Turning Away From Entertainment
September 8, 2010
I received a comment recently about when I’d be writing about “cutting back on most forms of entertainment”. So, I thought now would be a good time to address this. Turning away from media and entertainment feels like an ongoing, every day battle for me. This also seems to be a very controversial topic within the Body of Christ (at least in the West).
Some say that it’s freedom to be able to watch whatever you want. Some say that turning off your TV or not watching movies (for the sake of drawing near to Jesus) is “religious”. Most people will try to convince you that there’s “grace” for entertainment. I’d rather make a case that Jesus is worthy of all of our time and attention.
I don’t think not watching TV or movies earns me anything. I do watch movies occasionally, and I have spent HUGE chunks of my life staring at a screen watching someone else’s story. I wish I could get that time back. I don’t want to spend my time that way and am striving to turn it off and turn to Him.
Even outside of the spiritual implications – wouldn’t you rather live the life that you desire, rather than live vicariously through someone else?
Regardless, for me it comes down to:
1) I have to give an account (to Jesus) for how I’ve spent all my time on the earth, and I will be judged by what I DO with my time. He looks at my heart, absolutely, but what I do really matters (Rev. 20:12). I am pained by the fact that I will have to give an account for the thousands of hours I’ve spent in front of the TV, at a movie theater, or surfing the internet. Those are hours I can never get back.
2) I believe there is a higher level of communion and satisfaction available in Jesus today, that I have yet to taste. I believe that drawing nearer to Him will bring me more pleasure than a movie. A movie will play with my emotions and let me escape for a little while, but most likely won’t draw me closer to His heart.
I want to live in constant communion with Jesus. When I say that, I don’t mean I sit in a dark room, rock back and forth, and talk to Jesus all day. I DO mean that certain activities are more prone to take me out of dialogue with Him. Practicing the presence of God is all about talking to (and listening to) Jesus in the day in and day out of life. Unfortunately, with most movies or TV shows or surfing the internet, that is difficult for me.
I don’t think entertainment or media is inherently evil. I do value the age that we live in. I love that information is readily available, and I think that movies can be made—and the internet can be used—to glorify the name of Jesus. I pray that the Lord would anoint men and women who are living the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) to declare the message of Jesus’ beauty through media.
At the same time, I want to turn my eyes from looking at worthless things (Psalm 119:37 and Psalm 101). Most TV programs and movies (even kids movies) are saturated with the spirit of the age. I believe we become like what we behold or consume. I want to look like Jesus, not like the world. I want to love those that are in the world, and I believe the best way to do that is to spend my time meditating on, agreeing with, and living His word, so I actually have something to say. I want to become the message of truth. I want to become true.
He is worthy of all of my heart. Oh, that I would strive to surrender all of it to Jesus. Life is so short. Jesus, grant me grace to love you with every moment of it.
A Few Years Ago – I Got a Wake-Up Call
April 21, 2010
One of the most painful things to me of late is how I spend my time. Or perhaps better phrased – how I DON’T spend my time. I desire to give the Lord 100% of my attention and my affection – no matter what I’m doing. However, I’m painfully aware of how short I fall of that goal!!
Revelation 20:12 – “And I saw the dead great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done.”
I absolutely believe that we are saved by grace through faith – not by anything we do (Ephesians 2:8-10). But I believe there will be varying rewards based on how we have chosen to love Jesus with our life (Matthew 25:14-30).
Those choices break down to moment by moment decisions. Will I partner with Jesus and agree with truth or will I love a lie? It’s the difference between getting lost in unhealthy fantasy or choosing to set my mind on things above. Sometimes it’s even a decision between what’s good and what’s best (spending 2 hours surfing the internet vs. 2 hours reading the Word).
The first time I was really gripped with this was several years ago. I had been dealing with prolonged illness that required me to be mostly confined to my bed. I had a Netflix subscription, and believe you me, I was getting my money’s worth!! I felt rather worthless at the time. I couldn’t think clearly, couldn’t ‘DO’ much of anything, and it seemed like the only thing I could do was get lost in someone else’s story for awhile.
I believe I was binge watching some ‘Little House On the Prairie’ episodes when I became very aware of my utter boredom and the ache inside of me. I remember beginning to dialogue with the Lord about the frustration I had about the season I was in. I wanted to be in the prayer room. I wanted to be singing. I wanted to be in the House of the Lord!
I don’t remember exactly how Jesus spoke to me that day. But I remember being struck with the awareness that I would be judged for how I was spending my time – even though I was sick. I knew He wasn’t angry with me or even disappointed. But I had a distinct awareness that one day I would stand before the King of Kings who sees EVERYTHING.
He would say, “Do you remember that season I gave you – when you didn’t have any responsibility? That season when you didn’t have any children or a leadership position? You lived in a tiny apt and there weren’t dozens of people vying for your attention. Yes, you were struck with a momentary light affliction but how did you love ME in that time?”
I became SO aware of how little time I was spending in the Word and how little time I was just talking to Jesus as I laid in my bed. If I could watch hour upon hour of Little House on the Prairie… I could certainly commune with the Spirit in my weakness. And yet I spent very little time doing that.
I began to realize the offense in my heart towards God, and how my lack of believing He was who He said He was – my Healer, my Friend, my Savior, my Redeemer… was keeping me from coming to Him in my own poverty.
In some ways that was the beginning of a journey for me of figuring out how best to give Him my time – within my frame and my circumstances. It’s a never-ending, always changing journey to discover how to give Jesus more of my heart. The more I seek to be focused – the more aware I become of my lack of focus! I’m so thankful He loves to give grace and mercy because I need a lot of it.
I hope to do a couple of posts of ways that I seek to ‘practice the presence of God’ (great book by Brother Lawrence if you’ve never read it!) Certainly, it looks different for everyone. But the more we can glean from one another’s practices in this arena, the closer we’ll come to being conformed to His image. That’s what I want!!!
Why I Don’t Listen to Secular Music
March 12, 2010
I grew up listening to secular music. Truthfully, I could probably sing most popular songs that were produced between the 50’s and the 90’s. In High School, I would drive for hours with the windows down, and my radio blaring. I loved many different genre’s and especially how the music made me feel.
Something with a good beat could seemingly cheer me up in minutes and songs that told a story could make me cry. Some of the songs took me back to moments that had long past and some songs felt empowering. If someone had told me even 5 years ago, that I would give up secular music – I wouldn’t have believed them. And yet, I did.
Why?
1) I want to love Jesus with my whole heart.
Matthew 22:37 – Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment.
When I take this verse as it’s written, ALL really means ALL. When my time and attention is given to music that doesn’t glorify God, by people who( typically) aren’t living lives that glorify God, then I’m giving my heart, soul, and mind to something less that God.
Matthew 12:25, Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.
When I listen to (meditate on) secular music I’m setting myself up to be ‘divided’. What do I mean by that? If I say that I believe that the scriptures say that premarital sex, getting drunk, or a covetous lifestyle are sin, but I listen to music that is rife with such topics – I am subconsciously (sometimes consciously) agreeing with these lifestyle choices. If I don’t agree with those things, why do I allow my heart and mind to meditate on them?
When my heart is divided I lose my ability to stand on issues that really matter to Jesus’ heart. I believe that darkness is increasing in the earth and I want to have an undivided heart to be able to stand in truth at all times.
2) I want to love others as I want to be loved.
Matthew 22:39 – ‘And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
I love being around people who’s hearts are on fire with the Word of God, and who’s spirits are sensitive to Holy Spirit. I am provoked, sharpened, and encouraged by them. I want to be that kind of person!!! I believe that a wholehearted person – someone wholly given to Jesus – will love others better than someone who’s heart is divided.
3. I don’t want to open myself up to demonic influence.
I believe that’s exactly what I’m doing when I listen to that which has demonic ideas, influence, or even blatant demonic worship. When we open the door to this stuff – we are more fearful, depressed, and discouraged. If secular music is not only ‘not helpful’ but actually causes me to lose ground… then what’s the point?
Even in the case when secular music feels like a temporary ‘pick me up’, is it really worth the cost?
1 Cor. 10:20 Rather, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God, and I do not want you to have fellowship with demons. 21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord’s table and of the table of demons. 22 Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He? 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other’s well-being.
4) I become like what I behold.
This one speaks for itself. I don’t want to look like the world. I want to love the world, but I want to look like Jesus.
5) Life is short and I will stand before Jesus and give an account for how I spend my time and attention.
The fact that Jesus gives us grace upon grace, and moment after moment to choose to love Him is astounding to me. And the fact that He will reward our choices rooted in love is even more amazing!!! I want to please His heart and do whatever I can to be pure and spotless. I believe what I do today will have ETERNAL consequences.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.
6) I want to be a friend of God.
A friend is someone I esteem, walk with, and listen to. I don’t want to esteem, agree with, and feast on what the world says and does. James tells us that being a friend of the world is hostility towards God. If I’m being hostile towards God will He want to tell me His secrets on a regular basis?
I want to hear what Jesus is saying in this hour. I want to hear His whispers and His longings. I want to be filled with His word, His truth, and His spirit. I want to walk with Him.
James 4:4-8 Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “ God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
7) I want to write worship music and sing oracles of heaven.
To truly sing the oracles of heaven I believe you have to BECOME the message… I am a LONG way from this reality, but that’s what I want to do. In order to be a living oracle – a living song – I must consecrate my life.
Now before anyone say this is religious… I don’t think that not listening to secular music earns me anything. It doesn’t. Turning off the radio and throwing away many of my cd’s won’t make Jesus love me more. I DO believe though, that it will make my spirit more open to receive His love.
One last thing (if you’ve read this far… hang in there!) I remember a time 3 or 4 years ago when I was up late, feeling sick, and couldn’t sleep. I decided to get on Itunes and find music that I’d enjoyed over the years. Several hours probably passed as I purchased old music and found new songs that I liked. I remember a feeling of comfort as I listened.
However, I remember waking up and feeling almost hung over… and it had nothing to do with what I’d consumed the previous day. I realized that I had given my soul over to the spirit of the age as I had drunk song after song that did not glorify Jesus. Soon after this incident, I heard a teaching on turning away from secular music because of what it opens our spirits to. I was sold. I threw away my cd’s and deleted a lot of music out of my ITunes library.
I’m amazed at how much better my spirit feels on a regular basis and how much more sensitive I am to His Spirit. I’m not as anxious, fearful, or depressed as I used to be. That could also be because I cut way back on most forms of entertainment. But I’ll save that for another time… 
