Thursday, 02 December 2010
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Back to the Basics: Concerning Entertainment
When I read 1 Peter 1, I started thinking about all of the things that are a waste of time. Particularly, entertainment. How much time do I waste watching a movie, TV, or surfing the internet? A lot -- I used to watch movies every night. I don't do that anymore, but still waste a lot of time doing...well, nothing that has eternal value.What about you? I don't know what stage of life your in or anything about you. But how often do we make time for God? How often do we decide not to watch TV or a movie because it has no eternal value? When was the last time you spent all day with God? Do you crave him? Sometimes I wonder if "distractions" like entertainment are pulling us away from God.
I am still thinking about a blog on Revelife.com about the controversy over Harry Potter. Some defenses of reading Harry Potter was that "it's pretend" or "it's just entertainment." Have we completely lost sight of who God is and what he has for us as the body of Christ and individually? I am not going to point fingers and play holier-than-thou because I think it's every Christian's responsibility to GROW in their relationship and faith with God. Then to teach it and be an example to those around us and especially to the children and next generation of Christians. If we are not caught up in worldly things (yes I said it. we are caught up in worldly things and making excuses because "it's just entertainment.") and are growing and maturing as Christians, I believe that there would be a huge difference in this country, and even, the world.
A missionary to China recently said "I'm starting to think that American missionaries have all been sent out by Satan! What is wrong with these people!?" It was clear to me that Christians in America need to get back to the basics and stop being so concerned with being a part of American culture. We need to get back to the Bible. Eat, breathe, and sleep God... We are, after all, in a spiritual war. I don't want to lose our generation to materialism, entertainment, and culture. Easier said than done, sure, but possible. Instead of plateauing, let's grow, mature. I'm not willing to stand by and watch Christians get distracted...
I'm not here to judge. I want to warn people and show them what is happening. Are you as concerned as I am?
Here's a video to watch that is quite interesting...
Link to the second part of the show...
Link to the third part of the show...
Do you think that entertainment has stolen us away from God? What other things have stolen us away from God? What do you do to combat that? What does going back to the "basics" mean for our faith?
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- From: TheyCallMePaulNow@xanga
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Comments (14)
i hate to say this, but in one breath you are condemning entertainment with no eternal value, and then posting a Glen Beck vid? while on xanga?
@bekkabrutality@xanga - He's referring to entertainment that serves as a distraction. Rather, entertainment that becomes a master over us or becoming our identity.
@Azn_Shenobi - maybe its just me, but i can become a slave to xanga, spending hours on here lol.
but honestly, i didn't gather that from reading this. it sounds like he is referring to all things entertainments, from books, to movies, to tv.
its not that he's not onto something here, i can agree with him a little, but it just seems silly. it's a little ironic is all.
@bekkabrutality@xanga - you're right, anyone can become a slave to xanga, movies, reading, sports, etc... I guess what I wanted people to think about HOW MUCH entertainment there is in our culture and how many people compromise their faith/convictions without realizing it. we can become not only slaves to entertainment, but we can also be formed by it instead of by God's Word.
@bekkabrutality@xanga - I thought the Glenn Beck video was interesting and went along with what I had been thinking about; focusing on what really matters in life.
@Azn_Shenobi - I would go beyond becoming a slave to, but also being formed by entertainment can be very dangerous. I hope that people are discerning to what they find entertaining.
1) Media is not just entertainment--it's a form of communication, a means by which to understand yourself and others more deeply. Sure, some media is shallow, just as some people are. But some media is poignant, thoughtful, and important. To discredit all art and all media as *mere entertainment* is a huge misunderstanding.
2) Watching TV/movies/etc. is not a waste of time. Watching TV/movies/etc. thoughtlessly is a waste of time. Watching TV/movies/etc. thoughtfully can be transformative and enlightening.
3) "I am still thinking about a blog on Revelife.com about the controversy over Harry Potter. Some defenses of reading Harry Potter was that "it's pretend" or "it's just entertainment." Have we completely lost sight of who God is and what he has for us as the body of Christ and individually?"
Harry Potter needs no defense. It's not just entertainment (and people who view it as such are shallow), and it's not dangerous. It's a story, a reflection of the author's beliefs, and insight into the lives of characters who's worlds we would never be able to understand. What can be more enriching than considering the extremes of a life that you'll never be able to experience? If watching a film about sorcery induces someone to dabble in witchcraft it is hardly the fault of the film. If watching a film about sorcery does not induce sinful behavior, but *does* give that individual insight into situations they would not have considered before, how is the act of viewing the film in and of itself irresponsible, unholy, or sinful? You have yet to defend that.
4) Christian American culture *is not very Christian*, and I appreciate that you point that out. However, the reason is not because we've been diluted by popular culture to the point that we no longer have an identity in Christ. The problem is that American Christianity has proven incapable of reconciling American culture to a Christian faith. American Christians have done away with art because it terrifies them--instead Christians are drawn to shallow, common-denominator entertainment, much of which they brand as "worship." A film or a song can (and should) explore sin in meaningful ways--yet Christian culture insists on watering everything down. Walk through a Christian "bookstore" and there will be few if any music, film, or literature worthy of your time.
Yet "secular" media is full of enriching media that Christians avoid because of silly taboos. God forbid a Christian hear the "f" bomb dropped, see a naked breast, or watch a film that explores the serious implications os sexuality or violence. The admonition to stay pure has become an overblown fear of ourselves. You know how hand sanitizer kills good bacteria in the process of killing the bad bacteria, and how our bodies' immune systems cannot cope with illness if our environments are over sanitized? Same goes for our spiritual lives. Somehow "flee from sexual immorality" became, "never see another person naked unless you're married to them." We've hyper-sexualized the human body because it's feared. Somehow Christ's admonition on "wholesome speech" has been refocused away from what we're saying to how we say it. You've come up to the right solution to the wrong problem. The problem isn't that we're abandoning God for popular culture, the problem is that we're abandoning culture out of fear of culture.
5) A point and a question:
a) Paul warns that witchcraft is evil--yet, it's implied in the passage that witchcraft is a sin anyone can be guilty of. Furthermore, we have no idea what "witchcraft" actually meant to Paul when he wrote the words. In the world of Harry Potter, some people are *born* as wizards and witches. They are so incapable of fleeing from their abilities that, in the books, young wizards and witches without training are prone to accidentally casting spells, whether it's making a pane of glass disappear or speaking to a snake without realizing it.
b) If nothing else, Harry Potter raises a very valid question about how our natural abilities and proclivities impact our lives. Sure, it's one thing to go looking for powers you don't have, but when you are born with them what do you do? If tomorrow you woke up with the magical power to prevent a person from being murdered, would you use it? If you had a child with magical powers ala those in the world of Harry Potter, would you embrace them and send them off to a school for training or allow them to spend their live inadvertently casting spells because they lacked control of their abilities?
6) Being formed by entertainment is more than dangerous--it's shallow and dumb. If you don't have the constitution to weigh what you view against your better judgement (which, if you're a Christian, is informed by the Spirit), then it doesn't matter if you're reading the Bible or watching Jersey Shore. Plenty of people live moral lives without ever reading the Bible, and plenty of people have used the Bible to support their own reprehensible ideas (such as slavery, killing homosexuals, etc.). The Bible informs our *reason* for being moral people, but it is not required in defining or discovering morality.
7) Glenn Beck is a propagandist and provocateur. If there's anything on television you should be wary of subjecting yourself to, it's his manipulation and deceit. The first part isn't terribly bankrupt, but part B seems to glorify pride while insisting that fulfillment shouldn't be found in buying things--it should found in making money. If you can do nice things for people while making money, than that's better. Just make sure to refuse help from the people you love, because Christ would never condone a newly divorced single mother getting help from her parents or friends. Ironically, Beck seems to be telling us that being a self-sufficient person who is not willing to get help from anyone else is an ideal.
@jgstudes@xanga - Please read this. And I don't watch Glenn Beck. Just caught this as I was flipping through the channels and thought it was interesting. The first section was really the only part I was referring to. I put the rest of up just in case people wanted to watch the show in it's entirety.
@TheyCallMePaulNow@xanga - So a portion of a show giving a platform to a liar and a propagandist can be enriching and "interesting," but a portion of a fictional story that references or portrays acts that are sinful (in your own words) can not be? Why is Glenn Beck not as dangerous as Harry Potter?
well yes i do believe that entertainment is unnecessary, but i watch health tv shows :) so why is it people watch tv? it relieves them from the stress of the real world. its fun. simple right? yet it can have an emotional connection at times if you understand the theme of a movie. i did go through the stage where i said "wtf. why am i wasting my time watching this crap?" so then and there i stopped watching those crappy reality tv shows and started watching funny/ informing shows instead. appropriate shows mainly. .. i think what it is is that you have forgotten that this world we are living in is the year 2010 and almost 2011. america is not what you thought it was 15-20 years before. food production changed politics changed entertainment, technology and so on.. we just cannot help the fact that we are slaves of this world and you know it, we cant spend a whole day with God because we have our jobs, schools to go to. we are apart of this world. living in this world.. that is why we need to spend the time with God, whether it is going to church on sundays or giving that bedtime prayer, we need to love Him with every piece that we are. we can drift away from God easily yet we can pull that bond between God and strengthen it with prayer and faith. the world is changing, our culture is changing but we all need to remember just to Love God. and if you want, spread the word and tell others what God and Christ Jesus has done with your life. im sure there are a million things to be said :) God bless.
@jgstudes@xanga - I didn't disagree with what Glenn said on that particular show. As for a liar and a propagandist, can you explain to me how he is a liar and a propagandist? What has he lied about? I assume you mean him to have a negative influence since you consider him a propagandist. How is his influence negative?
From what I have heard and read about him though, I share the same views, especially politically. As far as I can tell, he isn't a liar or a propagandist. If you know something that I don't, please share.
@Kasie - I like watching Foodnetwork and HGTV. Cooking especially is something that my wife and I like to do and Foodnetwork is wonderful for us. We do use TV to help us relax and relieve stress. However, I don't think that Christians should replace God's peace with entertainment. I struggle with this as well. Obviously, God created many things in this world for our enjoyment. There's nothing wrong with that, unless we start replacing our need for Him with it. Actually, we still need Him. I am not against spending time for fun, until we compromise our faith and convictions or rely on it for stress relief instead of building our relationship with God.
It is almost 2011. And you're right. America isn't what it was 15, 20 years ago. That is why I am concerned for American Christians. There are so many "things" we are told we "need" or have to do because of the world we live in. I don't think Christians should be like everyone else. Live our "comfortable" life going to work and crashing at home. Sure, we can go to church on Sunday, but is that what Christians live for? I am suggesting that instead of engaging in the QUANTITY of entertainment that the general person does, Christians shouldn't abandon fully relying on God. The world that we live in is so anti-God that we can't afford to stray from God's Word. Paul teaches Christians to be living sacrifices. Maybe we aren't being living sacrifices...
I hope you realize that I don't know you personally and am not judging you. I am merely trying to point out a trend that I am seeing and hoping that Christians won't ignore the signs...
@TheyCallMePaulNow@xanga - The evidence against Glenn Beck is extensive. He has a habit of spreading distortions of political events while using labels to attack individuals that he cannot credibly discredit. He says a lot of things that sound really nice--especially if you're scared of where the world is headed and angry an "the system." He does not, however, deal in facts.
For examples, see this link:http://mediamatters.org/search/tag/glenn_beck
or for a quick video compilation of some of his best moments:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3J_QLtYqlk
This is just a sample of the violent, vindictive, deceitful Glenn Beck. If you haven't heard anything negative about him yet than you haven't been exposing yourself to a wide enough range of media. As a general rule, if it's on Fox News it probably can't be trusted.
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