What should Christians watch? Is there something in the Bible that tells us what entertainment to look for or if movies or TV shows are bad? How do we know if something is family-friendly? Let’s dive into ways we can find out if something is worth our time to enjoy.
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It seems like there are new books and movies coming out everyday. Probably because that’s the case.
We have access to a variety of media from audiobooks to TV series that we can stream from anyplace. It’s easy to sit down and start consuming something without really thinking about it!
The hard part is deciding what is appropriate, especially as Christians.
How do you know if there is subliminal messaging? What if you get part way into a movie or show and there is an inappropriate scene? How do you protect your children from everything that is out there?
Christian Families Making Good Choices
Start by teaching your children about making good media choices!
Teaching media literacy from a Christian perspective is the first step in making good choices about what to watch.
Helping your family understand what to look for will make it easier for them to find films or shows that are appropriate. It also will help them turn off the screen or change the channel when things turn away from what God wants them to watch.
It’s better to teach your children how to fish than to hand them the fish every time they need to eat. In other words, it’s better they learn how to choose good media rather than turning on the TV every time they want to watch something.
You won’t be with your kids forever, picking the good Christian shows, so help them learn to “catch” good entertainment without you!
This means you will have to be present with them, talk through plot lines and situations and help them understand what is Godly entertainment. Read the Bible with them, memorize scripture and help them learn what their Heavenly Father expects from them.
To learn more about navigating media and entertainment, check out this resource I’ve created. It includes 40 pages of information, scriptures and printable worksheets to help your children learn about making healthy Christian choices in regard to what they consume. Available on Etsy!
What Should Christians Watch?
The better question is what should you as a Christian watch? This is unique to each person and family. We all have different perspectives and outlooks on life, as well as different struggles.
Humour is the perfect example. Everyone has different tastes in what they find funny. What might be a knee-slapper to one person is rude to another. So knowing that we can’t lump every genre and every film together in one category as something Christians should (or shouldn’t) watch.
It’s more what you feel led to watch or be entertained with. If the Holy Spirit is nudging you to turn off the TV, take it as a sign that it isn’t something that should be in your library.
Read scriptures that will help guide your decisions. Start with these:
Proverbs 4:23
Philippians 4:8
Romans 12:2
Should Christians Watch Disney or Horror or Romance or Nickelodeon…
I wrote about whether or not Christians should watch Disney (check out that post for more details), and explained that because Disney is such a big company it’s hard to avoid every film or show produced by them.
And Disney has some really fantastic films (like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), so it’s difficult to say it’s all bad.
It’s the same with other companies or genres. Whether or not you watch something is personal conviction. Let me say this, if you are asking the question whether or not you should watch something, take it to God in prayer. There is a good chance the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and it is time to listen.
Check Out a Movie Before You Watch It
Of course, one of the benefits of the internet is websites that you can use to check ratings and reviews of movies before you watch them. These are fantastic tools to preview a film without watching it and deciding if is something your family would enjoy.
These are my two favourite Christian websites:
Christian Spotlight on Entertainment
Plugged In (by Focus on the Family)
Christian Homes Are Joy-Filled Homes
Remember that God wants you to be filled with joy. He wants you to enjoy your life! For some people, television and movies bring great joy, and that’s okay. There is a lot to appreciate in films; artistry, acting, score (music) and plot lines, to name a few.
It’s okay to watch non-Christian films so long as they do not affect your heart and mind (Proverbs 4:23) or start to turn you (or your family) into wayward things. Be wise in what you choose, always refer back to scripture and enjoy the gifts God has given people to create entertainment!
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