The word entertainment when used with the idea of worldly amusement that which appeals to human fleshly passion or lust is not found in Scripture. However, the Bible has plenty to tell about Christian attitude and approach toward such enjoyment which corrupts our lives. We approach the issue of entertainment apart from a legalistic mentality and without prejudice or bias.

God is not legalistic that he would forbid us to enjoy healthy, harmless and constructive entertainment. There is a proper place for recreation, sport, and entertainment in the Christian life. Remember, genuine worldliness is a mental attitude of the soul toward the things of the world, not the things itself. For example, adorning oneself with jewelry by itself is not worldliness; it is the mental attitude of greed, selfishness and desire to amass or collect more jewelry that is worldliness. Worldliness is the attitude behind the motives for wearing the jewelry.

The advancement of technology is for the purpose of making the human life comfortable and provides more time for studying the Word of God. However, more people are trapped in possessing, accumulating and taking care of these tools rather than using them as slaves, the technology became the master instead. The world belongs to Satan and he is using everything to destroy and corrupt the Christian testimony. He is using modern technology as a means to infiltrate homes with human viewpoint and demonic doctrines.

Sensual amusement is now available in the privacy of your room; one does not have to be in a public place. Uncensored pornography is now available via the internet for any viewer regardless of age. All kinds of sexual services are made available to the public without restriction and prohibition. Many of the Filipino homes have more than two sets of TV and other viewing equipment of personal entertainment.

The temptation and open opportunities to enjoy corrupt and evil entertainment have multiplies so greatly that many have taken them as part of acceptable modern-day lifestyle. Many Christians are also making a banquet of the world*s obscenity, perversion, violence and the ungodly New Age ideologies in the comfort of their homes. The entire humanity, including the undiscerning believers, are being corrupted and destroyed in terms of its moral values through the acceptance of immorality camouflaged as amusement.

Entertainment is the gratification of the old sinful nature by amusement created and designed to indulge the soul in the pleasures of the world. There is no such thing as Christian entertainment because God cannot approve the happiness of the world as legitimate happiness for His children. Genuine believers cannot truly be thankful for worldly entertainment.

Believers have spiritual freedom. We use our freedom to do the will and purpose of God, and not to abuse or misuse it for our lustful passions. Neither should we let anyone abuse us through those provisions which God ordained for good purpose. The world is not getting better and as believers, we must be prepared for the worst. The Bible commands us to Prove all things, hold fast to which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). Believers must carefully examine everything under the norms and standards of God. Accepting anything without careful evaluation leads to spiritual disaster. Here are some principles to guide us in our choice of entertainment:

Accept only that which give honor and glory to the Lord. The primary purpose and objective of the Christian life is spiritual maturity in order to glorify God and not to indulge in the pleasures of the flesh (1 Corinthians 10:31). Everything we do must be for the glory of God not for our own amusement. Some healthy sports can become substitute for spiritual growth and maturity. It is good to be physically healthy but not at the expense of spirituality or maturity (1 Timothy 4:8).

Accept only that which edify your souls and contribute to your spiritual growth. The care and nourishment of our souls must be considered as more important than the pleasures of the world. If you are to make a decision between the things that contribute to your physical health and your spiritual growth, your decision will determine your future spiritual status (1Timothy 4:8).

Reject anything that is blasphemous and worldly (Colossians 3:8-10). Christians must reject all entertainment that is blasphemous, immoral, violent and humanistic because they endanger the welfare of our souls. If we indulge in such entertainment that are avenues for human and satanic viewpoint, our souls will slowly lose its positive volition for Bible doctrine. Believers are constantly under heavy bombardment of demonic doctrines and human viewpoint even if you stay alone in a catacomb. But to indulge in these entertainments is to go in the center of satanic campaign.  Question: do you know what really pleases God?

Reject all that will hinder your spiritual growth and momentum toward maturity (Romans 13:12-14). The life we have on this planet is a logistical provision for our spiritual growth and nourishment, and to spend it for worldly pleasure is to waste such golden opportunities. We have to maximize our sojourn by giving priority for learning Bible doctrine and knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. The TV set has become the most important but notorious member of the family that receives undisrupted attention. Believers must have a control to put the TV set under some voluntary restrictions and limitations.

Reject all that will enslave your souls. We have freedom but only for the purpose of spiritual growth and maturity not for the gratification of the flesh (1 Corinthians 6:12). All types of addiction are more spiritual than being a moral problem. Worldly amusement and entertainment can become an addiction that enslaves the believers, robbing them with precious hours that could have been used for learning and studying the Word of God.  Christians who spend more time in front of the TV have nourished the old sin nature and resulting to an unhealthy soul.

Reject all that will provide temptation into sin (Romans 13:14). Temptation is not a sin until you make decision to welcome it. It is always difficult to indulge into this worldly entertainment without being hooked into temptation that leads to the commission of sin. Believers must learn to control their youthful lust (burning passions) by making the right priorities. Believers are only pilgrims in the world not tourists or vacationers who are free to paint the town red.

Reject all that will cause another person to stumble (1 Cor. 10:32-33). The insensitive believer who indulges himself in some worldly entertainment can turn into a barrier for the young believers or a stumbling block for the growing believers. Believers must reject all social events like parties of pleasure, wild parties, and illicit sex. Believers must also caution against allowing recreations or social events that replace the privileges of studying the Word of God, and excessive the involvement in sports, and other distracting activities.

  J. R. Cherreguine Bible Doctrine Ministries