glory and Grace

These be the musings of an Old Time preacher hungry for a return to the old paths.