How would you define entertainment? Christian entertainment? What types of things are included in entertainment? What is its purpose? What value does it provide for the Christian and his or her walk with the Lord?
Entertainment for man is doing or partaking of that which man enjoys... but whether or not it is good depends upon whether it is being used as God intends. "And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day." Gen 1:31 God made it all "very good", but the very good was twisted and misused so that there was also then evil. If we take a part or some parts of what God made and use it or them in good ways the result is still good. It is as God desires and therefore is good as He is good. So then if men can entertain themselves without displeasing God is it not good? Remember what Jesus said? "And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God." Mark 10:18 None good but one... and the One in the beginning made everything very good, so it must have all been very like Him. But what was that men did with God's very good things? "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" Isaiah 5:20 And then consider this verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28 If man had never sinned then entertainment would be all good... but as we know, that is not what happened. Therefore there is good entertainment and evil entertainment. It starts in our hearts: "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." Matt 12:35 So what is to be included in good [Christian] entertainment and what is not? It does depend upon the heart of the man who is enjoying it. "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts." Prov 21:2
Thank you @amadeus2 - Those are really good thoughts. I guess when I think of entertainment I think more of this: the action of providing or being provided with amusement or enjoyment. "everyone just sits in front of the TV for entertainment" synonyms: amusement, pleasure, leisure, recreation, relaxation, fun, enjoyment, interest, diversion "he reads for entertainment" an event, performance, or activity designed to entertain others. plural noun: entertainments "a theatrical entertainment" synonyms: show, performance, presentation, production, extravaganza, spectacle, pageant "an entertainment for the emperor" (Google) I don't ever think of entertainment in a spiritual context. I think of it more in a secular context, that it is more lighthearted and fun rather than something serious and thought-provoking. I guess if I was talking about abuse in the church, for example, I would not categorize that underneath "entertainment." I would not be entertained by such a serious subject as that. I don't think most people would regard that as entertaining. Though I believe that Christians can have good clean fun, for God gave us the ability to laugh and to have fun, I just never looked at entertainment in a spiritual context. I play games sometimes, and I enjoy them, mainly for the time spent with other people, and my mind is focused on the Lord even while playing a game, but I don't usually consider that a spiritual activity. I don't think I am being unspiritual by playing a game occasionally, though.
You think of it like that and for the most part you are correct. What passes for "good" television these days is mostly garbage. Even the very old movies and programs I watched innocently as a child or young adult are, first, not often shown, and, second, I am no longer so innocent in that respect. Many of those older programs are offensive to me because now I am able to see and understand the innuendo. Good entertainment likely does exist but it is not so easy to find. I have gone to my daughter's home and was offended by what my grandchildren watched routinely. That was a few years ago. I don't visit often because while they claim to be Christian much in their lifestyles is hard on me. My fault? At least in part because I wasn't the father I needed to be and now I no longer have authority over her.
@amadeus2 - I am certain most parents have made some mistakes with their children. I know we did. And, we can't undo that. All we can do is live the life of Christ before them now. I totally get what you are talking about regarding TV shows, movies, etc. My husband and I used to be avid movie watchers. And, there was a time in our lives when we were not as discerning as we are now with regard to what we watched. I wish I could undo that, but I can't. Back in 2008 he decided to get rid of the TV and I was totally in agreement. Previous to that decision, though, we went through all our movies in light of Philippians 4:8-9, and when we finished examining all of them against those verses, we had only a handful left. We discovered, as you discovered, how not so innocent a lot of them were that we had previously regarded as benign. And, the longer I have been away from TV and movies and the closer I have gotten to my Lord, the more sensitized I am, too, to what is contained within TV shows and movies and even children's cartoons. So, I avoid TV and movies altogether. Yet, what I have observed about many Christians these days is that entertainment, in the sense of spending time just feeding our flesh, is high on the agenda. Many people are obsessed with being entertained these days, and are continually plugged in to some electronic device. And, this obsession with being entertained all the time is pulling many people away from the Lord and away from walking according to the Spirit and is leading them more towards walking according to the flesh. So, I am sensitized to that word "entertainment" as something that is drawing so many professing Christians away from God and toward self-pleasure. And, that is not good. I also see so much humor in the church that is sacrilegious and that mocks God and scripture or that makes light of God and scripture, and that concerns me, too.
@Sue J Love Thanks again for your kind response. The problem for Christians is really learning to live for God without also trying to enjoy the things in the world that miss the mark. I have been fortunate I see now in never been gotten involved in even watching sports for many years. Good sports with good sportsmanship is good and good for especially the young in body, but there is little if any stress put on being a good sport as there was when I was in school or even a young man. Everybody always wanted to win even then, but the better teachers in physical education and in competitive sports still emphasized first of all being a good sport. Where are they today? I mention this because in reading what we have posted above many may agree with the ideas with regard to other things to be enjoyed such as movies and regular series type programs on TV, but they forget that anything taken in the wrong spirit is also wrong. This certainly must include what are still designated as sports, even they though not many pretend to put good sportsmanship with older meaning first. Mostly what we see and hear in sports, even so-called amateur sports, has to do with heroes, money and winning. Where are the good players if they are not also top players? What kind of idols, [yes idols] do they present for everyone, but especially for the children who watch first their parents and then take hold of the idols that please their parents? Help us dear Lord!
Well entertainment has changed for me over the years dramatically. now a-days I really enjoy a good movie that is a true story that has something that inspires faith in it. I have seen some really good ones in the last year. I also enjoy taking my dog for walks and enjoy the just awesome nature God has supplied us. I do like target shooting and make sure I do not get obsessed with it as I have that tendency so I put safe guards in place to make sure that does not happen, because its not bad unless I spend more time, energy and money, or thoughts on it then I do for the Kingdom. God must be first in all things with all my resources as well. I also pray on it. I think entertainment is something that occupies our time, could be hobbies, sports, games, movies etc... Christian entertainment is something that could help you grow in faith or fellowship, IMO If your watching junk on tv you are polluting your spirit IMO, what ever you occupy your time with can have a effect on the health of your spirit to some degree so it is important to keep that in mind especially when watching tv, or even the people you allow in your circle of influence
We are what we eat! That is entertainment. Is it garbage or is it a good well-balanced healthy meal which includes the Word and the Holy Spirit?
The line we as individual believers draw or place as a boundary can only be made from within the understanding that we have at the time or another words from within our own personal thinking and or beliefs. Even though we grow and mature in Christ and our thinking has changed since we first became born again, it's still incorporated with our thinking and understanding. I have said all that to say the following. It's not about "Sin" as we would believe. Scripture tells us "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he:" This is not the same thing as thinking oh I can handle this or I can listen to this and be safe because I know better. The above is a piece of trickery or deception from our enemy who knows first hand this is not true. Everything about us stems from what we believe and our believing stems from what we think and our thinking is HIGHLY influenced by what we say. Yes indeed our own Words are big in shaping how we think and believe. So see this, When we feed our selves with questionable material THINKING it's no big deal for I am smarter then to allow it to effect me, we really are only deceiving our selves. Our enemy knows it is as worms , working around in you building STRONGHOLDS within your thinking. Why is this such a huge thing? Because it's being done no matter if you believe it or not and it's all done without your knowledge. So what is the danger here? It's quite simple, beyond ones knowing, our enemy is SLOWLY building STRONGHOLDS in our thinking which go UNNOTICED to us and our enemy is able to slowly sway what you think and believe and it's all done without your knowing. So now through these strong holds our enemy is able to - Mold how you understand God's Word Hinder how God's Word works in you Mold how you think and respond to things. NOTE.......ALL Done without your knowledge so another words, one is just out for a joyride with the devil driving. Second Note....... It's these worms planted in you that WEAKENS your ability to WIN BATTLES against him, it renders you unable to stand against him because he is able to BLINDSIDE you from WITHIN YOUR THINKING . Scripture instructs us to be rooted in Christ. So yea thinking things can't effect us is being DOOPED into closing our eyes and allowing our ENEMY to get roots in you as well. We need to root out all those worms. Blessings to you
@Wired 4 Fishen The way to avoidance so as not to eat those "worms" and/or to get rid of any "worms" already in us is seen in these verses: "When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him; And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room. But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 14:8-11 That is to say, don't even presumed that where you were a while ago or yesterday is where you should start now. The place is start is always in "the lowest room". If God wants us in a higher place, He will say unto us: "Friend go up higher".