Entertainment can be helpful and good if used in the right ways. God wants us to have fun in life, to a certain limit. If the entertainment is clean and God-honoring, then enjoy! Entertainment can be helpful in furthering the Gospel, as well. In the increasingly technological age that we live in, it only takes a millisecond to click on a link that could share the Gospel and change lives. Entertainment can also bring families together. When a family sits down together to watch a good movie, visit a museum, or play a game, it produces opportunities to share in laughter and fun together.
In just about all things, the Devil and his demons have used a gift of God as a tool for evil. The same is true for entertainment. It had such potential, until it was corrupted by the world. While it is still possible for entertainment to be used for God’s glory, the overwhelming majority of things included in this category are that of complete godlessness. It can easily turn someone’s eyes away from Jesus, even if they’re trying to stay focused on Him. People skip church to attend sports events. They waste their money at a movie theatre to see the next big “hit” movie that’s loaded with controversial footage. People skip their quiet time to finish the latest book.
Entertainment is a huge distraction when it comes to being content. We are living in an ADHD culture that is never happy with what they have. Why? The main reason is entertainment. Every other day there’s a new electronic “toy” on the market that’s a “must-have”. Ads on every other channel of your TV are telling you what you need to be happy. It leaves people drained of joy and without full contentment in Christ. Life becomes a rat race.
Entertainment in many forms is inappropriate for Christians to observe and participate in. Such things include: pornography, things with bad language, things with unnecessary blood and gore, things that worship humans and the actions that should only occur under marital status, gambling, drinking, and drugs. All of the above do not please God in any way. Christians should not be involved in or identified with these things. So many Christians have fallen for the trap of pushing the line just a bit farther each time they watch a movie or read a book. If a person at the beginning of their entertainment usage was to see what they end up viewing and participating in near the end of their entertainment usage, they would be utterly shocked.
This brings us to the point of why entertainment with bad language and immorality can be passed off as art, even by Christians. In our culture, we’ve become desensitized to the vulgar things seen and heard in this world. The shock has worn off, and we just see it as part of our culture.
In the future, when my children are of age, they will most likely be faced with even worse forms of entertainment than what we see today. I pray that they will use the discretion God has placed in their minds. How will they know how to use that discretion? Not naturally, of course. As a parent, it will be my job to teach my children how to know if something is inappropriate and to monitor that they make good decisions in the area of what they listen to, read, watch, and participate in. God has called me to be an example to others, especially my future children, in how a Christian should respond to the sinfulness of the world.
In closing, we see that entertainment can be useful and fun, but also evil. It all depends on how you use it. Many Christians have used entertainment wrongly. As Christians, we must use discretion in what we see, hear, and participate in. We must set an example for children and others who look up to us. Encourage those who do well with this, and come alongside those who struggle with it. Support the people who are already putting godly content such as movies, books, and music into the world. If you feel a passion for it, join them in doing so. Whatever it takes for you to overcome the stumbling block of the world and shine a light for Him into the darkness, do it!
P.S. I apologize for not writing sooner! It's been an interesting year. So until next time...
That reminds me of something I read in my devo a couple of months ago... "If you watch something on TV constantly, pretty soon you're going to find yourself doing it." That really is something to consider when we choose what kind of entertainment we consume.
ReplyDeleteVery eloquently put, dearest. :) Your writing skills are impeccable. love youu!