I recently was reminded of why a person I know won’t eat chicken.
He once visited a farm that had a variety of animals. He happened to watch a chicken go to a pile of fresh manure, pick out kernels of corn and eat them.
A few months ago someone (a professing Christian,) recommended that I read a certain how-to book by a person who is well-known and gifted in his field. I thought it would be neutral reading since it was ‘how to’, not ‘what to’ or ‘why to’. This one had a lot of examples, which is expected in books of this nature, but I was surprised at how many of the examples were of a negative or ugly tone. It also had a lot of anecdotes that were fraught with rebellion, unacceptable language, pride, etc. I knew before I started reading that the author of this book wasn’t a Christian, but still, I was surprised.
Did I finish reading it?
Yes.
Should I have finished?
Looking back, no, I don’t think I should have.
Did I learn anything that I was hoping to?
Some. But I had to pick it out of so much to which I didn’t want to be exposed. 
Reading that book left me feeling contaminated. I found myself reading very fast to hurry and get done. I also felt myself wrinkling my nose and taking very shallow breaths, as if I were driving through smoke and didn’t want to smell or breathe in the pollution.
Surely, I’m aware that whatever I spend time taking in, (reading, watching,) I’ll think about. In Philippians 4:8 we’re admonished to think about what we’re taking in: “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.”
Why is it I let myself wade through things (TV, movies, books, etc.) that have a lot of unwholesome content? Were they really worth it? Did my thought life improve or deteriorate after I read or watched it?
Why do I let other people be such an influence? Why not let my conscience, or better yet, the Holy Spirit guide me to what is acceptable or not? 
There are several literary works that are considered classics that have material that would not meet any of the Philippians 4:8 conditions. Why let the world’s standards dictate what is good to read or watch? Why let the world bully me into thinking that I’m not well read or uneducated or have poor tastes if I don’t appreciate these ‘finer’ works of literature?
Was that book worth reading?
I’m thinking not. Surely, I could have found kernels of corn elsewhere.
