Here is a example of men who provide entertainment and it costs them everything putting themselves in great danger like bull riding.
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There is no place a person can go in the current culture of America to avoid entertainment offerings.
We were reminded lately of our own carnal past before we were born again in Christ. It is seemingly ALWAYS the time of year when there is a sports entertainment craziness.
Games will be watched, bet on, products advertised, millions watch it worldwide and billions of dollars are made on a game of tossing some ball around. It seems our country (and the world for that matter) is seemingly seeking for and to be entertained around the clock and calendar that it has no end. There is a myriad of options for anyone who desires to sit before their TV, go to shows or use their computer and view endless hours of events, reruns, movies, sitcoms, talk shows, news and yes, sports.
Is this connection to the world and a constant feeding of the flesh consistent with a holy follower of Jesus Christ? You shall see as you read on.
I was once a big TV watcher and a sports freak as well; like so many people here in central Wisconsin are. All of that changed when I committed my life to Jesus, began to read His Word and go deep into how to apply it to one's life. I was changed by the Word of God and now we call out to others for God's glory. This is a topic that we (born again followers of Christ) need to know well and how to discern it using the Holy Word. There are many stumbling blocks in our path and also many great opportunities to witness the truth to others. This will also allow us to stand against the pressures to compromise and to guide us in our choices and ways before Him. There are so many temptations, carnal offerings, impure and out right evils in entertainment and yet very little to NOTHING of it is of redeeming quality for service to a Holy God. This discerning and gleaning of the world's offerings from your life will cause divisions among family, friends and even within the body of Christ so we must get it correct for God's glory. Jesus said it would be so including divisions in families. (See Matthew 10)
Many will say to us when we are asked about entertainment; so why are you against it and what is wrong with it? There are plenty of things that a person or family can do together for some away time to recharge themselves just as Jesus did in God's Word. (That would be called recreation....re-creation to be exact.) Secondly the better question to ask yourself is what is right about your choice of worldly entertainment and does it glorify the Lord? Let's look at this topic closer using the Word of God, as our opinions are quite meaningless.
Let us first start by asking ourselves who is our ultimate example that we are to follow in this life? Are we to be like the lost around us or the Lord and those who handed down to us the knowledge of faith that saves us in the end? Does the Holy Word tell us we are to be like Jesus Christ or the world? Does it tell us we also should imitate the Apostles Paul? Here are some verses to help us see clearly from His Word that we are indeed to imitate them.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 1 John 2:6
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps
1 Peter 2:21
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you
John 13:15
Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.
1 Corinthians 11:1
From these scriptures we can see we are to model lives that Christ and Paul lived before us in totally holiness not worldliness. Ask yourself this: could you imagine Paul or Jesus taking some free time and going to sit and watch the rowdy Roman games just for fun? Could you see them placing themselves before the offerings of the pagans in their carnal theaters of the world that satan is the god of and he controls? (2 Corinthians 4:4 ) We think not. If you believe they would sit enjoy the world's ways, you just do not know the Holy character and nature of God or His true people very well at all.
If we use Jesus as our example; when He needed some time away, He went into the wilderness or the sea to commune with the Father. He never went into to world to be entertained or to act worldly at all. If you are of God and His child you will not want what the world has to offer you anymore.
But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. Luke 5:16
Next, let us ask ourselves where in the bible does it ever tell us to entertain ourselves or to feed our flesh with the actions, violence, drama, competition and vanity that is in the world? The answer is... nowhere. But we are to live holy lives for the Lord in all our conduct (not just in religious gatherings)
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.
1 Peter 1:13-16
Holy means set apart for God. Can you be set apart for Him as you fill your mind with what is from the ungodly world? No you simply cannot!
James 1:27 tells us that pure religion includes keeping yourself from being spotted by the world.
We offer up to you that placing yourself before the world's carnal entertainment is only spotting yourself up so please reconsider it won't you?
If you were to take the family out fishing, take walks or to go out in nature sight seeing God's awesome creation, those are holy and pure ways to relax in a much more godly way. Those are ways Jesus went and recreated Himself with the Father. How about we run all of our life choices through the filter of the Word and see what He would have us do rather than just feeding our flesh. After all isn't that what worldly entertainment does? They design it to tease and titillate our flesh or else people would not want it so much. If you claim Christ you must reject what your carnal (flesh) is telling you to do and make better choices for yourself and your family guided by the Word.
Jesus said we are to strive to "walk in perfection" Matthew 5:48
Paul said this: No one in the flesh can please God Romans 8:8
What kind of choices should you be making for His glory, we would ask you? Are you discerning all things or are you being sloppy and just going with what the world offers you and what is popular so you fit right in?
Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 10:5
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.
So how can you take all your thoughts captive for Christ as you're watching a Hollywood adventure full of worldly themes or you are cheering on your favorite football player to hit, crush and run over some other man (his neighbor really) to score some points and win a game? Or when the vile commercials come on?
The answer is you can't and neither can we! Don't be fooled that you can be of the world and still be the Lord's. That is a lie!
Also ask yourself, is the entertainment that you are picking really passing the test that God's Word gives us for all things?
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Philippians 4:8
Is the Hollywood movie you're seeing really true, pure and noble at all? We think not! What is good and pure about what the world offers us for entertainment? Even the so called children's rated G family movies and the so called Christian films are usually filled with unbiblical ideas and images that do not glorify the Lord. Why sit before them at all we would ask you? Are you not redeemed by His blood for a greater cause, to serve Him alone?
How about the command by Paul to and to walk in the light and to redeem the time?
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.”See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Spending much time in front of a TV for sports and entertainment is NOT redeeming the time for the Lord is it? Sadly most so called believers can quote you stats and their favorite players numbers but they have a far less extensive knowledge of God's Holy Word. How can this be? Is this the fruit or a true follower and disciple of Christ or a false convert who sits in a pew on Sundays?
Lastly, we would be remiss if we did not remind you of these popular yet under applied scriptures:
friendship with the world in enmity with God James 4:4
Do not love the world or the things of the world. If you love the world the love of the Father is not in you. 1 John 2:15
Do not conform to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind Romans 12:2
There are so many more verses we could give you as reasons you should not be entertained by the world's ways if you claim new life in Christ. One of the best comes from Christ Himself as he describes those that are allowing themselves to get caught up in the world's ways.
Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:13
In closing we say this love.
Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not die on a cruel Roman cross to give you the freedom to be carnal, live in your flesh for fun and to be of this fallen world for entertainment. He came to save us from those sinful lives and He only calls those who will OBEY.... His holy redeemed people for eternity. See Hebrews 5:9.
Are you imitating Jesus and Paul today or.... those lost in the world around? Are you holy in all your ways or...... carnal just for fun?
Are you taking your every thought captive for Christ or..... filling it with Hollywood, sports and entertainment trash?
Are your choices pure and good or .....carnal, vile and violent?
Sadly modern denominational religion is allowing and teaching most people who attend that it is fine to be of this entertainment crazed world. We cannot find those verses anywhere in the Holy Word and so we reject that man centered theology and we call out to others to reject mans ways, to be holy and set apart for the Lord in ALL your ways. Many will cry Romans 14 and "Christian liberty" but that is taken way out of context and is not the case. We do not have ANY liberty to be worldly and carnal as we feed our flesh! See our post on that HERE.
Let me encourage you here. There is a wonderful freedom and purity to letting go of this world's ways/entertainment and becoming all the Lord desires you to be. The cost can be much but then He paid for you at the cross with His own blood so won't you kill your flesh and reject the world's carnal fun/entertainment for what is glorifying to Him? If you won't, you need to examine yourself to see if your really in the faith lest you be a reprobate (2 Corinthians 13:5) His Word teaches that is the only way to go and He requires it of those who claim His Holy name.
See football exposed here:
https://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/search/label/NFL
Let us know how we can help you in anyway.
For His glory.....
www.dontperish.com
Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 2:5