Media and the Believer

People today enjoy many forms of media.  From cell phones to computers, from TV to video games.  Media is literally everywhere, offering entertainment to billions of people every day.  Never before in the history of mankind has information been more readily and easily available.  Books, magazines, television, music, movies, internet vie for the already busy lives of people everywhere.  However in this information age man’s sinful nature consumes media and justifies the contents with their deceiving messages.

 

Media Defined:

 

Media is most often defined as the means of cultivation, or expression of some form of knowledge or entertainment.  Media comes in a variety of forms.

 

·      Education Media – newspapers, the news, internet keep us informed about an ever-changing world.

·      Communication Media – cell phones, email, help people around the world connect.

·      Entertainment Media – movies, TV, video games, are used to entertain.

 

With all the information, technology, and entertainment that surround us, believers often struggle with the decision of using media in a way that pleases the Lord.

 

In order for us to make wise decisions when it comes to media we need to understand what the Bible says about or biblical principles that apply to media and entertainment.

 

Biblical Overview of Media:

 

Certainly there were no modern forms of communication and entertainment, during Bible times.  However, Bible times were not without their worldly pleasures.  Because these earthly pleasures, the apostle Paul warned believers about worldly influences and the way those worldly influences affect the mind.

 

External Influences of Media:  Rom. 1:29-31

 

Many events that happen in the world today are beyond our control and the same was true for the early church.  Many cities were known for their worldly external influences.  Corinth was known for its carnal perversions, Ephesus for its worship of pagan gods, and Rome for its fascination with violence.  In the book of Romans Paul listed many external sinful influences:

                        being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,^[a^] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy,              murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters,                                           inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,^[b^] unmerciful;

 

Believers today must recognize the similarities between those influences and the influences of our media today!   Many secular studies confirm that repeated exposure to violence, pornography, homosexuality, greed, lack of respect for family unit, and many other sinful acts have a dehumanizing effect on one’s mind.  When a person chooses to expose him or herself to these sins, he or she is more likely to justify the actions or to commit the sin.  Evil influences from media threaten to corrupt the hearts and minds of believers today.

 

Internal Warnings Concerning Media:  James 1:14-15

 

External influences often lead to internal choices, and the external influences of temptation can lead to sin.  The book of James explains how temptation leads to sin.

 

But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

 

·      First, a person recognizes the temptation.  Next that individual mulls over the temptation to determine if its right or wrong.  If the temptation is considered long enough, desire kicks in.  Once again the tempted person must make a decision: whether or not to give in?  Christ referred to the harm that comes from allowing wrong thoughts and ideas to take hold in our hearts.  When these desires are allowed in the mind, or heart, these things will lead to sinful acts.  Matt. 15:18-19

 

But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

 

Here is the bottom line:   The external influences that a person considers eventually determine the internal thinking that forms that person’s mind-set.  In other words, that person becomes what he or she watches…

 

Believers Response to Media:

 

We are what we think about!  The good news is that we can control the things that we listen to and watch that control our thinking.  God’s Word offers believers actions to guard their lives from sin.

 

·      Avoid Temptations:  II Tim. 2:22 - Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness

o   Joseph is a great example of just fleeing temptation from potiphars wife

·      Timothy also tells us to pursue:  Righteous Living

o   Not all media is bad, however God’s Word clearly teaches believers to pursue righteous living.  If the content of the media does not glorify God and if it glorifies sinful acts of man, then it is not the right kind of content to pursue.

o   We are to pursue:   Whole Armor of God

·      Meditating of Bible – Sword of Spirit

·      Guard our Heart from evil – Breastplate of Righteousness

·      Share Gospel – Gospel of Peace

·        Strive for Honesty – Belt of Truth

·      Stand firm in Faith – Shield of Faith