And we will consume it.
I always feel a little odd when I tell someone I like to read fiction. I get this look I am sure people one gets when they confess their love for Dungeons and Dragons. People probably start thinking “oh boy, he lives in an alternate reality.” Of course, these are the people who watch 30 hours of TV a week or chill out in front of video games for ten hours on a Saturday. Their “alternate reality” is just more accepted in our techno-geek culture. No hard feelings.
Entertain unto the Lord
My favorite is when people try and justify their depraved little mind’s yearning for entertainment by applying the “Christian” label. You know, the person who says; “That (song, TV show, movie, book, video game) shows the artists search for the Lord and how they recognize the need for something greater than themselves….” Yea. Sure. Right. And every word out of Bono’s mouth is about Jesus despite the ambiguous references which could be made for any deity. Well, accept maybe the “F” words. Some people probably found a way to prove the band Slayer can lead one on a path to Christ, or how Desperate Housewives can provide good marital tips…
No, I am not advocating throwing a brick through your TV or burning your books
The arguments have been made over and over again about what a Christian should be doing in regards to being entertained. It is not a secret that TV, movies, video games, the Internet, and fiction books can steal a lot of your time. Too much of any can be harmful to anyone, not just Christians. I am an expert by any means and I have no numbers available to back up what it does to your neurons or how it can lower your IQ. We can simply look at our lives and compare our meaningful hours (building relationships, helping others, growing spiritually, etc) to our meaningless hours (being entertained beyond a reasonable amount) and see if we are doing ourselves and others a disservice.
My question is, where is the line?
How much should we allow ourselves to be entertained as compared to living the rest of our lives? Some will argue entertainment helps us understand the best way to relate to culture. I enjoy John Piper’s (I know, I know) argument;
If you want to be relevant, say, for prostitutes, don’t watch a movie with a lot of tumbles in a brothel. Immerse yourself in the gospel, which is tailor-made for prostitutes; then watch Jesus deal with them in the Bible; then go find a prostitute and talk to her. Listen to her, not the movie. Being entertained by sin does not increase compassion for sinners.
What do you think? Are we over saturated? Are we avoiding an amazing life and great accomplishments because of our desire for entertainment? Is entertainment your god? (How much have you spent on TV’s, video games, DVDs, books, etc. compared to giving to those in need, supporting a ministry or Church and loving your neighbor?)
-Don-
People used to look at me funny when I only read non-fiction. I think fiction is actually more acceptable if you look at the best sellers' list.
I can't say where the line is. I suppose we could define it with the intangable value of "when it interferes with the rest of your life." Do friends and relatives know not to call you during "So You Think You Can Dance"? Have you shown up late to a get-together so you could finish watching "Everybody Loves Raymond"? Do you watch over an hour of TV or playing video video games, or online, or whatever and complain that you do not have enough time to exercise?
It may be worthwhile for people to record the costs of being entertained as an exercise. Everytime you are watching TV or playing a video game, or updating facebook, jot down what you are giving up. Or, simply logging how much time we spend on these things and figuring out what may be a better use of that total time at the end of the week. I'm game for next week if anyone else is.
I blame the current Vampire series (one book I read called it "paranormal erotica) and Harry Potter for the rise in fiction. Unfortunately, many who are a part of the Christian sub-culture look down on those of us who enjoy a good suspense thriller every now and again.
I am game to your challenge. When do you want to begin?
Ok. I'll play, too. What are the parameters?
My proposal:
How about starting Monday, Oct 5th:
Every time you are either online (non work related) or watching television you are to log the time spent (I know Don was also including reading for enjoyment, but as an academic I have difficulty justifying this as all reading is beneficial in some way to the individual), On Monday the 12th we report back here with our totals and our individual assessment of how that time could be better spent. The other options should be both viable and equally enjoyable. They should also benefit either another individual or the community at large. The challenge culminates during the week of the 12th through the 19th with us actually doing some of the alternatives we came up with INSTEAD of watching TV/surfing the web. The goal being to cut our TV/ online time in half while doing a little good in the world (besides the reduced greenhouse emissions from not using as much electricity).
I like it. I'm in.
Immersing yourself in the Gospel would probably be a good source of strength to prepare yourself for talking to a prostitute. I feel the actual conversation is what makes you relevent to him/her. One of my colleagues says that the teaching profession keeps us young. I think what they mean to say is that it keeps us relevent due to our daily interactions with young people. We have our finger on the pulse of modern American culture. Not that we embrace it necessarily, but we at least know what is going on moreso than many adults. My point is, because of our conversations we are able to make our message more relevent. Your message on its own requires someone who can deliver it in a way that connects first century Judea, in the Roman world, to twenty-first century America, in the modern.
Did you switch to this format to keep my comments shorter?
Hmm, I will have to check in on the comment length thing. I never knew there was a limit….
I agree, I always felt teachers (and pastors) have to "keep their fingers on the pulse" a little more than others. I do think the pulse is better kept by meeting living beings than fictional.
In my estimation, the only real difference between a good teacher and a good pastor is the vehicle through which you are improving lives. You do it through the Gospel. I do it through social studies.
This update really hits home for me. I know I watch a lot of tv (I'm a reality tv junkie). I also am an avid player of video games. That being said, I feel like I DO give a lot of myself to serve others. I lead 3 small groups. I volunteer with the middle school ministry at my church. I make sure to not play video games until after my kids are in bed so that I am investing in them while they are awake. So do I entertain myself too much? I don't know.
Being a reality TV guy, do you watch the Amazing Race? I have not seen it, but so many people have been telling me how good it is…. I like the Biggest Loser myself.
I know you volunteer a TON. And I also know you have connected to many through entertainment of various sorts, even camping and paint ball. I wonder how "relative" the argument on either side really is.
I currently watch: Amazing Race (one of my faves), Survivor, Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, So You Think You Can Dance, Iron Chef America, Food Network Challenge, and Next Iron Chef. My shame is now public.
Oh! And Biggest Loser!
LOL! I used to watch Survivor with you. After becoming a huge fan of House, I kind of stopped watching it.
I surf the net a lot.
Ain't that the truth. You are "Mr. Facebook"
ummm. I'm sure I can conjure some justifiable answer…..
I don't watch much TV at all. ( I watch Family Guy,House, South Park and The Office) I have never seen the Biggest Loser, Lost, Heroes (just to name a few shows people freak out that I have never seen)..and I just saw my first episode of Scrubs on Sunday, nor do I play a lot of video games (my Guitar Hero guitars are dusty…). Instead we take a lot of walks, and I like to paint, draw and read for entertainment. BUT I waste a lot of time online, reading blogs, Facebook (YoVille..*sighs*) and Twitter.
I don't think there's anything wrong with a Christian reading a thriller type novel either. Those happen to be my favorite, and if you read much of Koontz you can tell he is Christian. (and really is a dog person)
I think the key is moderation though, in everything expect praising and thanking God that is.
Biggest Loser holds my interest for the first few episodes and the last few. The middle is kind of boring. That being said, Heroes was boring to me (only watched a couple times after J was born) and Scrubs I have never really seen.
I do watch an inordinate amount of Football….
As for the net, my job demands I stay connected (I usually have to catch little buggers from surfing to hacking sites) and I am a blogger
I think Scrubs is hysterical. that being said, I don't watch it on tv. Every so often we will rent a season dvd, watch it, and move on.
It is much funnier than I thought it would be.. much like King of the Hill.