On August 7, 2012 evil June told me to watch a show called City Hunter.
Me: What's that?!
June: It's a Korean drama
Me: With subtitles and stuff?! Nah...
June: Yes, but I hear they're really good!
Me: I'll watch the first 3 episodes of City Hunter if you watch the first 3 episodes of Downton Abbey
June: Deal
At the time, Downton Abbey was my latest obsession. I'd watched the first 2 seasons in a whirlwind, and wanted to share its greatness with June. But...you can't get her to do anything without striking a deal of some sort (this is indicative of some unhealthy flaw in our friendship, but I digress). In any case, it was the beginning of an addiction.
Korean dramas are typically between 16 and 25 episodes, with each episode approximately an hour long. From August 7 to September 21, I've watched the following:
 |
| Boys Over Flowers |
- City Hunter
- Boys Over Flowers
- Stars Falling from the Sky
- IRIS
- Secret Garden
- King 2 Hearts
- Rooftop Prince
 |
| King 2 Hearts |
I was crazily off-balance.
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not
satisfy?... Isaiah 55:2
Why that scripture? Well, I was feeding myself with what wasn't food, and filling myself up with what didn't satisfy. The more I tried to satisfy my mind and my heart with romcoms and melodramas, the more traumatically unsatisfied I became.
140 hours given to Hallyu; less than 140 hours given to "Hallelujah" in my quiet time, and in the church service, and in studying for my blog writing. I can't live on Hallyu, but I actually can live (eternally) on Hallelujah:
Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Matthew 4:4
The thing that gives me life: The Word of God...woefully neglected, for like 40+ days.
I spent more time thinking on the good-lookingness of Lee Min Ho* than I did on the goodness of Jesus! Ah!!
So is K-drama out of my life? No, no, no. NO. It's just going to be a much smaller part. Goodbye hours upon hours of parroting "kamsamnida" and "Fighting!" back to my screen. It's been real.
I actually might sneak in a "Best of K-drama" blog now and then...but my opinion means little given that there are literally 1000s of these dramas and I've seen 7. That being said:
ROOFTOP PRINCE IS THE BEST! Watch it...right after you read Romans 8!!
What do we allow to steal our focus?
*I got so distracted looking at photos of him. Gotta take every thought captive! LOL
I love watching korean drama series . They're all great!
ReplyDeletexDDD I love thisss!! You are funny and honest to yourself, I won't cut dramas out completely but I will most DEFINITELY stop starving myself of God and actual physical food... (・x・ ) yes it happened..
ReplyDeleteANYWAY Thanks!!!!!! made an eternal difference for me thanks!!!
I'm also working on balancing kdrama and time with God. I've never been really obsessed with kdrama, but I can still feel the power and the tempation of it. It was inspiring to read your post and to know that others stand in the same fight of keeping Jesus the centre of our lives, ALWAYS. Because nothing else can ever deserve that place in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteSo true. I've set aside a night for dedicated quiet time: Tuesday nights. No TV. No endlessly surfing the internet. Just reading the Bible, praying, and hopefully writing a blog.
ReplyDeleteBut I still love kdramas! Kim Soo Hyun I <3 you!
how are you know?
DeleteWell the bible says you cannot serve two masters at the same time..
ReplyDeleteWhat you are basically saying is that we can give God let's say 22 hours a day but for the rest of 2 hours i will spend it on worldly fun and away from him. Oh it's ok because its 2 hours out of 24, God would not mind. Well i beg to differ..
Hi Anonymous, thanks for your comment.
DeleteWhen I started watching K-dramas, I was in a dark time/dark place and used the dramas as a sort of escapism. Episode after episode, day after day. Late into the night. By definition an addiction is something that can be pleasurable, but the continued use/act becomes compulsive and interferes with ordinary life responsibilities. K-dramas were interfering with my spiritual disciplines and with the way I handled problems. AND, I didn't even know it!
But God is so great, and so infinitely merciful, that He didn't allow K-drama to fulfill me. It couldn't actually BE my light in the darkness. The source of true fulfillment and light could ONLY come from Christ. God pointed this out to me, and I tried to share it through the blog. The blog is somewhat comedic (and this one is old) so perhaps it didn't capture my main point:
There is only one source of life.
God is the consuming fire. So I can't be consumed by dramas. So when my day grows dark, I pray. When my heart is heavy, I turn to scripture. Because that's the ONLY thing that can make it better. Dramas can't make me happy. Romans 8 can make me happy. Dramas can't change my circumstances. Prayer can change my circumstance.
The serving two masters scripture is about where I put my trust and confidence. It's about what I depend on to be life-giving. And, as for me, I depend on Christ for that.
I depend on K-dramas for a few laughs...and I don't think God minds.
Also, and sorry to be so long with this, the portion of the Sermon on the Mount referenced (Matthew 6:24) speaks very specifically to "wealth." Spiritual wealth vs. earthly riches.
DeleteIt's easier to understand about the two masters when one thinks of it in terms of wealth, because earthy riches can SEEMINGLY sustain you. But it is not sustenance. A person can put all that they are into attaining riches and stability in this life, when God wants the poor in spirit. He wants us emptied out. And that sometimes means being emptied of our attachment and desire for earthly wealth and all that striving for such entails. Why? Because such can lead you away from God.
I do think this is transferable though. ANYTHING can lead one away from God. Whatever I was trying to get from K-dramas that wasn't kicks and giggles, was stealing from God. Though, I think God can provide kicks and giggles too...
I'm rambling now. Peace out!
I'm going through a crazy temptation to watch this one kdrama right now ��. Any advice? I should just stay away from it until the desire to watch it dies right?
ReplyDeleteTo be more specific I just returned to the Lord after three long depressing weeks of backsliding in the faith.
DeleteI'm sorry you had three long depressing weeks of "backsliding" in the faith. I definitely know the dark times, but just because you feel like you've walked away from God, doesn't mean He has walked away from you. "if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself." (2 Timothy 2:13). If you're worried about losing yourself in kdrama as a pointless distraction, yes...just avoid it until the desire to watch it dies. I'm on a kdrama (and TV in general) hiatus right now. I've chosen to simply read in my free time instead of watching television.
DeleteI really don't think kdramas themselves are bad (or sinful); I think that sometimes we lose ourselves in the wrong things. Get consumed by the wrong things. Try to take a step back and ground yourself.
True, I know kdramas aren't bad in itself. It's just that one drama that I have been idolizing. Honestly if I watch other dramas it's probably not a sin...but since I'm not really attracted to them it's boring to watch. Anyways thank you for the aevice and fast reply ahaha.
DeleteI think the biggest trouble I have had and now understand is - what is our motive for watching these k-dramas? It's been a hard road and sometimes I feel like I want to go back but to be honest we have to discern. If we are to watch a k-drama we better be 100 percent honest because many will call "Lord Lord" and He will tell us that He doesn't know us. It's a tricky situation but as long as we have the right heart about it. God bless guys! Lots of Love! <3
DeleteI am an absolute K-drama fan. LIKE A HUGE ONE i have been watching k-dramas since i was 7 years old and now im 17! (i'm even learning Korean; but i digress) and being honest i feel like 2015 is the year i Watched a WHOLE LOT im talking probably 50+ kdramas and some of them where 50, 60+ hours long and i find myself wishing people would be a bit more like k-dramas because they gave me so much joy.I was actually looking for a quick movie to watch and almost got tempted to watch the wrong kind and stumbled (by God's ultimate grace) upon the blog. This blog has made me realise that i need to LIMIT my time there, i can't even spend 5 hours on God but watch me watch 10 hours a day of a Korean drana, no wonder i feel like i'm not progressing in my Spiritual life.It has possibly become my idol :( and that doesn't make my God happy because after all, Jesus Christ is suppossed to be my first love, but i have made Him my part time interest. I spend all my time talking about k-dramas k-dramas k-dramas but i feel scared to even say Jesus is Lord? i feel like im not even worthy to call myself Christian because i have not been acting 'Christ-like'. This is my first time reading your blog and it has made such a huge impact in me realising I NEED TO STOP and focus on the reason i am living, Thank you so much!!God Bless :x
ReplyDeleteWelll has was just like you . I feel like it’s a sin but I once stubbled across something on YouTube that said most of the things that make us feel like we don’t have freedom we’re prob made by us humans coz God gave us feeedom . Soooo meaning we create these laws and try and make it seem like it’s one of the Ten Commandments or something but that’s just you mind messing with you .
DeleteI am strugging with finding kdramas that don't have homosexuality in them. Our country, Babylon America, is badly influencing S.Korea. I am so sad that most all of the new kdramas are full of this sin (the reason I got rid of my American tv-love what God loves and hate what he hates). Please share if you know of which kdramas you recommend to other believers, that don't grieve the Holy Spirit.
ReplyDeleteK-dramas are not of God, in fact, most media is not of God (like 90%). They don't emulate anything God like..none that I've seen so far and I've been watching them since 2005 (oldies). Remember that too much of anything (that is not of God) is not good. We need to balance our Godly and non Godly desires, sooo our Godly desires should surpass our non Godly desires by a milestone. And this is so that you don't fall into temptation but putting things before the things of God. So stay grounded in the faith, and pray without ceasing, and temptation will not lead you, instead, you will be able to reject it in the name of Jesus.
DeleteIt is bad. Its not from the Lord but of Satan's. All that are not of the Lord are of the devil ( Matthew). In the Korean dramas here always is a sin may it be sexual immorality, violence, hatred, a touch or full of homosexuality, lies, idolatry, and etc. The Bible is clear that in the last days there will be such a strong delusion that if it were possible even the elect would be deceived (Matthew 24:24). What seems white will actually be black and what seems like the truth will be a lie. Please, you know yourself it is bad so please avoid it with all your strength and understanding for the Lord said, love Him with all your heart, your mind, all your strength and all your understanding. Korean drama is a great deception from Satan himself. Please deny yourselves and just take up your cross and follow Him. He waits for us to return in to Him. Just live in His Love. And submit all yourselves unto Him. You must surrender your all to Him.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you.
While reading this, I was like, this is so me.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny because, I was searching for "Christian Korean Drama" on google and stumbled upon this blog. I laughed reading this because this is the exact reason I had to stop watching k-dramas. One time in undergrad, I was up all night watching an old drama, that was already complete with its 16 episodes instead of doing school work. I was in real deep. I was too embarrassed to fall asleep in class because I felt like people would ask me why I was so sleepy. What was I going to tell them...CONVICTION was stronnggg!!
After that, I decided to only watch 1 NEW drama a semester. Waiting for dramas to come out was the way I controlled my drama intake. I couldn't let it embarrass me no mo!
And after 2 school semesters of that, I just cut dramas out of my life completely, for like 2+ years. It was best decision because I had an addiction.
After I cut dramas out of my like...kpop too. I felt sooo much better. I was no longer dependent and I no longer felt the urge to wait for a kiss scene...we all did it haha.
K-dramas are not of God. They don't emulate anything God like..none that I've seen so far and I've been watching them since 2005 (oldies). Remember that too much of anything (that is not of God) is not good. We need to balance our Godly and non Godly desires, sooo our Godly desires should surpass our non Godly desires by a milestone. And this is so that you don't fall into temptation but putting things before the things of God. So stay grounded in the faith, and pray without ceasing, and temptation will not lead you, instead, you will be able to reject it in the name of Jesus.
This post is amazing. Thank you~~
ReplyDeleteNo, thank YOU. Comments like this make me want to re-enter the blog world. Not trying to make money or be famous...I just like sharing my experience. The spiritual journey can be a struggle. And that struggle is real.
Deletei have a question. So should i give up kdrama entirely? i do not idolize them and i am trying my best to spend time with God and reading my bible more than i listen or watch these things, i avoid the scary kdramas and dont listen to the explicit songs. I Jjust honestly watch kdrama for the giggles and laughs.
ReplyDelete