Peter John Brooks
Entertainment or recreation is a normal part of life, including the Christian life. Sometimes we may need to take a break or do something fun. But Christians should be careful about what they entertain themselves with, because there are many forms of entertainment that are sinful.
People often find sin entertaining. They enjoy engaging in sin, or they enjoy watching or hearing about others’ sin. Sin is pleasurable to the flesh, and therefore it can be entertaining. But Christians are commanded not to entertain themselves with sin, because sin causes death, both in our own lives and in the lives of others. Sin is not entertaining; sin is what drove the nails through Christ’s hands and feet, killing him on the cross. There’s nothing fun about that.
To help us understand what types of entertainment or recreation are acceptable for a Christian, we can put all forms of entertainment into four general categories: godly entertainment, useful entertainment, morally neutral entertainment, or sinful entertainment.
Godly Entertainment
The best form of entertainment is godly entertainment. In God’s presence is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). There is pleasure in God’s presence. God is truly satisfying, and when we are full of the living water of the Spirit we are blessed (Jeremiah 2:13).
Christians can be entertained through the presence of God. They might find deep enjoyment, relaxation, and even recreation through prayer, reading and meditating on God’s word, having fellowship, attending church, singing Christian songs, reading edifying Christian books, or in other godly ways. Ministering to others and using our spiritual gifts can be very enjoyable.
Receiving revelation from God and obeying it is probably the best form of entertainment. Obeying revelation causes us to enter into God’s Rest, and God’s Rest can truly edify a person. This is probably the form of entertainment that Jesus enjoyed while he walked the earth. This was probably the entertainment that the apostles enjoyed. There is nothing better than the manifested presence of God.
Useful Entertainment
There are other forms of entertainment or recreation that may not pertain directly to God but can be beneficial in other ways. Hobbies like sewing or gardening are useful because they can produce food or clothing for those who are in need. Some people enjoy cooking, and this can bless others. Other productive hobbies like woodworking can be entertaining, and these hobbies can meet the needs of others. Hunting, fishing, or food preservation can also be entertaining, and these things are also useful.
Sometimes reading books or watching videos to learn things can be useful. For example, a person might enjoy learning about planting fruit trees, crocheting a blanket, or building a root cellar. It can be entertaining to learn how to do useful things.
A Christian may exercise his physical body as a form of entertainment. This can be useful as it can improve health.
Morally Neutral Entertainment
Many forms of entertainment are morally neutral. Things like hiking, birdwatching, sightseeing, or other outdoor activities are often in this category. These forms of entertainment may not directly produce anything useful, but they generally aren’t harmful.
Many books or documentaries are morally neutral, especially those about history or nature. Some topics of learning may be morally neutral, such as science, math, or history, and a few individuals may find it entertaining to learn about such things.
Many videos are morally neutral, including funny videos about pets, travelogues, or food videos. Many podcasts are morally neutral as they are just sharing information.
A lot of music is morally neutral, and people often find music entertaining, whether they play it or listen to it.
Many sporting events are morally neutral, whether one watches or participates.
Board games are often morally neutral, for they do not generally glorify sin or encourage sin. Some video games are also morally neutral, for example, sports games or puzzle games.
There are a few movies that do not glorify sin or entertain people through the flesh, and these movies can be morally neutral.
It is important to limit the amount of time or money spent on morally neutral entertainment so that resources are not wasted. When time or money is wasted, even if the entertainment is morally neutral, then that entertainment can become a sin.
Sinful Entertainment
A lot of entertainment these days is sinful, and Christians should avoid sinful entertainment.
Many movies are sinful, entertaining people through sinful images and stories of lust, horror, demons, or violence.
Many video games are sinful, entertaining people through killing others, stealing things, or generally wreaking havoc upon the world.
Some music is sinful, particularly music that has sinful lyrics. Some music styles can be sinful, for they are particularly dark or destructive.
Many books are sinful, glorifying lust or violence. Romance novels or horror novels are generally in the category of sinful entertainment.
Christians should choose their entertainment or recreation wisely. We can’t just go in the way of the world, entertaining ourselves with sinful things. Instead, we should entertain ourselves with things that are edifying spiritually, things that are useful, or (within appropriate limits) things that are morally neutral.
Bethel Cornerstone 