Entertainment
As with art, in order to be clear in my communication, I am defining entertainment as: the passive expression of philosophy through intentionally enjoyed participation (whether visual, verbal, or auditory).(1)
You've probably already noticed a very strong correlation between art and entertainment. And I think it would be fair (though I'm sure there may be exceptions) to say that, in general, entertainment is merely the enjoyment of some type of art. Why else do we go to museums, poetry recitals, concert halls, marching band or drum and bugle corp exhibitions (yes, I said it again ;), ballets, dances, plays, movies, sporting events, etc. if not intentionally to enjoy the art that some other person or group of people has created?
And just as the goal of producing art is to glorify God, so is the goal of enjoying entertainment - and for the very same reason:
You've probably already noticed a very strong correlation between art and entertainment. And I think it would be fair (though I'm sure there may be exceptions) to say that, in general, entertainment is merely the enjoyment of some type of art. Why else do we go to museums, poetry recitals, concert halls, marching band or drum and bugle corp exhibitions (yes, I said it again ;), ballets, dances, plays, movies, sporting events, etc. if not intentionally to enjoy the art that some other person or group of people has created?
And just as the goal of producing art is to glorify God, so is the goal of enjoying entertainment - and for the very same reason:
For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
(Rom. 11:36)
Now some might have a hard time reconciling the idea of enjoying entertainment to the glory of God. But as far as I can tell, not only can it be done, but it's something we as the image-bearers of God are given the distinct pleasure of doing. Since the first Saturday in the history of the world there has been a special day set aside for rest from work (Gen. 2:1-3; Ex. 20:8-11).
In resting from our work though, we are generally in need of something with which we can pass the time that is truly restful. Simply not doing work can sometimes be work because your mind continually goes back to all the things you want to get done or see accomplished, whether in personal or professional life. And so entertainment (or, enjoying art) is something with which God has provided us for that task.(2)
But how do we use entertainment to glorify God? Or how does our philosophy come out in the way we enjoy things?
Just as in work and labor or in creating art ourselves, the art we enjoy says much about our own philosophy. Is it right to enjoy (and support) entertainment that is at its very nature antithetical to the Christian message? Is it right to enjoy (and support) entertainment at all, if it isn't created under the Lordship of Christ or performed to the glory of God?
We of course must be cautious when entering this discussion (Prv. 22:3). We certainly don't want to throw caution to the wind and engulf ourselves in any form of entertainment whatsoever. Indeed some things in this world (including some forms of entertainment) are too wicked even to mention (Eph. 5:12). Yet there is much to be said about participating in entertainment and how we can glorify God in that endeavor.
As stated previously, it's a true tragedy that Christians have given up so much ground in the realm of art (in all its forms) over the last century or so. And so in some sense we must at this point reap what we sow when it comes to enjoying art (i.e., being entertained). For instance, I can't think of one TV show that is created under the Lordship of Christ or for the glory of God. Not one! And so just with that one example we have very few options if we are to pursue such entertainment.
Yet does that mean we can't be entertained at some of the things the world has to offer? I don't think it does. In fact, because of God's common grace given to all mankind, there are many things to be appreciated that are produced in the whole world of unbelief (not just in art and entertainment, but in science and technology as well).
When it comes to entertainment, though, I think our goal as Christians then is two-fold:
- Continue to appreciate the art produced by the unbelieving world for the beauty it does have, and offer redemptive critiques
- Start producing our own art with unparalleled beauty by using the gifts Christ has given us under His Lordship to the glory of God
What can I mean by this? Or what would this look like?
Man (even unbelieving man) cannot escape God (Ps. 139:7; Eccles. 3:11) or the innate knowledge he has of God (even if he outwardly suppresses that knowledge - Rom. 1:18-20). So when he produces art, there will many times be at least something in it that is reflective of the nature of man, the beauty of God's creation, the destructiveness of sin or evil, the need for redemption, the power of love, etc. And to the degree that these qualities (or others like them) are present - we ought to appreciate that type of art (i.e., we ought to be entertained by such things) and praise God for them (Phil. 4:8-9; Col. 3:17)!
Of course, in appreciating such things, we ought also to bear our Biblical criticism (in a humble but compelling manner) as part of redeeming art to the glory of God (Eph. 5:11, 13ff). In other words, we shouldn't just look at a painting, listen to a song, read a book, watch a TV show or a movie and then just think to ourselves about the good qualities of the artwork. We ought to intentionally reflect on where the artwork went wrong, what needs to be done for it to be redeemed to the glory of God, etc. And if we are parents, we certainly ought to be sharing these thoughts and discussing them with our children (Deut. 6:6-9; Eph. 6:4; cf. Eph. 4:14).
But in doing this, let us keep in mind Paul's manner of criticism when confronting the culture of his own day. Although he was very provoked by the abundance of idols in Athens (Acts 17:16), he recognized the the praiseworthy aspect of their "religiousness" (Acts 17:22)(3) but then explained to the Athenians the true God they were refusing to acknowledge and worship (Acts 17:23-29). He then went on and, from that platform, proclaimed the gospel message of Jesus Christ (Acts 17:30-31). This is the way in which we ought to criticize and redeem the art and entertainment of the world.
But we need much more than simply to appreciate the beauty of the world's art and entertainment and redeem the unbelieving rebellion of it. We truly need, as our own community of believers, having Christ as the Lord of our own culture, to produce our own art that is unparalleled in beauty.
This of course has the goal that as a continued part of the great commission, making disciples of all nations and transforming societies, cultures, and the entire world by passionate but humble persuasion through the work of the Holy Spirit by the power of the gospel - the world will then encounter a period of art and entertainment that it has never seen before, unmatched in beauty and depth and scope and praise. Because at that point, all the world will be producing the kind of art (and so enjoying it's value, i.e. be entertained by it) that has its root in the Lordship of Jesus Christ and its end in the glory of God.
Even if postmillennialism isn't the view of eschatology that you think the Scriptures teach, the above hope is still nonetheless a worthy goal toward which the church of God is compelled to strive (Mt. 28:18-20; Eph. 5:11ff).
In the interim, though, we certainly can take heart that enjoyment of entertainment is a good gift from God (Prv. 17:22). Though most of our life is to be dedicated to God-glorifying work (six in seven days are for working), there is an entire day set aside for worshipful refreshment and entertainment.(4) Yet even in that, it's our privilege and duty to be entertained in such a way as to glorify God (1 Cor. 15:31; Phil. 4:8-9; Col. 3:17).
(1) As also in the case of art, wen it comes to enjoying a form of entertainment it is usually difficult to express (especially passively) all that is encompassed in one's philosophy of life. Again, no matter in what form of entertainment one is participating, I would find it hard to express more than a few aspects of one's philosophy rather than a full-orbed view.
(2) We've seen in the previous section that God has sanctioned art as something to be pursued to His glory. Entertainment is the other side of that in that we're now enjoying the art God has allowed to be created.
(3) The word typically translated "religious" in Acts 17:22 is meant to be neither flattering nor insulting. It seems it was meant to convey that there was something they understood correctly about the nature of man and his need for worship. Paul then uses that to explain to them what they're actually suppressing in what they do know about God. For an excellent study on the nature of Paul's discourse at the Areopagus - and the work to which I am indebted for this knowledge - I highly recommend:
Bahnsen, Greg L., Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith, 1996: Nacogdoches, Texas, Covenant Media Foundation, pp 235-273.
(4) I'm not saying that the day of worship is to be a day of entertaining or that worship services ought to be conducted in a manner of entertainment as the world defines those terms. However, if entertainment is the passive enjoyment of art, and art is the active expression of philosophy, and theology (Christian philosophy) and worship are an integral part of the corporate gathering of churches, then in that sense I am saying Sunday mornings ought to be entertaining in that they ought to take our minds off daily work, refresh them with the restfulness of God (Mt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:9-11ff), and allow us to humbly and gracefully appreciate all that the Lord has done for us, is doing for us, and promises to do for us in the future.
I'm not going to enter the Sabbatarian debate here. For arguments for and against the different views, I'd recommend the links found on monergism.
(2) We've seen in the previous section that God has sanctioned art as something to be pursued to His glory. Entertainment is the other side of that in that we're now enjoying the art God has allowed to be created.
(3) The word typically translated "religious" in Acts 17:22 is meant to be neither flattering nor insulting. It seems it was meant to convey that there was something they understood correctly about the nature of man and his need for worship. Paul then uses that to explain to them what they're actually suppressing in what they do know about God. For an excellent study on the nature of Paul's discourse at the Areopagus - and the work to which I am indebted for this knowledge - I highly recommend:
Bahnsen, Greg L., Always Ready: Directions for Defending the Faith, 1996: Nacogdoches, Texas, Covenant Media Foundation, pp 235-273.
(4) I'm not saying that the day of worship is to be a day of entertaining or that worship services ought to be conducted in a manner of entertainment as the world defines those terms. However, if entertainment is the passive enjoyment of art, and art is the active expression of philosophy, and theology (Christian philosophy) and worship are an integral part of the corporate gathering of churches, then in that sense I am saying Sunday mornings ought to be entertaining in that they ought to take our minds off daily work, refresh them with the restfulness of God (Mt. 11:28-30; Heb. 4:9-11ff), and allow us to humbly and gracefully appreciate all that the Lord has done for us, is doing for us, and promises to do for us in the future.
I'm not going to enter the Sabbatarian debate here. For arguments for and against the different views, I'd recommend the links found on monergism.