I have been reflecting and praying a lot over this issue in my personal life which I believe applies to many of us today. As with anything I write I don't presume to have all the answers, but I do like to share my experiences in hopes of helping the body of Christ and glorifying God in doing so. For those of us who are of Christ and especially not of Christ often kick and scream at the idea that something we love may not glorify God and we probably shouldn't be doing it. We become overprotective or may brush off the conviction by saying or thinking "it's only entertainment, it's fiction, it's not hurting anyone, or it's MY time (aka relaxing time)."
We live in an age of iphones, ipads, i-whatever else they have, fast internet connections, Facebook, Myspace, movies, books and television shows all at the touch of a button. Is it sinful to have these things? I don't believe so. However, what we do with these things is where I think Christians should really examine themselves to see what they are being used for and how much time we are spending on them.
Entertainment and technology motivates, stimulates, and affects individuals in so many other ways that it is something we should take a look at as Christians. Being a Christian doesn't mean you have your designated "Christian/church time" and then your separate whatever you want to do time without any accountability. Holiness isn't an on and off switch. God watches everything we do and if we call ourselves Christian then we are a representative of Christ no matter who we are around, even if we are by ourselves. Sometimes I forget this as do many of us. Now don't get me wrong. We will have times where we slide into sin, but this doesn't justify how we may wrongly spend or plan our time.
I think there are three main reasons for us becoming captive to the world of modern entertainment and they are all rooted in sin, particularly selfishness.
1. The world is at times more attractive to our flesh than Christ and His Word so we spend more time in worldly affairs than things that can actually benefit us and others as Christians. This is often justified by using a 5-10 minute (if that) daily devotional to the Word of God and hope that it balances out the rest of the junk along with easing our conscience.
2. We have begun to feel weird or like a freak from others for desiring God and His Word so we stray from the Word or that which is righteous to pursue things that are more accepting to the world's standards.
3. We want to be more relative to the lost so that we may reach them, which is rarely the case and often a cover up for selfishness.
I've done all three, so I humbly relate. So what do you we about this? There is a valuable principle regarding this that can be taken from the very words of Christ.
Matthew 5:29 - "If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell."
We are to cut out that which causes us to sin in our life not matter what the cost.
Personally, I know that myself and others get looked at strangely or down upon because we may study theology, the Bible, and what is going on in the world from a Christian viewpoint more than we watch TV, sports, or read fictional literature. I also get this when I want to talk about Christ or His Word. There is this societal stereotype that you can only talk about Jesus Christ so much and once you reach that limit you have officially become a fanatic, radical, or freak.
Are sports bad? No
Are hobbies bad? No
Is the TV bad? No
Is fiction literature bad? No
A couple of questions to ask yourselves when evaluating anything you watch, read, or hobby you have could be the following:
1. Is this something God would approve of? If you don't know then look to His Word. If you don't care, then I would examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.
2. Am I spending more time or effort doing this than reading/studying my Bible, spending valuable time with my family, and reaching others for Christ?
3. Would this cause other brothers and sisters in Christ to stumble?
4. Does this hinder or help me grow in holiness/obedience to Christ?
This life that we have is short and we only get to live it once. There is an eternity waiting whether it is one of heaven or hell. The goal of the unbeliever may be to live it up before they die, but to the born again believer in Christ it should be to follow Christ. We are to constantly live for Him and die to self. No matter how hard it may be. Any true Christian will tell you that it is truly a joyous thing to serve the Lord even if times are tough. We are in an ongoing battle with our flesh, Satan, and the world, but it is ultimately a war already won through Christ. We must do our part.
2 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
In Christ,
Joey Acker
Do you know God? More importantly, does He know you?
www.needGod.com
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