Our Entertainment Culture

Darth Vader

Our society is saturated with entertainment in various forms – movies, television, music, internet videos, professional and collegiate sports, etc. Even during a time of economic hardship and uncertainty, Americans are paying billions of dollars a year in movie ticket sales alone. While occasional entertainment may be fine, we need to let our consumption of entertainment be regulated by the Scriptures.

In evaluating our entertainment consumption, we should ask ourselves some basic questions:
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Seek First His Kingdom

Matthew 6:33

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warned against one dividing his allegiance to God. He said that an attempt to do this could not possibly be done with the Lord’s approval.

No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth” (Matthew 6:24).

Jesus specifically mentioned wealth here as an object that would distract one from wholeheartedly serving God. But this principle is not limited to wealth. His point was that we must not allow anything to distract or hinder us from our service to God.
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Should Preaching About Homosexuality Be a Priority?

Louie Giglio, pastor of the Passion City Church in Atlanta, was invited to deliver the benediction during the President’s inauguration. He has since withdrawn from participating in the event after some “gay-rights” advocates protested. The following quote was included in the article linked above. It is from a sermon of Giglio’s from the 1990’s and was the cause of the opposition against his participation in the inauguration.

“If you look at the counsel of the word of God, Old Testament, New Testament, you come quickly to the conclusion that homosexuality is not an alternative lifestyle… homosexuality is not just a sexual preference, homosexuality is not gay, but homosexuality is sin. It is sin in the eyes of God, and it is sin according to the word of God. You come to only one conclusion: homosexuality is less than God’s best for his creation.”

I know nothing about anything else Giglio teaches or has taught, but his remarks above about homosexuality being a sin are exactly correct. In every dispensation, homosexuality has been an abomination in the eyes of God. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah were utterly destroyed for this sin (Genesis 19:4-13; Jude 7). The Law of Moses clearly condemned the practice: “You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination” (Leviticus 18:22; cf. 20:13). Even in the New Testament, homosexuality is said to be “unnatural,” “indecent,” and “contrary to sound teaching” (Romans 1:26-27; 1 Timothy 1:10). Paul told the brethren in Corinth that the sin of homosexuality, if not repented of and abandoned, would prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God (1 Corinthians 6:9).
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“Whatever a Man Sows, This He Will Also Reap” (11/25)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Galatians 4-6.

Paul warned the saints in the churches of Galatia of the importance of sowing the proper seed in order to be able to reap the desired harvest.

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7).

When he told them not to be deceived and that God was not mocked, he warned them not to think that they would prove to be the exception to the rule. If we wish to reap spiritual rewards, we must sow “to the Spirit” (Galatians 6:8).

In the first ten verses of this chapter, Paul mentioned three examples of how to sow in order to receive a reward.
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“Blessed is Everyone Who Will Eat Bread in the Kingdom of God” (10/27)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Luke 14-15.

When one of those who were reclining at the table with Him heard this, he said to Him, ‘Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!’” (Luke 14:15).

Jesus had just given instructions regarding wedding feasts and other social meals – when invited, exercise humility; when inviting, exercise compassion. This prompted someone to make this statement about the kingdom of God. It certainly is true that it is a great blessing to be part of God’s kingdom. But as Jesus pointed out in the following parable, many will choose the things of this life over the things of the kingdom.
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Are You Redeeming the Time?

[The following was slightly adapted from a sermon outline by A.W. Dicus entitled, ‘Christian Economics.’]

WatchesEach week contains 10,080 minutes. What do people do with their time?

The time spent by a fairly active church member on spiritual activities:

  • Attends on Sunday, three hours = 180 minutes
  • Attends on Wednesday night = 60 minutes
  • Reads the Bible two hours = 120 minutes
  • Prays 15 minutes daily = 105 minutes
  • Visits the sick, three hours = 180 minutes
  • Total time for the Lord = 645 minutes

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How Long Will You Love What Is Worthless? (5/16)

Thought from today’s Bible reading from Psalm 3-4, 12-13, 28, 55.

O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach? How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception? But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself; the Lord hears when I call to Him” (Psalm 4:2-3).

Too many have a warped sense of priorities, especially when it comes to spiritual things. They will reject the things of God, will consider righteousness a reproach, and will refuse to follow the truth. They mock such things and ridicule those who value them.
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