Last, but definitely not least, we come to the
one popular culture arena that is the most controversial of all. In the first
century, even in decadent Rome, no one could have foreseen something known as
the Middle Class, a huge stratum of society who have all their needs and most
of their wants met, but neither have servants to see to that nor have to spend
end-labor to accomplish it, and therefore have leisure time unprecedented in
history. On top of that, or because of it, we have also invented and developed
something that will be the instrument of the gospel to the whole world, but is
mostly put too much lower uses. It’s called Mass Media, including the worldwide
explosion of information generally lumped under the Internet.
What about entertainment? In this, there is
little direct learning from Jesus’ life in first century Galilee and Judea. In
those days, people talked, sang songs or played simple instruments, read if
they could, danced folk dances, took walks, went swimming and boated.
Archaeology has found throughout the Roman Empire of the first century examples
of lewd, evil activities, wild parties and entertainment made of human beings, such
as the gladiator contests to the death, watching people eaten by wild beasts. In
fact executions of criminals were public spectacles. There is no record that
Jesus or any of His apostles ever considered making their way to the Coliseum
in Rome, but Jesus did participate in a wedding party, even providing an
emergency supply of drink at His mother’s request.
We could spend pages and pages categorizing the
forms of entertainment available to us today and trying to make a list of
rules. Church people used to do that. No cards. Unless they only have numbers,
but without pictures. No movies. Unless you can watch them in the privacy of
your home. No dances at all. Once the people raised by these rules grew up and
realized the arbitrary nature of them and the lack of a Bible foundation for
some interpretations, they tended to throw them all out and do as they pleased.
They had never been taught the principles that would enable them to make their
own wise decisions.
What are the principles? There are at least two overarching principles we should consider.
First, there is time. Jesus believed in relaxation and time out. But look and see
how many hours He spent that way. Work “as long as it is day,” He said. “Night
is coming, when no one can work.” (John
9:4) The second principle might be more controversial. It is this: If it
were true, would it be good? Most Christians would never consider hiring (or
worse, buying) an exotic dancer. We would be horrified at the thought of
watching gladiators or captured slaves brutally fight and kill each other, and
would turn our heads if confronted with a crucified criminal. But we seem to
think if it’s “just pretend” that makes it OK. We watch movies or shows or play
video games of all of the above and worse, never ask if it is pleasing to God.
There is conflict in life, and the Bible shows
us that important lessons may be taught and learned by stories of incidents
which are not very pleasant (David and Bathsheba, the war stories) or not even
true (the rich man and Lazarus). But is there a serious point like that to
everything we read, watch, and play?
Questions to ask: Is it true (that is, does it
teach a truth?) Is it honorable? Is it right? Is it pure? Is it lovely? It is
of good repute? Is there any excellence? Is there any praise? Would Jesus
watch/read/play this? (See Philippians
4:8.) We shouldn’t leave this subject without spending at least a moment
considering one other question, that of children and youth. Even when something
meets all the above criteria, that does not necessarily make it suitable for
children and youth. We must first of all know our own children well and shield them,
especially when young, from something we know would upset them even if it is
suitable to other children their age. Then, we must remember that one of the
things we learned from the life of Jesus is that He spent thirty years
preparing before He put Himself in the midst of the chaotic life of the people
for whom He came. There are things we might willingly share with our older or
adult children that we must keep from them until they are ready, and once
again, this requires prayer, prayer, and more prayer.
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