Entertainment: Our Chief Distraction
Has anyone else stayed home to catch the newest episode of a exciting TV show? Or gotten irritated by a text message because it interrupted the video game on your phone? Or lost sleep staying up too late watching videos?
No? Okay, maybe it’s just me. But that’s why this quote pricks my heart.
“How can you pull down strongholds of Satan if you don’t even have the strength to turn off your TV?” (Leonard Ravenhill)
A Good Spiritual Metaphor
I find this image powerful. A woman stands alone on a sand dune at night. There’s no sign of water. No cacti. No nighttime desert creatures scurrying about. All her attention is captured by the suggestive image tumbling out of the gigantic TV screen, into her real world.
Desert: An addiction to entertainment makes us shallow Christians, with a barren inner life.
Nothing Lives There: It distracts us from putting in the time to go deeper with God, the source of life.
Her Attention is Captured: This addiction strengthens our flesh, because we become self-indulgent and absorbed in imaginary lives, instead of living our own.
The Suggestive Image: Most story lines make sin very appealing and show few real-world consequences.
When we’re addicted to entertaining ourselves, the devil changes us into passive viewers instead of active threats to his kingdom.
Shallow entertainment is one of the main ways the devil steals from us.
Paul’s Warning to Believers from Prison
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 RSV)
Our limited time on earth is a precious gift from our Creator and He wants us to use it wisely. I believe the Lord has a divine purpose for each of us.
But we can miss it
So how are you spending the moments of your life today?
And how am I spending mine?
This image came from Pixabay.com.
Resources:
Here’s a second quote by Leonard Ravenhill on the same subject.
“Entertainment is the devil’s substitute for joy.” (Leonard Ravenhill)
Entertainment is also a substitute for community. It takes the place of people who might mourn when we mourn. It’s available when other people are preoccupied or unwilling to face difficult realities.
Very insightful, Carlene. Thanks. Please feel free to comment anytime. -Maureen