I don't spend much time publicly complaining specifically about television, live shows, music, books, Internet, and other forms of entertainment. I realize we all appreciate the outlet of entertainment. It can inspire our creative minds, provide us with a much-needed emotional uplift, increase our knowledge, provide amusement and enjoyment, and so on. I also realize that people differ greatly with specific opinions and convictions in regards to entertainment. I want to be careful not to wrongly offend anyone or display an ungodly attitude. The purpose of this entry is for us all (this most definitely includes me) to take a step back and assess our entertainment choices.
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Phil. 4:8 (NLT)
The text above should govern our lives, and therefore, most certainly our choices of entertainment. Whether you realize it or not, entertainment can be indoctrinating. What you allow yourself to be entertained by will most certainly affect your psyche one way or another. The statistics overwhelmingly agree; plus, it just makes common sense. "You are what you eat."
Music: This is one of the strongest influences in entertainment. Songs usually last an approximate 3.5-4 minutes each. In that short span of time, the writer has often managed to convey his/her values, philosophy, and/or worldview. They can promote certain lifestyles, attitudes, emotions, and more in just a few minutes. If we enjoy a song, we'll most likely listen to it many times. Therefore, if we repeatedly hear something that promotes secular thoughts, attitudes, and worldviews, chances are, we'll wind up either agreeing with the singer/songwriter, or, we'll at the very least become accustomed to it. Neither is good. Don't misunderstand me; I'm not out to bash on all secular music. Just because something isn't Christian in name does not mean it is inherently wrong. I listen to secular music myself. But, in my personal opinion, I think a Christian should have Christian music as the primary type of music to which they listen. It just makes sense that a person would want to feed himself/herself with music that directly connects with his/her own core values and beliefs.
Movies and TV shows: As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, likewise, creators and writers of movies and TV shows also display their morals, values, philosophies, worldviews, attitudes, etc in their work. Television is another major indoctrinating form of entertainment—probably even greater than music. As with all other forms of media, TV in and of itself is not wrong. It can be a wonderful, useful tool in communication of news, educating, spreading the Gospel, and even good, clean entertainment. It can also be an awful waste of time and can fill one's mind with terrible morals and ideas. Many of today's sitcoms and reality TV shows are filled with little more than sex, crude humor, immoral behavior, coarse language, rebellious attitudes and unruly violence. A constant diet of that filth cannot possibly be excusable. You may not notice right away, but after awhile, that stuff will affect your life. You'll become calloused to worldliness and sin. You may even adopt some of the values and lifestyles portrayed on the screen. The things of God, Christ-likeness, His Word, and things that are truly important and have eternal value will become less and less important and seemingly unattainable. If movies and TV are the things we constantly digest, then how can we expect to be Kingdom-minded?
Basically, the same arguments can be made for live shows, Internet, books, and other entertainment. These are no less important to God than music, movies, and TV. But, rather than droning on and on, I'll let you apply the above paragraphs to these other forms of media as well.
The main point I'm trying to convey with this rather lengthy blog entry is the fact that every entertainment choice we make will either strengthen us in Christ or have the opposite effect. We cannot sit idly by and expect to coast into Heaven. Apply Phil 4:8 to your choices in entertainment. If you have a question about your choice, I encourage you to pray about it and read God's Word to see what He has to say. Fill your mind and life with the things of God. Become better Christians, better people because of even the smallest of your decisions.
