Are you being sucked into this world?

Today, as I was reading the news online, I came across an article about Miley Cyrus. The article claimed that she had come out with a provocative music video staring her newest single hit Can't Be Tamed. When I first read the information, I was sure that the writer of the article had exaggerated so I decided to judge for myself and I watched the video. To say that the writer of the article was being modest would be an understatement. I was shocked to see the provocative and inappropriate ways that Miley Cyrus acting. Let me just say that there was plenty of cleavage and booty shaking. What is sad is that Miley is portrayed as a bird (costume) who is in a cage. Hence the name of the song. Let me give you a better idea with just the first few opening lines of the song:

"For those who don't know me, I can get a bit crazy
Have to get my way, 24 hours a day
'Cause I'm hot like that
Every guy everywhere just gives me mad attention
Like I'm under inspection, I always get the 10s
'Cause I'm built like that"

For someone with morals like myself, that song goes against so many of my beliefs... and the song itself just seems wrong! I almost feel like I am viewing another Britney Spears.

I remember when Miley Cyrus was supposed to be a “good Christian girl.” A co-worker of mine even told me that one time he was speaking with a family who seemed to know the Cyrus' family very well and he said they went on and on about how good of a Christian girl Miley was. That was back in 2006.

It's not just Miley that I have seen this happen to. I can name countless teens who have all started out as good and turned into the “wild child.” One person specifically comes to mind. She isn't a pop star and doesn't even have her name out in the world. She is actually one of my best friends. Just like Miley, she too was a good girl who loved God and wanted to do everything she could to walk the right path. But, as she began to step into High School I watched and was with her through countless boyfriends, all who just wanted to push her down the wrong path. Finally, when she found a boy who she “loved with all her heart,” she began to push all her friends away (including me) and I didn't see or hear from her for the next two years. When we finally re-connected, she was crying telling me about everything she had done (which was pretty much everything you could think) and how she wished she could take it all back. After many hours of counseling with her, I started to think that she was turning around. But, she soon began to be pulled by the world and I was hurt to see her slip away once again. But, I saw her more this time and she told me everything she did. Every conversation that we had always somehow ended in her saying that she didn't know why she did the things she did. She said that she was going to change her ways and was really going to turn around. Yet, the next week we would be having that same conversation.

Lately I have started to see a little bit of a change in her. We talk all the time and I can see her slowly starting to change and surrender her life to Christ. I can't wait for her to completely surrender to Christ, because I know that when she does, her life will be such a great testimony to other girls who are just like herself.

I am not saying all this to spread gossip or anything like that. My point is that people will be pulled by the ways of this world. The question to ask yourself is, “How can I keep from being pulled by the world?” Because I am not perfect, you are not perfect, your pastor isn't perfect. We are all human and it is our nature to sin. The answer is to be strong in your faith. Be strong in your belief. Keep your feet planted on a solid foundation and don't let any of your morals be swayed even just a little by the world.

I know that in life I have temptations and I feel the world pull on me 24/7 but I also know that I have something stronger than the pull of the world: and that is Christ. He is my Rock and it is only through Him that I will be able to resist this world and the things it has to offer. I will leave you with this verse,

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

God's ways are good and pleasing and perfect. I'd say that that sounds a whole lot better than following the ways of the world.