Balancing the Christian Life: Video Games, TV, Movies, Sports, Music, iPhones, iPads, Facebook, Etc.

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This article addresses mainly video games, but the litmus test contained within applies to many other forms of entertainment that can distract our attention from knowing and loving God and serving His people (Video Games, TV, Movies, Sports, Music, iPhones, iPads, Facebook, Etc.).  

 

Princess Warriors (and Prince Warriors) cannot allow worldly pursuits to dominate our thoughts and time. We are at war. The enemy is prowling. Satan does not take time off from trying to destroy us. We must be vigilant and watchful over our hearts and minds and what we allow into them. Every soldier must rest, but we must rest in Christ. He must never leave our thoughts and we must honor Him in all that we do. Only what we do for our King will be able to stand the test of time and will be rewarded greatly. 

 

When we make Christ our priority and live for Him we are storing up treasures in heaven. We are laying hold of something precious and priceless. But, when we pursue the world and what it has to offer...when we are following after that shiny bright "thing" off in the distance, we will be horrified when we see that it was only a broken mirror and realize that we missed the true and real treasure.

 

This article is not to condemn (for I have been convicted as well), but to equip...to help you and I become all that we can be for the One who saved us and loves us more than we know. 

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Question: "Should a Christian play video games?"

Answer: Completed nearly 2000 years ago, God’s Word does not explicitly teach whether or not a Christian should play video games. But the Bible’s principles still apply today regarding the best use of our time. When God shows us that a specific activity is controlling our lives, we should break away from it for a time. This “fast” could be from food, movies, sports, TV, music, video games, anything that distracts our attention from knowing and loving God and serving His people. While some of these things may not be bad in and of themselves, they become idols if they distract us from our first love (Colossians 3:5; Revelation 2:4). Below are some principles to consider, whether the question is regarding video games, TV, movies, sports, or any other earthly pursuit.

1. Will video games edify or merely entertain me? To edify means to build up. Will playing video games build up your love for God, knowledge of Him, and ministry to others? “‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible’—but not everything is constructive” (1 Corinthians 10:23-24; Romans 14:19). When God gives us relaxation time, we should find uplifting activities to enjoy. Do we choose permissible over praiseworthy activities? When we have a choice between good, better, and best, we should choose the best (Galatians 5:13-17).

2. Will playing video games obey self-will or God’s will? God’s will for His children can be summed up in His greatest commandment: “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Luke 10:27). Our will has been polluted by sin. Because we have been saved from our selfish desires, we should surrender our will (Philippians 3:7-9). God’s will transforms our will (Psalm 143:10). Progressively, His desires for us become our deepest desires as well.

Many people believe the will of God is boring and humiliating. They picture a monk in a lonely monastery or a resentful church janitor. On the contrary, people who follow God’s will for their lives are the most joyful, adventurous people ever. Reading biographies of history’s heroes such Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Corrie Ten Boom, and George Mueller will verify that. Certainly, these saints faced difficulty from the world, their own flesh, and the devil. They may not have had much of this world’s possessions, but God accomplished great works through them. At first, His will seems impossible and too holy to be any fun, but God will give us the power to perform it and the desires to delight in it. “I delight to do Your will, O my God” (Psalm 40:8a; see Hebrews 13:21).

3. Does the video game glorify God? Some video games glorify violence, lewdness, and dumb decisions (e.g., “I’m out of the race, so I’ll just wreck my car”). As Christians, our activities should bring glory to God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and help us to grow in the knowledge and grace of Christ.

4. Will playing video games result in good works? “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10; see also Titus 2:11-14 and 1 Peter 2:15). Laziness and selfishness violate God’s purpose for us—to do good works to others (1 Corinthians 15:58; see also Galatians 6:9-10).

5. Will playing video games exhibit self-control? Many people have said that video games can become an addiction or an obsession. There is no room in the Christian life for such things. Paul compares the Christian life to an athlete disciplining his body so he may win the prize. Christians have a greater motivation to live a set-apart life of self-control—eternal reward in heaven (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

6. Will playing video games redeem the time? You will give account for how you use your limited minutes. Spending hours at a time playing a video game can hardly be called a good use of time. “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is” (Ephesians 5:15-17). “Live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God” (1 Peter 4:2; see also Colossians 4:5, James 4:14, and 1 Peter 1:14-22).

7. Does it pass the test of Philippians 4:8? “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). When you play video games, is your mind focused on godly or secular things?

8. Will playing video games fit in with my life purpose? Paul wrote that in the final days people would be “…lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:4). Western culture fits that description. We love to play. Non-Christians become addicted to entertainment such as movies, sports, and music because they do not have a purpose higher than to enjoy life before death. These amusements cannot truly satisfy (Ecclesiastes 2:1). When Christians become addicted to the same things as non-Christians, can we truly say that we are exhibiting the new life “in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe” (Philippians 2:15)? Or do we prove to others that we are really no different than they are and that Christ has not made a significant difference in our lives?

Paul considered knowing, loving, and obeying God to be his highest priority. “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ....I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,” (Philippians 3:7-10). Will playing video games be showing my love for God or my love for the things of the world? (1 John 2:15-17).

9. Will playing video games give me an eternal focus? Christians have hope of eternal rewards in heaven if they are faithful on earth (see Matthew 6:19-21 and 1 Corinthians 3:11-16). If we focus on living for eternity rather than the passing pleasures of earth, we will have surrendered resources, time, and hearts for ministry (Colossians 3:1-2; 23-24). If our possessions or activities cause us to lose our eternal rewards, of what worth are they (Luke 12:33-37)? Christians often try to serve both God and their own desires. But Jesus clearly stated, “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24). God gives us joy through times of work and rest (Ecclesiastes 5:19; Matthew 11:28-29; Colossians 3:23-24). We must find that balance between labor and recreation. When we do set aside time for relaxation as Jesus did (Mark 6:31), we should choose an edifying activity.

The question is not “Can I play video games?” but “Would video games be the best choice?” Will this edify me, show love to my neighbor, and glorify God? We are to pursue praiseworthy activities, not simply permissible ones. However He leads you, passionately follow Him above all else. Prepare for eternity. Every sacrifice will seem insignificant when we meet Jesus.

Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Balancing the Christian Life by Charles Ryrie. 

For Christian reviews of current games, we recommend - http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/games/.

While he is not the author of every article on GotQuestions.org, for citation purposes, you may reference our CEO, S. Michael Houdmann.

Read more: http://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-video-games.html#ixzz2Ws6i61vT

Other Resource: http://www.pluggedin.com/  

Plugged In is a Focus on the Family publication designed to shine a light on the world of popular entertainment while giving families the essential tools they need to understand, navigate and impact the culture in which they live. Through our reviews, articles and discussions, we hope to spark intellectual thought, spiritual growth and a desire to follow the command of Colossians 2:8: "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."

A Doorknob

The Pharisaical approach is the epitome of legalism. It occurs when we obey God's Moral Law to "earn" God's love and "attain" God's righteousness. 

Key symptoms may include:

• Striving 
• A lack of the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)
• A consistent lack of motivation for things like prayer or Bible reading
• Quite often, the commands of God feel like a curse
• Obedience feels hard
• God routinely feels distant or perhaps disinterested

On the other hand, we have the grace-driven approach. This occurs when we understand God's free gift of grace. Shockingly, our righteousness has nothing to do with our behavior. God scandalously applies righteousness to our sin-drenched souls out of pure generosity.  

Key symptoms may include:

• Feeling like you just won the lottery 
• A desire to shout and scream like a crazy person
• A strong desire to meet with this God over and over in prayer

In a grace-driven approach, we don't obey because we have to but because we want to. The Moral Law, which condemned us outside of Christ, has now become our worship list. Obedience is now just one of the fun ways we say thanks to Him while He drenches us with favor; it naturally flows from our lives. Christianity is not a process in which we earn love; it's a process in which we reflect love. Or as it's often said, "We are not saved by good works. We are saved for good works!"

For the Christian, the Bible isn't a list of requirements but a list of results after experiencing God's love. Righteousness is not the reward of living rightly. It's the unmerited gift that, once understood, irresistibly results in right living. And suddenly the motivating energy that drives our quest for morality changes from striving to being thankful for what God has already done in and through us. This has a profound effect on how joy-filled and grateful your faith becomes and has a dramatic effect on how you motivate those around you to serve the Lord.

So which of these two approaches do you live out more? If you're like me, you probably vacillate between the two of them quite often. So the real questions become: How do we stop this craziness? How do we tip ourselves into the grace-driven approach once and for all?

Truth be told, it's incredibly easy to pick up burdens that God never called us to carry (Matthew 11:28). Even more, there's still a part of us that wants to earn God's righteousness. And why? Grace just doesn't seem fair! And, honestly, it's not fair. But you're lying to yourself if you think you can start earning His love. So allow me to give you a better analogy of who you are in Christ. I hope this will thoroughly persuade you to abandon all of your legalistic pursuits once and for all.

I've always liked celebrity auctions because they reveal how silly we all are. Some famous person blows their nose, and the rest of us immediately start bidding on the tissue. Then we can brag about our majestically framed snot-rag (and how it reveals our tight bond with the blower) when our friends come over. Our secret hope is that it will make them want to be our friends even more. (At least that's how it worked for me in fifth grade when I got my favorite professional wrestler's autograph.)

A while ago the news reported that someone spent a fanatical amount of money purchasing a creaky old doorknob from the estate sale of Marilyn Monroe. It was mind-blowing what this stupid old doorknob sold for. Of course it wasn't even a high-quality doorknob, not that I'm a doorknob expert. But I certainly know it had no intrinsic value except for the fact that it belonged to Marilyn Monroe.

It's the same way for those of us who belong to Christ. On our own, we're just another doorknob. What makes us special is that Jesus touched us. Just as the doorknob in the auction had gained merit by being associated with Marilyn Monroe, our merit comes from being associated with Christ. Now you might still be tempted to say, "But God: Look at me! I'm a freaking great doorknob! I read my Bible more than others. I even return rogue shopping carts in the grocery store parking lot." May I lovingly remind you that you're still an old doorknob.

by Peter Haas

Excerpted from Pharisectomy: How to Joyfully Remove Your Inner Pharisee and other Religiously Transmitted Diseases by Peter Haas. Copyright 2012 by Peter Haas. Published by Influence Resources.

 

Why I Hate Religion Video

Why I Hate Religion Video Raises Question If 'Religion' Is Opposed to 'Gospel'

Sun, Jan. 15, 2012 Posted: 10:42 AM EDT

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A lot of attention has been paid to Jefferson Bethke’s video "Why I Hate Religion But Love Jesus". Jefferson is a great, humble, teachable brother who loves the gospel. But the response to his video has been varied. Many love it. Others hate it. And still others have raised a caution flag – uncomfortable with the way “religion” is often contrasted with the gospel.

Wary of the trend amongst younger evangelicals to justify their jettisoning of the institutional church and theological traditions and the importance of obeying God in favor of a vague, individualistic, a-theological, a-historical, version of modern licentious spirituality by saying “All of that other stuff is religion…and Jesus hates religion,” is a point of contention for those who questioned the fruitfulness of Jefferson’s video. If that’s what people think when they hear the word “religion,” then I understand the concern. I too am concerned by the individualistic, church despising, “moralistic therapeutic deism” that seems so palatable and popular amongst some younger evangelicals today.

But, this does raise some important questions. For example, in the Bible, is the word “religion” ever opposed to the gospel? Or, is the main idea of “religion” opposed to the main idea of the gospel? What about what people hear when they hear the word “religion”? Do they hear the word and understand something different than what the Bible says about the gospel? Good questions. Obviously words have their meaning in context and thankfully Jefferson provided context for his use of the word “religion” in the video by writing on his website:

[This is] a poem I wrote to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. In the scriptures Jesus received the most opposition from the most religious people of his day. At it’s core Jesus’ gospel and the good news of the Cross is in pure opposition to self-righteousness/self-justification. Religion is man centered, Jesus is God-centered. This poem highlights my journey to discover this truth.

Regardless of what you think about the video, Jefferson’s definition of “religion” above and Tim Keller’s definition of “religion” below does highlight a crucial distinction between “religion” and the gospel (a distinction that, ironically, even those who raised concerns about the video agree with).

Justifying the contrast between religion and the gospel, Tim Keller has pointed out that the Greek word for “religion” used in James 1 is used negatively in Colossians 2:18 where it describes false asceticism, fleshly works-righteousness, and also in Acts 26:5 where Paul speaks of his pre-Christian life in strict “religion.” It is also used negatively in the Apocrypha to describe idol worship in Wis 14:18 and 27. So, according to Keller, the word certainly has enough negative connotations to use as a fair title for the category of works-righteousness. In the Old Testament the prophets are devastating in their criticism of empty ritual and religious observances designed to bribe and appease God rather then serving, trusting, and loving him. The word “religion” isn’t used for this approach, but it’s a good way to describe what the prophets are condemning.

Keller goes on to tease out this distinction with this helpful comparison list:

RELIGION: I obey-therefore I’m accepted.
THE GOSPEL: I’m accepted-therefore I obey.

RELIGION: Motivation is based on fear and insecurity.
THE GOSPEL: Motivation is based on grateful joy.

RELIGION: I obey God in order to get things from God.
THE GOSPEL: I obey God to get to God-to delight and resemble Him.

RELIGION: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I am angry at God or my self, since I believe, like Job’s friends that anyone who is good deserves a comfortable life.
THE GOSPEL: When circumstances in my life go wrong, I struggle but I know all my punishment fell on Jesus and that while he may allow this for my training, he will exercise his Fatherly love within my trial.

RELIGION: When I am criticized I am furious or devastated because it is critical that I think of myself as a ‘good person’. Threats to that self-image must be destroyed at all costs.
THE GOSPEL: When I am criticized I struggle, but it is not critical for me to think of myself as a ‘good person.’ My identity is not built on my record or my performance but on God’s love for me in Christ. I can take criticism.

RELIGION: My prayer life consists largely of petition and it only heats up when I am in a time of need. My main purpose in prayer is control of the environment.
THE GOSPEL: My prayer life consists of generous stretches of praise and adoration. My main purpose is fellowship with Him.

RELIGION: My self-view swings between two poles. If and when I am living up to my standards, I feel confident, but then I am prone to be proud and unsympathetic to failing people. If and when I am not living up to standards, I feel insecure and inadequate. I’m not confident. I feel like a failure.
THE GOSPEL: My self-view is not based on a view of my self as a moral achiever. In Christ I am “simul iustus et peccator”-simultaneously sinful and yet accepted in Christ. I am so bad he had to die for me and I am so loved he was glad to die for me. This leads me to deeper and deeper humility and confidence at the same time. Neither swaggering nor sniveling.

RELIGION: My identity and self-worth are based mainly on how hard I work. Or how moral I am, and so I must look down on those I perceive as lazy or immoral. I disdain and feel superior to ‘the other.
THE GOSPEL: My identity and self-worth are centered on the one who died for His enemies, who was excluded from the city for me. I am saved by sheer grace. So I can’t look down on those who believe or practice something different from me. Only by grace I am what I am. I’ve no inner need to win arguments.

RELIGION: Since I look to my own pedigree or performance for my spiritual acceptability, my heart manufactures idols. It may be my talents, my moral record, my personal discipline, my social status, etc. I absolutely have to have them so they serve as my main hope, meaning, happiness, security, and significance, whatever I may say I believe about God.
THE GOSPEL: I have many good things in my life-family, work, spiritual disciplines, etc. But none of these good things are ultimate things to me. None of them are things I absolutely have to have, so there is a limit to how much anxiety, bitterness, and despondency they can inflict on me when they are threatened and lost.

So let’s not lose sight of the fact that, as defined by these two brothers, there is an antithetical relationship between religion (the burden of achieving rescue and right standing with God) and the gospel (the blessing of receiving rescue and a right standing with God in Christ alone).

One final thought: as I mentioned above, for a thousand different reasons people hear different things and draw different conclusions when they hear the same words (Cornelius Van Til). So, let’s not forget as missionaries that if the gospel is ever going to reach people in our day it’s going to have to be distinguished from religion (as described above) because “religion” is what most people outside the church think Christianity is all about-rules and standards and behavior and cleaning yourself up and politics and social causes and ascetic appeasement and self-salvation and climbing the “ladder”, and a whole host of other things that Jefferson rightly points out.

Soli Deo Gloria!

by Tullian Tchividjian

Source:

http://www.christianpost.com/news/why-i-hate-religion-video

Copyright © Christianpost.com. All rights reserved.

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I recently posted this video on The Princess Warrior Ministries Facebook page. The other day I saw a negative reaction to the video in another area of the internet so I decided to do a little research and came across this article. I thought it very informative as to the thoughts behind the creation of the video. I think this article gives a great explanation, but I would like to give you my thoughts as well on the word, "Religion".

In James 1:27, the Bible gives us a definition of "religion" -- "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." In this verse, religion seems to be a positive thing, showing a compassionate attitude of the heart. BUT, in it's context, it is conveying the fact that we can be doing right things for all the wrong reasons. When a person has a true relationship with Jesus Christ we have God's Holy Spirit residing within us and because of this only do we have the desire to help those in need and to keep ourselves separate from the things of the world. However, there are those who "do good" to try to earn access to God and/or to elevate themselves above others. The motive behind the act is not to glorify God in doing His will and coming to Him, His way -- it is to make our own way and that, my friend, leaves the heart unchanged.

The verse (26) preceding the definition of religion states, "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Matthew Henry's commentary says, "When men (or women) take more pains to seem religious than really to be so, it is a sign their religion is in vain. The not bridling the tongue, readiness to speak of the faults of others, or to lessen their wisdom and piety, are signs of a vain religion. The man who has a slandering tongue, cannot have a truly humble, gracious heart. False religious may be known by their impurity and uncharitableness. True religion teaches us to do every thing as in the presence of God. An unspotted life must go with unfeigned love and charity. Our true religion is equal to the measure in which these things have place in our hearts and conduct. And let us remember, that nothing avails in Christ Jesus, but faith that worketh by love, purifies the heart, subdues carnal lusts, and obeys God's commands."

Religion is an attitude and intent of the heart and is driven by either faith in God or faith in "self". In Jesus Christ, our religion is pure and motivated by our love and devotion to Him. When self gets involved it is motivated by our need to be in control and make our own way to God instead of the way He has pointed us to...through His Son, and His Son only. God is not the author of confusion. There are not many ways, there is One way, and Jesus tells us that HE is the way, the truth, and the life, and NO ONE comes to the Father, but through Him (John 14:6) No amount of "good deeds" will ever bring us to God. It doesn't matter if we feed a thousand widows or give clothing to ten thousand orphans...there is still only One way.

If you've never realized that before today, then now is a good time to make it right. Every person on their own journey comes to the crossroad of life. There is One way, leading to glorious life eternal and another, leading to destruction and eternal separation from God. To go down the road of life eternal a few things must happen -- we must realize and comprehend that WE have sinned against a holy and righteous God. "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) And God says, "There is none righteous, no, NOT ONE." (Romans 3:10) We have broken His laws and He is the Righteous Judge, who being a good judge, must bring us to justice. God said, "For the wages of sin IS DEATH!" (Romans 6:23a) God means spiritual death (an eternity in hell, away from His presence...forever). BUT, because of His great love for us, He offered up His own Son in our place. Jesus Christ, the perfect, spotless Lamb of God was slaughtered and paid the sin debt for the whole world -- for all sins: past, present, and future.

In the second part of Romans 6:23, it says, "But the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. God has given us the most precious gift we could ever receive. It is a free pardon through the sacrifice of His only Son, BUT this gift (pardon) MUST be accepted and you must place your trust in Jesus and what He did to acquit you of your sins. So, when we accept God's Pardon we receive eternal life and will have a home with Him forever.

Our belief leads us to repentance (turning from the things of the world to God), and confession (laying our sins out before God and asking Him for His forgiveness). So, now our changed heart causes us to do good works, not to earn our way to God and not to make ourselves look righteous, but because the Holy Spirit of God now resides in us, imparting to us the love and compassion of the Savior.

But, we can bypass this road and choose the other by opting to "not believe" or we can try to make our own way to God. This road, however, does not end well. God is not there. This road ends in our destruction, torment, and separation from Him forever and ever. It will end in a place where there is weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. It will end in a place called hell.

My friend, it is VERY important, that we examine ourselves. Do we belong to God? Are we on the right road? Are there signs in our lives that we have accepted His Pardon? I pray so!

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

• Are You Good Enough To Go To Heaven?  
• Put On The Parachute!  
• Proofs Of Genuine Salvation 

For His Glory,

The Princess Warrior

Visit me on Facebook @ https://www.facebook.com/WandaPrincessWarrior


Copyright Information 
Copyright © 2009 The Princess Warrior Ministries. All articles are copyrighted on the date they are posted, unless otherwise indicated. All rights reserved. Permission granted for not-for-sale reproduction in exact form including copyright and web address. Other uses require written permission. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture references are taken from the King James Bible.