Everyday Discernment: The Importance of Spirit-led Decision MakingSample

Discernment in Entertainment Media

I believe the best verse to consider as a Christian regarding entertainment is Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. 

The Greek word for think, logizomai, means to “dwell on, to think in a detailed or logical manner.” Controlling your thoughts to be positive and pure 100% of the time seems impossible. Just by watching the news, you will come across stories that disturb your very soul. Even the interactions you have with people at work or the conversations you hear others discussing may not fall into the “positive and pure” category of thought. I believe the goal of this verse is to have discipline in how we think and what we think about. We live in the world, but we do not need to be of the world (John 17:14). 

Christians fall into the trap of a consumerism mentality that is prevalent in society. Any customer that buys various forms of entertainment media is called a “consumer” for a reason. You take in the content that media provides with your eyes and ears and into your very spirit. Our thoughts and actions are often a by-product of what we consume. 

It’s not any different when we eat food. If we eat junk food all the time, there will be adverse health and mental effects on our body. The same is true of the media. If there are no limits on the quantity and quality of media you are taking into your body, the output will be adverse effects on your spiritual and even your physical life. 

We are cautioned in the Bible to not let “unwholesome talk” come out of our mouths (Eph. 4:29) and that we are defiled by what comes out of our mouths (Matt. 15:11). If we “set our minds on things above, not on earthly things” (Col. 3:2), we should be focusing our time on things that edify us and not the garbage that the flesh and the world provide. Many times, what comes out of our mouths is a natural byproduct of what types of content we are consuming, both good and bad! 

What personal boundaries do you have with entertainment as far as what you do or do not engage with? What caused you to have these boundaries?