How should Christ followers approach media?
In our culture, media is very popular and for some people, it rules their lives.
As Christ followers, we should approach the subject of media conscientiously. We can easily fall on either side of the horse, legalistic or liberal. And it’s hard to keep balanced.
Here are a couple questions to ask yourself when you’re contemplating watching a TV show, or listening to a certain artist.
1. What does this give glory to?
There’s so much media available–it can be hard to fathom it all. But as Christians, most of the things out there aren’t beneficial to our walk with God. This question is so simple, yet can be very telling. Does this show/song glorify something lovely or true? Or something evil?
“So…whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
I know we hear this a lot, but glorifying God should constantly be the root of everything we do. We can do it even in our media by watching and listening to things that glorify good, lovely things, and ultimately God.
2. Is it edifying?
Edifying simply means you gain information that improves your character. What kind of things are edifying, you ask? Take a look at what the Word says:
“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
We’re to think of things that are lovely and good. This is a command, not a friendly suggestion. How do we do this while consistently watching and listening to things that promote secular views and glorify evil?
We can’t.
God calls us to be different from the world. So, in turn, the things we watch and listen to should be edifying and different from what the world says is “good.”
3. Is it the best use of our time?
Ouch. This one is most hurtful to me. Much of our time is wasted each day. Think about it. How many hours each day are spent in checking social media, watching useless TV shows, when they could be used for something better? Maybe even making a difference for eternity?
“Do not be unwise, but wise, making the best use of your time because the times are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Our time is one of the best and most abused things God has given us. It’s so sad, because at the end of our life, we’ll have so many regrets about all the time gone. I already have regrets.
Our time is one of the best and most abused things God has given us. Click To TweetBut it also should fuel us to make the best use of our time now. Maybe we should be spending time with our Savior instead of watching that show. Maybe we should be talking to that unbelieving family member instead of listening to that YouTube video. We only have so much time. And when we keep putting it off saying “I’ll get to that when I’m older” (I’m talking to you teens) or “I am much to busy right now” (I am talking to you adults), it hurts our walk.
4. Are we watching or listening to things through a Biblical worldview?
Not only should everything we do glorify God, but everything we watch should be viewed based on what the Bible says about it. Because, obviously, the Bible doesn’t give us a list of shows that we can and can’t watch.
Rather, it tells us about things like life, death, heaven, hell, what’s right, what’s wrong, and how the world was created.
Most movies have a false view of these things. They don’t line up with what God has said in his Word. We need to recognize they’re wrong and point them out.
Secular views shouldn’t become our normal. Our only normal should be what God says in his Word.
