This is a long one but please take the time to read the whole thing. You might just be glad you did!
Entertainment is huge in our culture today. In fact almost the entire time we are awake and even some of us while we sleep are being entertained by something. It could be television, movies, video clips, video games, online gaming, online surfing, IMing, Facebooking, and the list goes on and on. So the question comes: “how do I know what is good and what is not good.”
The first step is to take and look at what the Bible says about the topic. I’m so glad that God put this verse in 2 Romans 1:1 where it says “You should not watch rated R movies or listen to secular music”. So there you go!... JK!!! But what it does say in Philippians 4:8 is “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” When we look at this verse it really makes us think about the whole of what we do and listen to and watch. So basically all of our lives! Yeah, I know. It’s actually a really big deal!
This is a very specific command that Paul gives here. And notice I said COMMAND. I think we often take what we read in the Bible to be a suggestion or just maybe a good idea that maybe we should live by if we want to be good people. But this is something that we are commanded to do. So if what we watch and listen to should be the things that are listed in this verse that really limits us right?!?! Or does it?
Sooooo many times Christians say that there isn’t any Christian music that they like or that if we actually lived by this verse they would never watch or listen to anything at all, tv, movies, or music. This just isn’t the case! In the book Worldiness by C.J. Mahaney it says, “we can watch television or go to the movies and glorify God by it. To do so, we must be motivated by grace, and we must view selectively, proactively, accountably, and gratefully.” So true!!! There is so much in the area of entertainment and movies that there, for sure, ARE things that we can watch that are good and wholesome and enjoyable. But we have to be serious about wanting to please God and to realize that not being selective in our viewing is flat out selfishness and laziness and results in more sin. So watch what you watch!!! It can be helpful and enjoyable to you, OR it can DESTROY you. As we let sinfulness creep into our lives it eats away at us spiritually and kills our joy and peace and contentment that can only be find in a life lived walking faithfully with Christ.
As for music let me say this: if you can’t find Christian music that you like you’re lazy. That’s right. LAZY! I mean that! There are literally thousands of artists in every genre (type: rock, pop, rap, country, sceamo, metal, worship, etc.) of music who have dedicated their lives to making music that is appealing to the ear (sound good) AND glorifies God. I have 9 days of music in my iTunes library. 9 days!!! And to my knowledge I do not have anything that is displeasing to God, and apart from classical music I have no secular music in it. I do not say this to brag(I have friends who have 90 days of Christian music) but to point out that if you care about what you hear and how you are glorifying God in your listening, you WILL take the time to find music that is enjoyable to you and pleases God.
To refute (prove wrong) the common myth that “I don’t listen to the lyrics of that secular group. I only listen to that secular group because I like to beat or sound of the music” think of this: your favorite song by them (the secular artist) you have probably listened to a hundred times because you liked it so much. Think of it in your mind. Now sing it. Gotcha!!! You can probably sing every word! Even when we think we are listening to something for the sound or beat we ARE listening to the lyrics and the more we listen to things that are ungodly the more we become like it. Music sticks with us. It’s like a companion because it stays in our mind even after we have stopped listening to it. When we think about it this way this verse looks a lot different doesn’t it? “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits”” (1 Corinthians 15:33) Believer! Don’t be deceived!!! It IS affecting you. And again, there is TONS of Christian music that is enjoyable and glorifying. Why go dumpster diving for “sounds” or “beats” when they are available in godly forms?
As in every other case when it comes to life the issue is with your heart. God is less interested in your actions as He is in your heart. He wants your heart first. If you give Him your heart, all of it, your actions will automatically follow. This includes all areas of life. Keep this verse in mind: “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4:23). Believer, guard your heart. Keep it pure. Watch what you watch. Think about what you’re listening to. Be actively pursuing Godliness. Your spiritual life (and maybe your physical one too) depends on it.
If your serious about changing the way you watch tv, watch movies, or listen to music pray and ask God to help you do this. Ask Him to help you to change the things that you like too. Just because we make the commitment to watch and listen to certain things doesn’t mean we stop liking the sounds or we suddenly don’t desire to see a certain movie. But God does help us to desire only good things if we ask for His help and work hard to keep sinfulness out of our lives. Another great idea is to talk with your small group leader or a godly friend and ask them to keep you accountable to make sure you follow through on that commitment.
Below are some links to great sites for both music and movie reviews. If you are someone who is serious about your relationship with Christ, you will be diligent to make your viewing habits pure. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11) God wants us to enjoy life! He wants us to have a good time and He has given us the tools to do just that and still please Him!!! Be diligent! Rock out! Praise God! Enjoy life! He wants you to!!!!
Christ. Community. Music. This site gives reviews of movies and music. You can also find artists in certain genre’s. You can also subscribe to the magazine which provides artist info and all kinds of other things in the world of Christian music.
Plugged In Magazine. This sight is awesome. If you want to know about a movie and its content go here. They have detailed reviews of movies and
The book “Worldiness” by C.J. Mahaney. If you read books or even if you don’t read books GET THIS. For me it was the most powerful book outside of the Bible I’ve read in months. It addresses TV, movies, music, dress, and what is really going on behind all of it. You can find it on Amazon or order it from the Parable bookstore in Johnson City.
