Immersed in Entertainment

By Lance Mosher

We live in a culture that swamps us with entertainment. Everywhere we look, there it is. Billboards. Television. Magazines. Music. Books. Video Games. Movies. Internet. It’s part of our everyday lives. On our commute to work, we’ve got our favourite talk show on the radio or our favourite album in our ear buds. On our lunch break, social media keeps us occupied. A new talk show is ready by the time we travel home. The television keeps us laughing or crying after dinner. With something so prominent in our lives, we should probably consider what type of disecration our God expects of us.

There are two major factors to consider: time and content. Regarding time, we must ask ourselves before sitting in front of any computer or television screen for entertainment, “Is this what I really should be doing? Is this really how I want to spend my limited time?” If you’ve come home from a long day at work, which provides for your family, you might say yes. If you’ve spent meaningful time with your family, and you have decided together with them that entertainment for the evening is reasonable, then you might say yes. However, if you’ve neglected your family or given 0 out of 24 hours to God in prayer, study, and discussion, then you might say no. In fact, you should say no.

_Ephesians 5:15-16: Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. _

Psalm 1:1-2: How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. .

Consider Christ as an example. At the end of a long day, he did not first head to the theatre. He went on top of the mountain to pray alone (Matthew 14:23). If you’re tempted, as I am, to say, “But that would be boring!” then you are admitting that you are a product of our generation. It’s a new phenomenon for humans to demand to be entertained and invigorated at every given moment. The truth is, worship and relationship-developing was never boring to those in Scripture. Our society has convinced us that if there isn’t a concert in our headphones or special effects before our eyes, then something is amiss. It’s time for us to really reevaluate what should be important to us.

Psalm 122:1: I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.

I’m not meaning to say that entertainment is all bad. In fact, Jesus also instructed His disciples to take time for leisure after long days of work (Mark 6:31-32). After our time with our family and God, it would not be wrong to spend time with video games or movies. However, before we push play, we should ask ourselves if the content is right. What are you about to invite into your home? Is it something you would be willing to play or watch with Christ or His apostles? Does it befit the Christian lifestyle?

Ephesians 5:3-5: But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Is what you are about to watch going to tempt you or someone else to sin?

Matthew 15:19-20: For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man.

Mark 9:47-49: If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

Luke 17:1-2: He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.”

The world wants us to swallow every bit of entertainment it offers, while the industry grows rich off of every second we indulge. The Lord, at the same time, is trying to persuade us to use discretion. Will you lose your integrity over self-satisfaction? Be careful; it usually doesn’t happen over night, but over months and years of indulgence. Evaluate yourself right now. Has entertainment replaced your family on your priority list? Even worse, has it replaced your heavenly Father?

Matthew 6:22-24: The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Matthew 10:37-39: He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it.

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