sacred... really?

Let there be no longer a differentiation between that which is sacred and that which is secular in my life. This is my desire. Yes, I have written about this before. You are not losing your mind. I simply want to make a point of clarification regarding my opinion on this matter.

It seems that there is a great many people who are ready and willing to embrace this perspective in saying that all aspects of their life is sacred and directed at the worship of God. However, I have come to realize that of this multitude, there is a majority who would stake claim to sacredness in life on their own terms.

I believe that God reached out to us in His merciful love and that He desires for us to draw near to Him. But I don't ever recall God giving us permission to come to Him on our terms.

I don't doubt that all who are reading this post (both of you) are a bit baffled at this point. Let me explain what I mean...

When I originally posted concerning the sacred quality that God desires for every aspect of life, I also posted a list of the various media influences that had been a significant at that juncture. My point is that whatever we listen to, view, and read will have an impact on our spiritual walk. We must, therefore, give attention to what we ingest within our being. The whole of life is to be sacred. We seem often willing to divide life into subcategories of sacred and secular. Church, Bible study, listening to Michael W. Smith, and the like generally fall under the sacred umbrella. Pretty much everything else is designated secular. Let's be honest, when we designate an area of our life as secular, what we are actually saying to God is, "Keep your hands off!" Come on now... you know that this is true.

So, what our response should be is an act of worship that brings all areas of life under the the intention of living the sacred life. Here is where I return to my original point. Some seem content in living the sacred life on their terms, which is no better and possibly worse than subdividing! As we seek to glorify God in living a life that is wholly sacred, we must come to grips with the fact that not all of our desires, actions, possessions, etc... are actually pleasing to God. He may actually call upon us to change the way we live!

Can we really say that we are living a sacred life while listening to music that defames Christ? Is it sacred to read romance novels that are explicit and borderline pornographic in their description of lovemaking? Is watching movies that are inundated with blasphemy and heresy an act of worship?

Now, before you start calling in the religious thought police and stoking the fires to burn me as a graceless legalistic freak, please understand that I think each person must make their own decisions as based on conviction impressed upon their heart by God. I do understand the viewing or reading of some materials for the sake of being able to know how to accurately respond to the subject's content. All I am saying is that Scripture continues to be the plumb line by which we measure.
Simply put, the life of Christ is our model.

Some would be quick to argue with me that Jesus was a rebel and that he flew in the face of yada, yada... Look. Here's the deal. Jesus showed the error of the extrareligious legalism that prevailed in the day. I encourage us all to continue following in this way. What Jesus did not do was compromise on the true teachings of the Word. He loved God as none has ever displayed upon this earth before or since. He didn't move in the power of the Spirit because he went around calling that which was defaming God a part of his sacred life. He moved in the Spirit because of his unflinching devotion to living a life that was set apart in all ways.

I feel like I'm starting to talk in circles, but I just had to get this off my chest. Thanks for hanging in there with me.