Media and Entertainment

Like you watch every show on Netflix and now I have nothing, you have watched everything your favorite youtuber/tiktoker has uploaded to date and now have nothing to watch

We struggle with when to watch it

You know, instead of going to sleep or doing work we are watching and being entertained by things. Playing video games instead of working

We also struggle with the idea of should I watch it

Is it good, is it bad, does it help or hurt me?

Now disclaimer just like with Mental Health, you will not find this in the Bible

You will not find the Bible saying you cannot watch this, but this is appropriate for you to watch

You will not find a verse that talks about how the appropriate amount of screen time is 2 hours, unless your screen time is dominated by the Bible app

Cell phones, movies, tv, youtube none of that existed in Bible times

They had plays, and story telling, but not like we do today, or to the magnitude and ease of access we have today.

However, since we are image bearers of God there are principles we can put in place to help us with media and entertainment

Things that will help have a healthy relationship with Media

We are Temporary

James 4:14 ESV

14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.

Psalm 90:12 ESV

12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

WE ARE TEMPORARY

This sounds crazy to put in a message about media and entertainment but think about it

We are temporary - we are not promised tomorrow, death can come at any moment

If we learn to do what the Psalmist is saying, to literally learn to count our days, to number them with the realization that we won’t get that day back

This should cause us to think about what we are spending time on

This should cause us to not watch youtube/tiktok/tv so much, but instead do things that will build up treasures in heaven

Matthew 6:19–20 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

When you die, you don’t take with you all the knowledge you gained from watching dance tutorials on tiktok, or how much game knowledge you learned from playing fortnite 40 hrs a week.

If we realize that we are temporary that will change our habits

Test everything

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV

21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 John 4:1 ESV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

TEST EVERYTHING

We are made in the image of God, we are created to reflect God, that means what we put into our bodies matter

Just like the food you eat effects your body, so does the thing you watch, think about, and listen too

We should be testing everything to see if it is good

That means when you taking downtime, watching tv, listening to music, whatever you do test it and see if it builds you up or tears you down

If all of your music is hateful rubbish, it’s no wonder you are always in a rough mood

1 Peter 1:14–16 ESV

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

This should put to an end the often useless discussions over what is permitted and what is not in the Christian life. Proper conduct can be tested by the simple question, Is it holy? This is the believer’s standard. Although he does not always measure up to it, he must never compromise it.

Charles Ryrie

Whenever we are trying to determine if what we are watching/listening to/ or doing is good or not ask one question

Is it Holy? - Is it pointing me to God or away from God

That gives you the answer

There is not guide - do watch this show, don’t watch that movie, Taylor Swift might be okay, Nick Jonas is bad. No instead there is one simple guide - is it Holy?

If we apply that you will see a change in yourself for the better!

Set boundaries

1 Corinthians 9:25 ESV

25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV

7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Proverbs 25:28 ESV

28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.

SET BOUNDARIES

A boundary is something that you set up to help you stay focused/keep yourself going to God

This can be simple stuff such as me moving my switch into Kase’s office we I need to get work done

Or setting timers on your apps so you don’t spend hours on your phone

Boundaries can also be strict, like keeping your phone not in your room when you go to bed, or setting up internet blockers so you don’t watch things you know are sinful

Boundaries are meant to help you chase after God by getting rid of sinful habits

Because what happens is we will spend all our time indulging our self in different media to where it actually becomes our god

We focus on it solely and nothing else, and we complete miss what God is trying to do for us, with us, and through us

Conclusion

Media and entertainment isn’t a bad thing

I mean think, over 40% of the Bible is narrative, that is a story

God is a story telling God!

Media isn’t bad but we make it bad when that’s all we do

When that is all we focus on

To help have a right relationship with media we must

Understand that we are temporary

Test everything

Set boundaries

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