Note: This article is on honor of a dear saint on the east coast who recently asked about this topic.
A few years ago, I had the task of getting rid of things from my past before Christ. (I was a worldly sinful man before I repented) I had many very old things in storage for a long time, that did NOT honor God so I know that they had to go. It was mostly family movies, scrap books, children school things, awards and pictures of my old life, before I was made new in Him. People will sometimes call or email and say what do I do with my old family things now that I am following Jesus? I am amazed how hard it is for some to toss them out. For me it was not all that hard but a bit of flesh was holding on I guess. In this video, you can see what I did with my old family movies. Spoiler alert: I destroyed them!
***When I have time, one day I will add a audio about my letting go of a old rare movie star book that was worth a lot of money! I think you will all appreciate it.
Till then....
Many people say to me that family movies/pictures are innocent and just fine to keep but; I beg to differ. We saints are to focus on:
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. Phil 4:8
For the following reasons all that old life that contains sin/carnal ways must go:
*If you are now a holy saint and practice separation from the cultures carnal ways, I can promise you many sinful things like nasty words, sports, ungodly music, ungodly practices, pagan holidays and idle wasted times are all recorded in those movies and pictures. (mine were)
*If you are biblical and practice head covering and biblical dress now, those pictures and movies are FULL of unbiblical ways. (mine were)
*If you look past all of that, how are we being holy and pure before God in our ways to honor Him today? see 1 Peter 1:15... be holy in all our ways
*Those old things just take us back to a old life when Jesus said looking back makes you.... unfit for the kingdom. Luke 9:62
*How is our witness affected if relatives see us in our old sinful state and we allow it when we could toss it all out.
*God hates partiality (1 Tim 5) and clinging to family things that gets in the way of our obedience for the sake of having them no matter what, it is partiality.
To be clear, if you have some good & pure things like baby pictures, I am not talking about that. (I did give my children some of the old pure things I had that were not sinful or unbiblical) I am referring to anything that records our unbiblical, sinful ways in us or our children from our family past.
Note: I recall the last time I looked at those movies (years before I was born again) there was very pure innocent things, right next to wickedness and sin. I want no part of that so it had to go! I had not the time not did I want to spend the money to go through and edit out hundreds of hours of movies for anything that might be good. I tossed all the movies and 98% of the pictures. It was a purging process and I grew greatly from it.
Paul counted all before Christ as dung (manure)
Yea doubtless, and I count all things [but] loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them [but] dung, that I may win Christ. Phil 3:8
Some ideas for you as you walk through this part of new life:
1) If you have items that are "of you" and you want them destroyed you have that right to do so! Get them gone and glorify God! (yes, that includes unbiblical harlot looking wedding pictures)
2) If your partner has things of them or your children they want, let them keep them but ask they keep them away from you. In truth you do not have to partake of that at all. Tell them that is the old you and move on as we serve/please God not man. Acts 5:29
3) Use the cleaning out of the old stuff as a witness and to preach the gospel of new life. Most people will NOT understand and they will think you are crazy! Just remember the lost cant see clear (its foolishness 1 Cor 1:18) but you are planting seeds in them to come to Christ!
4) Do not delay, use wisdom and go thru your items and toss it all that you can. Holding it only makes it more valuable to you and its leaven waiting to stumble you.
How can it be sinful? Example:
I recall a lady we knew who claimed she was born again and now a head covered chased saint. But when we went to her home, I was amazed to see tons of pictures on her walls, of her wedding and much uunbiblical dress. This is sinful, confusion and compromise, is it not?
I encourage you to go study this all out for yourself. The people in Acts 19:19 burned expensive magic books and Paul tells us no man gets entangled in the affairs of this life (old family stuff) but strives to please God. See 2 Tim 2:4
Lastly, Jesus said He came to set us free. John 8:32
We can testify, as can other saints we know that getting rid of old/pass life things that were not of God, is a VERY freeing thing! Paul says to examine ourselves in 2 Cor 13:5 and if you have old stuff, get it gone like we all had too. It is part of your reasonable service to God. See Romans 12:1-2
Note: In love, if you are having a really hard time doing what God has called you to do; (letting go of the old) it means you are holding on to this life and people, MORE THEN OBEYING CHRIST.
Will you enter into heaven that way? See Hebrews 5:9
Lose your life from the past, it must be done.
Yes, Jesus covers this to:
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Matt 10:39
I can promise you folks, in heaven you will NOT miss or care about old family movies or pictures. And if you are all for Him today, why are you holding on to them and the past now? Let it go and move on in Him and His truth!
Repent and obey the gospel and that means getting rid of your old life, all its sin/baggage and past vain things like;
worldly family memorabilia.
God be praised
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