Christian Entertainment
This has become my favorite hymn:
"Christ has no hands but our hands, To do His work today;
He has no feet but our feet, To lead men in His way;
He has no tongue but our tongue, To tell men how He died;
He has no help but our help, To bring them to His side.
We are the only Bible, The careless world will read;
We are the sinners gospel, We are the scoffer's creed;
We are the Lord's last message, Given in deed and word;
What if the type is crooked? What if the print is blurred?
What if our hands are busy, With other work than His?
What if our feet are walking, Where sin's allurement is?
What if our tongues are speaking, Of things His lips would spurn?
How can we hope to help Him, And hasten His return?"
(Annie Johnson Flint)
How can we hope Him if our lives are so busy doing things that we want to do and not leaving time to do His work?
I've been thinking a lot recently about the entertainment choices I have chosen over the past few years and how far I had gotten from where I once stood.
I don't drink, I don't smoke, I believe no Christian should do these things, so why am I ok with songs that mention drinking and "having a few as long as you don't cross that line"? Why am I ok with movies that have this in them?
I don’t swear or curse, use vulgar language, make crude jokes, and I believe that our words should be holy and clean in the sight of God. So why should I be entertained by songs and movies that have unclean speech in them?
I believe that there are things that should be saved for your future spouse, so why should I be ok with songs and movies that advocate, brag about, and glory in such. This is an abomination in God's eyes! Why should I, as a Christian be entertained by it?
I believe that fornication is the only scriptural reason for a divorce, so why should I be willing to be entertained by songs that talk about a man who has a restless spirit and just can't stay any longer? (Another topic for another time but God desires that men are to be leaders for their families and desire to raise them in the Lord) Why should I be fine with songs that constantly bring the subject up as if it were a good and acceptable thing?
I believe that God is not please with witchcraft, and black magic. I fully believe that life is in the blood. So why should I as a Christian celebrate a holiday that glorifies these things. why should I as a Christian support literature that honors vampires and such like when I am fully aware that God has condemned the eating of blood? (Acts 15:28-29)
I am doing my best to change these things because I fully believe now, that even in entertainment, God is not pleased with these actions and they are holding me back from a proper relationship with Him.
Hebrews 12:1-2 says- Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
What is that? Lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us? It is time to lay it aside. The beat may be good, the overall moral may be good, but is it worth it in eternity?
As Christians we should be thinking about these things in our lives. The apostle Paul begs us in Ephesians 5:11-12- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.
He says "Take no part in them". Isn't being entertained by them taking part in them?
If bidding someone who is a false teacher god speed is being a partaker in their evil works (2 John 1:10-11) than being entertained by things we wouldn't dream of actually doing would be "taking a part in them".
Paul also says that its "a shame to even speak of such things". It’s a SHAME! How many times have we thought of that?
If it’s a shame to even speak of it it most certainly is to be entertained by them and fill our lives with such.
I want to be like David and "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14
God told the Israelites "Be ye holy for I am holy". Our holy God cannot dwell among an unholy people. When He dwelt in a temple, the priests had rituals they had to go through before they could enter into the temple. Well, we know that God's temple today is the Christian. We are, being called by God, priests in His service. We should strive to abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thess 5:22).
This "Be holy for I am holy" concept is not just an Old Testament thing, it’s found in the New Testament as well. Look at 1 Peter 1:13-16- Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 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."
A Christian is supposed to add to his life the Christian graces, and theres no room for coarse speech, drinking, and whatever else we allow in through entertainment, if we are adding these to our lives.
2 Peter 1:5-10- For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
Yes, it is time that we look to ourselves, be introspective, examine what we are puting into our hearts. Is it acceptable? Let's think "Would I be listening to this or watching this, or reading this if God were sitting beside me, looking over my shoulder?" We need to think about this because, He is...
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer." Psalms 19:14
