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| Image courtesy of Physics World |
What images, magazines, books, websites, shows, movies, or songs are appropriate for Christians? The question of what is appropriate entertainment is one that I tussled with for many years, and many Christians wrestle with answering. Under the covenant of grace Jesus is concerned about what we see and hear.
Each one of us will have
different things that could lead to temptation therefore sanctification, or being daily molded into the likeness of Jesus,
will be different for all of us. However,
it’s important to be mindful of how certain forms of entertainment celebrate
and may stir something in our hearts that opposes gospel-centered living. So how do we as Christians determine what is
appropriate entertainment? Paul the Apostle
and Pastor/Rapper Trip Lee offer words that are helpful for this situation.
Paul encourages us to keep our
attention on things that are in the likeness of Christ. This doesn’t mean that every form of
entertainment has to be for Christians or by Christians, but the entertainment can
be hazardous if it promotes things that are void of morality, hurtful,
disrespectful, or false (not referring to artistic fiction).
In Trip Lee’s
book Rise: Get Up and Live in God's Great Story he
suggests that interaction with media is best when clinging to what draws us
closer to Jesus while rejecting what pulls our hearts and obedience away from Him.
The practical tools he gives in the book involve taking time to understand what you are consuming and how
it may conflict with the gospel, taking honest evaluation of self and what
influence it may have on you, not taking for granted the impact of what you see
and watch can have on the soul, treating entertainment consumption similar to a
diet and monitor your intake, and not treating all media as evil.
Since the Lord is good and Jesus is the Lord, then Christians would be wise in staying close to all that resembles God who is good. The Christian life is a daily process which means that each day will present a challenge. We must walk humbly and faithfully before God in the power of the Holy Spirit while giving ourselves mercy because of the mercy given to us by way of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
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