Entertainment! So many images flash through our minds at the sight of that word. Movies, friends, sports, concerts, books, games, magazines—all these and more flow quickly across the silver screen of our memories. Some bring a smile and a chuckle, as we relive the fun and laughter. Others make us squirm uncomfortably, wishing with regret and embarrassment that they could be cut from the film of our lives.

As the scenes continue, it becomes clear that God has filled our world with good and wholesome pleasures—the fellowship of friends, the power of music, the fun of games, and the discovery of books. Truly, God has given us “richly all things to enjoy” (I Tim. 6:17). Knowing this, the enemy has scattered seeds of wickedness far and wide in the field of entertainment. If we’re not careful, the bad has a way of getting in with the good. That’s why it’s so important to know the principles in God’s Word that help us separate the chaff from the wheat.

Principle 1: Beware of anything that makes you calloused to sin or lessens your hatred of evil. Paul warns us several times in the New Testament to “hate what is evil” and “avoid every kind of evil” (Rom. 12:9; I Thess. 5:22). He repeats this command because the world surrounds us with all sorts of evil and perversion. As humans, our natural tendency is to “get used to” whatever we consistently encounter in our environment. The enemy knows this and tries to make us as calloused to sin as he can. As Alexander Pope said in his 1732 Essay on Man, “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien, As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” It is difficult to hate what you are used to.

Principle 2: Beware of anything that you feel troubled about in your spirit. In his first letter to Timothy, Paul urges him to hold on to “faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith” (I Tim. 1:18,19). Paul also told the Romans that “whatever is not from faith is sin” (Rom. 14:22,23). The main thrust of Paul’s message is that we should not do anything that we feel or believe is wrong. This principle clearly applies to those “gray areas” of life which are not specifically mentioned in Scripture. We need to be sensitive to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and respond in obedience when we feel checked about a certain activity or form of entertainment. Keep your conscience clear!

Principle 3: Beware of anything that would make another believer stumble. Romans 14 is a thought-provoking chapter on the impact that our actions have on other brothers and sisters. Paul says, “Let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way” (Rom. 14:13). He also says, “It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles” (Rom. 14:21). This is an important factor that should always be taken into account when we participate in various kinds of entertainment. We need to be sensitive to the concerns and weaknesses of those around us. There are times when it is necessary to limit our own desires in deference to someone else. Don’t be irritated or frustrated with them—be kind and remember that one day, it may be you.

Principle 4: Beware of anything that appeals to or affects your areas of weakness. We all have areas of weakness, and most of us know where they are. Unfortunately, the enemy knows them too; and the temptations we face are always tailored for a perfect fit. James, the Lord’s brother, said, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14). Entertainment, probably more than anything else, has the ability to appeal to our areas of weakness. It’s hard to keep your guard up during a party. Because of this, it is imperative that we filter our activities through the grid of what is spiritually healthy for us. Many things are not wrong in and of themselves, but they can leave us vulnerable to the attack of the enemy. Know your weaknesses and don’t let the enemy trap you!

These principles are only a few of the many that can be mined from the pages of God’s Word. As we make them a part of our lives, they will help us enjoy the many pleasures God has given us and avoid the corrupting influence of sin. Solomon said long ago that whoever learns from wisdom will “be secure, and without fear of evil” (Prov. 1:33). Remember, sin will keep you from the Word, or the Word will keep you from sin!

—Nathan Brown is a mechanical engineer residing in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he is active in his local church.