Garbage In, Garbage Out

GIGO

What exactly does it mean?

According to Wikpedia, " It is used primarily to call attention to the fact that computers will unquestioningly process the most nonsensical of input data (garbage in) and produce nonsensical output (garbage out)."

"Garbage In, Gospel Out is a more recent expansion of the acronym. It is a sardonic comment on the tendency to put excessive trust in "computerized" data, and on the propensity for individuals to blindly accept what the computer says. Because the data goes through the computer, people tend to believe it."

Ok, fair enough. I always knew it was some kind of computer term, but never really looked to see exactly what it meant because when I hear the term, I think of something a bit different...

I read a story once called, "Brownies with a Difference" that goes like this:

Many parents are hard pressed to explain to their youth why some music, movies, books, and magazines are not acceptable material for them to bring into the home or to listen to or see. One parent came up with an original idea that is hard to refute.

The father listened to all the reasons his children gave for wanting to see a particular PG-13 movie. It had their favorite actors. Everyone else was seeing it. Even church members said it was great. It was only rated PG-13 because of the suggestion of sex--they never really showed it. The language was pretty good--the Lord's name was only used in vain three times in the whole movie. The teens did admit there was a scene where a building and a bunch of people were blown up, but the violence was just the normal stuff. It wasn't too bad. And, even if there were a few minor things, the special effects were fabulous and the plot was action packed. However, even with all the justifications the teens made for the 13' rating, the father still wouldn't give in. He didn't even give his children a satisfactory explanation for saying, "No." He just said, "No!"


A little later on that evening the father asked his teens if they would like some brownies he had baked. He explained that he'd taken the family's favorite recipe and added a little something new. The children asked what it was. The father calmly replied that he had added dog poop. However, he quickly assured them, it was only a little bit. All other ingredients were gourmet quality and he had taken great care to bake the brownies at the precise temperature for the exact time. He was sure the brownies would be superb. Even with their father's promise that the brownies were of almost perfect quality, the teens would not take any. The father acted surprised. After all, it was only one small part that was causing them to be so stubborn. He was certain they would hardly notice it. Still the teens held firm and would not try the brownies. The father then told his children how the movie they wanted to see was just like the brownies.
Our minds trick us into believing that just a little bit of evil won't matter. But, the truth is even a little bit of poop makes the difference between a great treat and something disgusting and totally unacceptable. The father went on to explain that even though the movie industry would have us believe that most of today's movies are acceptable fare for adults and youth, they are not. Now, when this father's children want to see something that is of questionable material, the father merely asks them if they would like some of his special dog poop brownies. That closes the subject.

I have used that story several times in youth devotionals and at Bible camp because it is so relevant today. I question whether it got through to anyone, and even I am guilty of allowing myself to indulge in "a little poop" more regularly than I'd like to admit. I'm not getting all 'hard core' and trying to get anyone to place themselves in a bubble.  My own son will tell you that for the first half of his life I attempted to do just that. (oops)  Let's face it, there is plenty of GARBAGE that we will be encountered with every single day, right? The older I get (and man, it's happening so fast!!) the more I realize that it's what you choose to 'feed' yourself that makes the difference and not necessarily what you inadvertently encounter in the world. Boy, Satan is soooooo good at dangling the things you are most tempted with right in front of you though, isn't he? (1Peter 5:8)

Another analogy I have used is the one from the book by "Jerry Rankin" called, Spiritual Warfare- :The man said to the missionary, “Ever since I gave my life to Christ I feel like there are two dogs fighting within me. There is an evil dog that wants me to return to my old habits and a good dog that wants me to live right.” The missionary asked, “Which one is winning?” The man paused for a moment and replied, “The one I feed.” It’s just that simple. It is not something beyond our control. It’s something we can choose to do, either to walk in the Spirit or not. (Page 125)

If we decide that we are going to watch movies & read material that is packed with extramarital sex, language and other unclean (according to the Word) things, if we choose to hang out regularly with people with filthy language &/or habits, listen to &/or tell dirty jokes & don't strive to live for God....guess what?

IT WILL MANIFEST ITSELF IN OUR BEHAVIOR EVENTUALLY!

Oh. Yes. It. Will!!

What you put in IS going to come out, period.

Even in the most physical sense, what we feed ourselves makes a huge difference in our overall health! How much more does it effect our attitude & our reverence to God when we indulge, shovelling trash into our minds rather than pure and spiritual content?

This is where my mind takes me when I hear the term, "Garbage In, Garbage Out."

What are you eating?