Entertainment

We recently had a conversation with children on the topic of what we listen to and watch. We are a pretty conservative family when it comes to music and tv/movies. Though I have come across others who are more so (we don't object to fantasy or war), in our circles we mostly fall on the most conservative side. Some of our children had been with some friends and listened to some music that made one of our daughters uncomfortable. She asked our advice on how to deal with it graciously and this spurred the conversation. Two of the girls were defending the song as harmless and "no big deal". After some talk about it, with some rising passions involved (mostly on my part), we planned a Bible study for that evening. We told the girls that we were going to bring scriptures that supported our point of view and they were welcome to do the same, even at a later date.
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First, we printed off the song and others by the same artist. We read these aloud in order to judge the content better. It was amazing to see the effect of reading the words instead of having them mixed in with distracting music. Opinions began to change pretty quickly. I have often wondered what the effect would be of reading the words to the songs we listen to or movies we watch from the pulpit. Would we judge things differently in that setting?
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Here are the scriptures we have found helpful in evaluating our standards. Even after reading these, we realize that not everyone, not even our grown children, will agree on the specifics of what holds up under this light. However, we hope there is agreement on where the light is to be found.
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But examine everything carefully;

hold fast to that which is good;

abstain from every form of evil.

1 Thes. 5: 21 - 22

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I love definitions because they help to clarify the meanings of a passage. Here's a few from an online concordance. These are definitions of the Greek words in the above verse.

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examine - to test, prove, scrutinize, to approve, deem worthy of

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good - beautiful by reason on purity of heart and life, excellent, commendable, admirable, excellent in nature and characteristics, praiseworthy, affecting the mind agreeably, morally good, noble

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form - external or outward appearance, figure, shape, kind

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And we liked verse 23 of the same passage:

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And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly

and I pray God your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved

blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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These are the rest of the verses we discussed that evening:

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Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Romans 12:9

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I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes:

I hate the work of them that turn aside;

it shall not cleave to me.

Psalm 101:3

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Philippians 4:8 lists the things we are to think on. Things that are

true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous and praiseworthy.

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For brethren, ye have been called unto liberty;

only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,

but by love serve one another.

Galatians 5:13

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Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse:

he who guards himself will be far from them.

Proverbs 22:5

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He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.

1 John 2:6

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He that loveth his brother abideth in the light,

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

1 John 2:10

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For this cause we also, since the day we heard it,

do not cease to pray for you,

and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will

in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord,

to please Him in all things,

being fruitful in every good work,

and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Col. 1:9 - 10

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Pay close attention to yourself and your teaching;

persevere in these things;

for as you do this you will insure salvation

both for yourself and for those who hear you.

1 Tim. 4:16

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There is a lot to think about in these passages. Of course, some will argue that we have to live in this world and can not protect ourselves from seeing any evil. Of course, that is true. But I'm talking about what we choose to entertain ourselves with. This is about the choices we make. What do we want to fill our minds with?