Saturday, February 12, 2011

Good fun vs. bad fun

Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Some religions say that playing cards is sinful. Some forbid dancing. There are people who believe that most types of music are evil—rock & roll, country and rap, to name a few. Others won’t let their children watch TV or go to the movies, let alone play video games.

How do you decide which kinds of entertainment are God-pleasing and which are not? The measuring stick to use is the Bible; Paul says whatever you do, do it…for the glory of God. Whether it is dancing or playing games or watching a show, the first question should always be, 'does this activity serve God in some way?' Let’s consider a variety of examples.

In the Bible, people danced—they danced a lot. And God approves of dancing; when the nation of Israel was being punished for the sins of her people, listen to the promise God speaks to give them hope: I will build you up again…O…Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful (Jeremiah 31:4). So when does dancing become inappropriate behavior? If you dance because you are happy, there’s nothing wrong with that—after all, God wants us to enjoy life. In the Bible, God’s people frequently danced as a way to show how happy they were because of God’s blessings. But dancing can take on another character; it can be a way to show off, which is selfish and can stimulate unhealthy sexual appetites in others. When dancing is about vanity or seduction, it does not give glory to God and should be avoided.

The Bible is also full of music—as a matter of fact, the Psalms were written to be sung. People frequently sang praises to the Lord, accompanied by stringed instruments, woodwinds and trumpets. Psalm 150 says, Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Music also aids in learning—it is much easier to memorize words when they are accompanied with melody, which is why we use music to teach children the alphabet, basic math, the states of the nation and the books of the Bible. Studies show that students enrolled in music programs perform better academically than those who do not. A pleasant melody can lift the soul; the words of a hymn can teach you God’s word as surely as any sermon. But music can also have a dark side. Depressing melodies can reinforce dark emotions. Hateful words can encourage acts of violence. Music can seduce people into behaviors that God does not approve of, by making perversion seem interesting, exciting, and pleasurable. Such music does not encourage behavior that glorifies God.

Watching TV shows and movies raises a different kind of concern. In a country where most people sit at desks or behind the wheel of a vehicle, time spent watching is time when much needed exercise does not take place. Furthermore, movies and television shows need to make a profit, and the most consistent profit-makers are sex and violence. Many believe that what we watch shapes our values, that Hollywood is destroying the morals of America. Of course, the Bible has nothing to say about television broadcasts or the cinema; but God does speak about the kinds of ideas that you fill your head with. In Colossians chapter 2 Paul writes, See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ. Television and movies can make the Bible come alive by recreating the historical events found in its pages. TV can keep us up to date on the news, so we know who needs our prayers. Documentaries can help us understand the world around us. Even a fictional story can reinforce good morals and show what God-pleasing behavior looks like in a world distorted by sin. But TV and the movies often promote immoral behavior as good and acceptable; these types of ideas do not lead to Christian growth and should be avoided.

What about playing sports? Sometimes the Bible refers to athletic competition as a way to teach us about training for life. For instance, Hebrews chapter 12 says let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Sports can develop muscles and coordination; this is good, because we need healthy bodies to serve God to the best of our abilities. Team sports also teach cooperation, a skill that every person needs. But sports can get ugly when winning becomes the chief objective. When competition gets out of control, you get problems like steroid abuse and gambling; you get players who brag and teammates who are consumed with jealousy. A drive to win at all costs does not give glory to God.

For a long time, religious leaders have frowned on card playing. At best, it was seen as a waste of time; at its worst, it was a gateway to gambling. Card games are not mentioned in the Bible, meaning that we have no clear word of God on the subject. Scripture does tell us to use God’s gifts responsibly, which is why we discourage gambling; but what about card games that don’t involve the exchange of money? Playing cards can exercise our minds as we try to remember which cards were played and calculate our odds of winning a hand. Every Christian needs their wits about them as they try to be effective workers for Christ in a sinful world—in fact, Jesus said I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16). A sharp mind is definitely an asset. At the same time, however, gambling is a very real addiction for many people, depleting bank accounts and destroying marriages. Paul warned, the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10). When card playing starts consuming your time or resources, God is not being honored or served.

Video games have exploded in popularity in recent years, but in some ways they are really nothing new—they are simply the outgrowth of pinball machines and foosball tables. What worries many parents are the types of games that involve shooting people, stealing cars, or blowing things up. Are video games a bad influence on those who play them? Recent studies have shown that kids who play benefit from improved eye/hand coordination and develop superior reflexes, so there are some benefits that can be gained for use in service to God. However, games that show antisocial behavior without significant consequences do not encourage Christian behavior, and should be avoided.

In 1st Corinthians chapter six Paul writes, "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. As we consider Paul’s warning, addictive behavior comes to mind. For example, the Bible does not forbid drinking alcohol, but it does forbid drunkenness. When a person becomes drunk, her love for alcohol has taken control of her, damaging her health and encouraging behavior that might hurt others as well. Our sinful inclinations can take any kind of fun and run off in a direction that ignores God and gets us into trouble.

It is important to remember that life is not about fun, but about loving service. Fun is to life as dessert is to a meal. You can’t remain healthy if you skip meats, vegetables and fruit so you can fill up on chocolate; in the same way, you cannot be the kind of person who honors God if the bulk of your energy is focused on making yourself feel good. Paul writes, Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body (1 Corinthisna 6:19-20).

You were bought at a price—that price was the life of God’s own Son. He suffered to purchase your freedom from living under the compulsion to sin. He died to purchase your release from a never ending, sick fascination with everything that is ugly, degrading, and deadly to your spiritual health. Jesus endured hell on the cross, the hell that your sins deserved. You were bought at a price so staggering that we cannot begin to grasp its full extent.

Jesus did this because He cares about you. He wants you to find joy in your life, but far more importantly, He wants you to enjoy heaven instead of suffering in hell. But Jesus did not go through everything He did just so you can live it up; He freed you from evil’s grip so that you can serve God with your life. Paul says, We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). And why do we do these good works? Jesus says, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16). These words take us back to how I started this meditation: Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

Recreational activities can be a way to share with others the joy that God has given us. Leisure pursuits can also be a release when we are feeling stressed by the pressures of life, a way to blow off steam in an appropriate way. Having fun only becomes a problem when we let it distract us from God-pleasing behavior. True happiness is not found by attending parties or playing games; true happiness comes from saying "thank you" to Jesus by living your life in His service. Remember that back in December many people were saying "Jesus is the reason for the season"? I’d like to rephrase that motto just a little: "Jesus is the reason for every season."

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