What does the Bible say about entertainment? 3 Principles

Today, good Christian entertainment evolve different opinions and views.

The entertainment options we have today are multiple and diverse.

Should a Christian participate in all of them?

Clearly, in biblical times, there were not exactly the same options that we have today to spend our free time.

Even so, the Bible presents a great deal of information that can guide us in this matter.

I would like to share with you good Christian entertainment practices  from the Bible that I consider key to understanding this topic:

(…) 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.

Philippians 4:8

It’s not in my interest to tell you, or anyone else, what specific things you should invest your time in and which ones you shouldn’t.

That is what God does in everyone’s life through the Holy Spirit.

Rather, I’d like to propose a couple of biblical principles that can guide you to make better decisions related to your entertainment.

Before I start talking about the previous verse, I would like to mention that a mere practical appropriation of these principles, without an adequate understanding of God’s love and grace, can generate a harmful legalistic attitude.

At all times, the center of our life and our experience of faith must be to deepen a closer relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

As we delve into that experience, every area of our lives will be positively affected by the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Any effort to correct or improve our behavior, without relying entirely on God’s Spirit influence, can cause us to look up to ourselves and misperceive our merits.

#1. We become what we behold

That said, the first thing I would like to mention, in relation to the bible text, is that those things to which we give our attention become references for our way of thinking, being, and behaving.

Exposing ourselves to forms of entertainment that contravene our eternal principles makes our understanding of the good flawed.

On the contrary, investing that attention and energy in entirely good things, makes our moral understanding benefit of good Christian entertainment.

This results in our spiritual capacity and sensitivities improving and increasing.

Which allows us to enjoy a better communion and a more intimate relationship with God.

#2. The closer to Jesus, the farther from evil

The second thing I would like to mention is that being a follower of Jesus leads us, little by little, to get closer and closer to him and less to the evil of this earth.

As we follow Jesus, little by little, the work of God’s Spirit in our lives will cause us to begin to enjoy the entirely good and hate the bad.

The apostle John puts it as follows:

Do not love the world, nor the things that are in the world.

If anyone loves the world, the father’s love is not in him.

1 John 2:15

A Christian experience, in which our heart and mind love the world as a system of principles and preferences contrary to those of God, is evidence of vulnerable and deficient spiritual health.

If you currently find yourself in a situation where you love the world but want to be closer to God, start asking God to help you.

Your understanding gradually becomes clearer, and you can see evil for what it really is and enjoy what is best.


#3. Avoid all kinds of evil

A third principle is that in our entertainment choices, we consider avoiding all kinds of evil.

In the previous verse, the Bible invites us to think and consider only good Christian entertainment practices.

The apostle Paul also says in his letter to the Thessalonians:

put everything to the test, hold on to the good, avoid all kinds of evil.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

If among your entertainment preferences you are participating in things that contain elements contrary to God’s good, noble, and holy principles, it is best to give up that preference to God and ask Him to change and purify it.

Entertainment is something necessary to live a healthy, balanced, and happy life.

However, the vast majority of things that are offered to us as good Christian entertainment, do not exalt the good.

On the contrary, they put us in contact with ideas and patterns of behavior that degrade our mental and spiritual faculties.

By asking God for wisdom in prayer, he will show you what is best and will help you see evil in what is not good, and enjoy more and more of what is good.

He will help you change your preferences and find joy and delight in the things that are really worthwhile.

In this way, your experience of life and faith will be enriched.


Tell us what do you think? Would you like to improve your entertainment habits?

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