Daily Devotions
How the Christian Evaluates Entertainment Choices
Reading for July 2nd: Psalms 26-31
Prove me, O LORD, and try me;
test my heart and my mind.
Psalm 26:2
How do we evaluate entertainment choices?
We start by eliminating anything that is immoral. We cannot tolerate the filth that has come to fill most shows on TV, songs on the radio, Internet sites, books and magazines, etc.
But the one who fears God is not only concerned about the blatant evils in the media, he is sensitive to other less obvious problems as well. A song on the radio may not have a single curse word in it, but the message is worldly. A movie may be rated "PG" but the underlying premise of the movie is ungodly. Anything that promotes selfishness, materialism, pride, or other forms of worldliness should be rejected.
Why should we be so careful? Because the devil does his best work in subtle ways. It's easy to see the dangers of violence, blasphemy, sexual themes, etc. But our values are changed more easily when our guard is down; when we digest things we feel are safe.
Most of what is fed to us is not safe. A recent study by researchers at UCLA examined the messages the media promotes to 9-11 year olds. In 1997 the top five values were community feeling, being kind and helpful (benevolence), image, tradition and self-acceptance. The top five values today are fame, achievement, popularity, image, and financial success. The bottom two values on this list are spiritualism and tradition.
The battle we're fighting is for the mind. We should be so cautious about the messages we allow into our minds and especially into the minds of our children.
Father, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Jehovah, and teach me your rules.
