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Monday, February 04, 2008

Whatever ... Philippians 4:8

One of the simplest pieces of Scripture to understand is perhaps one of the most overlooked by Christians. I'm talking about Philippians 4:8. It's often quoted. I've seen it on calendars and wall plaques. It's a little harder to see it in practice though. I've wrestled with it a lot, because it convicts me to change what I read, listen to, watch, enjoy, eat, drink, etc.

It has become a filter through which I run all my choices. Is this TV show Philippians 4:8? Does this song meet the criteria laid out in Philippians 4:8? How about this party? These friends? This company? If not, then I don't have permission to read it, listen to it, watch it, shop in it, hang out with it, etc. It's really that simple.

Some might accuse me of being a staunch conservative. Trust me, I'm not. I enjoy drinking, smoking cigars, juicy gossip, trashy magazines and sarcastic songs as much as the next guy. But the further I go in my walk with God, the more convicted about these things I become. It's like God saying, "Excuse me. What are you watching?" I used to look at my choices in life as being bad or not bad. If they were not bad then I felt free to make them.

It turns out that God has different criteria He'd like us to use. Instead of just staying away from things that are bad --- and finding myself with the mediocre, the deceptive and the useless, God wants me to focus on other things. He wants me to focus on things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Recently, I took a look at Philippians 4:8 to see if there might be a loophole. Perhaps it was in the translation that I lost the right to watch Jerry Springer, Montel Williams or read the National Enquirer. Much to my dismay, each of the many translations I looked it up in lead me to the same conclusions. God has high standards for what I am to watch, listen to, sing, or fill my life with. Take a look.

NIV (New International Version)
Finally, brothers, 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.


NAS (New American Standard)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.


The Message
Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.


Amplified Bible
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].


King James
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


English Standard
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.


Contemporary English
Finally, my friends, keep your minds on whatever is true, pure, right, holy, friendly, and proper. Don't ever stop thinking about what is truly worthwhile and worthy of praise.


New King James
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.


21st Century New King James
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things.


American Standard
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.


Young’s Literal
As to the rest, brethren, as many things as are true, as many as [are] grave, as many as [are] righteous, as many as [are] pure, as many as [are] lovely, as many as [are] of good report, if any worthiness, and if any praise, these things think upon;


Darby
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things [are] true, whatsoever things [are] noble, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] amiable, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue and if any praise, think on these things.


New Life
Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.


Holman Christian Standard
Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.


New International Readers’
Finally, my brothers and sisters, always think about what is true. Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect. If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.


Wycliffe New Testament
From henceforth, brethren, whatever things be sooth, whatever things chaste, whatever things just, whatever things holy, whatever things able to be loved [
a], whatever things of good fame, if any virtue, if any praising of discipline, think ye (on) these things,

Worldwide English
Here, my brothers, are some things I want you to think about. Think about things that are true, honest, right, clean and pure, things that are lovely, and things that are good to talk about. If they are good, and if they bring praise to God, think about these things.


New International (UK)
Finally, brothers, 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.


Today’s New International
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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.


So there you have it ---- God's criteria for what our life can be filled with. Use it as a filter the next time you watch TV, turn on the radio or go to a movie. Let's find out what really is excellent, lovely and worthy of praise. And let's weed out anything that's not!

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous11:57 AM

    I just came across your blog when I was doing some research. If you haven't already heard of it I think you would be greatly encouraged by Joyce Meyer's book "Battlefield of the Mind".

    Blessings,
    A sister in Christ

    ReplyDelete