A father of three teenagers set a rule that the family could not watch R-rated movies. This created a problem when a certain popular movie opened in local theaters. All the teens were bent on seeing the file, despite its "R" rating. The teens interviewed friends and even members of their church to compile a list of pros and cons about the movie. They hoped that the list would convince their dad that they should be allowed to attend. The cons were that it contained only a few swear words that misused God’s name, only one act of violence (“which you can see on TV all the time,” they said), and only one sex scene (and it was mostly implied sex, off camera). The pros were that it was a popular movie – a blockbuster. If the teens saw the movie, then they would not feel left out when their friends discussed it. The movie contained a good plot and two hours of nonstop action and suspense. There were fantastic special effects! The movie also featured some of the most talented actors in Holly wood. The teens were certain that the film would be nominated for several awards. And Christian friends at their church who had seen the movie said it wasn’t “that bad”. Therefore, since there were more pros than cons, the teens asked their father to reconsider his position just this once. The father looked at the list and asked if he could have a day to think about it before making his decision. The teens were thrilled. Now we’ve got him! they thought. Our argument is too good! Dad can’t turn us down! So they agreed to give him a day to think about their request.
The next day the father called his three teenagers, who were smiling smugly, into the living room. They were puzzled to see a plate of brownies on the coffee table. The father said he had decided that if they would eat a brownie, then he would let them go to the movie. But just like the movie, the brownies had pros and cons. The pros were that they had been made with fresh walnuts and the finest chocolate. These moist frosted brownies had been created with an award-winning recipe. Best of all, they had been made with care by the hands of the teens’ own father. The brownies had only one con. They had a little bit of dog poop in them. But the dough had been mixed well – the teens probably would not even be able to taste it. And their father had baked the brownies at 350 degrees, so any bacteria or germs had probably been destroyed. Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat a brownie that included “just a little bit of poop,” then they also would be permitted to see the movie with “just a little bit of smut.” By now the teens had lost their smug expressions. They turned down the tainted brownies, and only Dad was smiling smugly as they left the room.
Now when his teenagers ask permission to do something he is opposed to, the father just asks, “Would you like me to whip up a batch of my special brownies?”
Philippians 4:8 says, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
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This is one of my favorite devo stories. I told this story to my very first teen class. I welcomed them to the class and served them warm homemade brownies just before the lesson. It was pretty funny to watch their faces as the story progressed. ha!
There are so many ways that we allow sin in our lives. Sometimes we justify it by saying "its just a little bit".
James 1:27 tells me that I need to keep from being polluted by the world if I am to please God. That is so simple to say, but very difficult to practice. When making decisions, especially on entertainment choices, it helps me to just stop and ask myself "How much poop do I want in my brownies?".
