The Christian and Media (Part 4): Good, Neutral, Evil, Which?

In our ongoing exploration of how Christians should engage with media, we arrive at perhaps the most practical question of all: How do we discern what is acceptable and what should be avoided? This question matters because it emerges from genuine Christian hearts that want to understand how to navigate a world filled with entertainment, news, and digital content that may or may not align with biblical values.

• Part 1: The Christian and Media, Part 1: The Fundamentals of Sanctification
• Part 2: The Christian and Media, Part 2: Of God or Of the World?
• Part 3: The Christian and Media (Part 3): Denying Ungodliness

The Foundation: Understanding Worldliness

Before we can discern effectively, we need to understand what we mean by worldliness. Not everything that exists in the world is inherently evil. Some things are simply part of this life. However, when we talk about worldliness in the biblical sense, we typically refer to things connected to or tainted by the anti-God mindset of the world. The Bible clearly commands us not to set our minds on worldly things and to avoid loving the world. This creates a tension for believers who must live in the world without being shaped by its values.

Behind worldliness lies something more sinister: deception and agenda. Media of various sorts often pushes an unreal or ungodly message, even when it appears neutral or informative. Malcolm Muggeridge noted that media has created and belongs to a world of fantasy. He says it is “the more dangerous because it purports to be, and is largely taken as being, the real world.”¹ The fact is, media always shapes its message so that it becomes somewhat unreal, even when simply reporting news.

This fantasy nature applies to virtually any form of media. Whether we consider television, movies, music, the internet, or video games, any form of communication that promotes ideas can present fantasy rather than reality. We should note that this includes sermons as well. All messages require discernment, and we must check every message against the standard of truth, which is the Bible. This necessity underscores why each believer needs to know the Bible as thoroughly as possible, developing skills in discerning messages that depart from its truth.

Two Crucial Biblical Passages

To build a framework for discernment, we need to examine two key passages that are often confused but actually address different situations. Romans 14 speaks to one set of circumstances, while 1 Corinthians 8 through 10 addresses another.

Romans 14 deals with what we call indifferent things. These are matters that have no inherent moral value. The conflict in Rome centered on food. Some believers had faith that they could eat all things, including meat, vegetables, and shellfish. Others, being weak in faith, ate only vegetables and followed a vegetarian diet.

Many Christians misunderstand this passage. They insist it means that vegetarians were simply trying to avoid meat that might have been offered to idols. However, the text does not actually say this. The issue concerned Jewish ceremonial laws about clean and unclean foods. Some believers, particularly those from Jewish backgrounds, felt they must continue observing these dietary restrictions. Others recognized that under the New Covenant, these restrictions no longer applied. God had declared all foods clean.

The question of observing certain days followed a similar pattern. Some believers felt compelled to observe the Sabbath and other Jewish holy days. Others recognized that these were shadows pointing to Christ, and the substance had arrived. These matters of food and days represented indifferent things, neither morally good nor evil in themselves.

Paul’s instruction for handling such matters emphasizes several principles. First, each person must be fully convinced in his own mind. Second, we should not judge or regard with contempt those who make different choices about these indifferent matters. Third, whether we participate or abstain, we should do so for the Lord, giving thanks to God. The key point is that indifferent things remain indifferent. They carry no moral weight.

When Things Are Not Indifferent

The situation in 1 Corinthians 8 through 10 differs significantly from Romans 14, though the passages share some surface similarities. Here Paul addresses meat sacrificed to idols, but his conclusion diverges sharply from his instructions about indifferent matters.

Paul acknowledges that idols have no real existence. There is only one true God. For believers, an idol is nothing. This knowledge might suggest that eating meat offered to idols presents no problem. However, Paul’s argument extends through three chapters and reaches a definitive conclusion in chapter 10: Flee from idolatry.

The critical distinction emerges clearly. The things which pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, not to God. Paul declares emphatically that believers must not become sharers with demons. Christians cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. They cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

This represents not an indifferent matter but something with clear moral implications. Once believers understand the connection between idol worship and demonic activity, participation becomes unacceptable. The proximity to the idol determines the response. Eating meat purchased in the marketplace raised no concern because the connection to idol worship had been broken. However, attending a feast in an idol’s temple or knowingly eating meat presented as part of pagan worship crossed a clear line.

The Key to Discernment

The key to discernment involves identifying the extent to which a thing reflects worldly values. We might call this the fantasy quotient. Several factors help us measure this connection.

First, we must ask what source material shapes the content. Does it draw from biblical truth or from worldly philosophies? Second, we should consider what ideas and values the content promotes. Does it present a Christian worldview or something contrary to Scripture? Third, we need to identify the nature of the fantasy being presented. Is it closer to reality or completely detached from truth?

Different forms of media present varying levels of fantasy. Documentaries typically stay closer to reality, though they still involve editorial choices that shape the message. News programming involves more interpretation and presents events through biased lenses. Entertainment television moves further from reality, creating stories and situations that may subtly (or blatantly) promote worldly values. Fantasy and science fiction genres operate entirely in imagined worlds where creators can promote any values they choose.

We should note that every broadcast, whether documentary, news clip, or entertainment, carries a slant. Usually that slant aims to make money for the production company or network. Producers want popular content that generates revenue. Understanding this commercial motivation helps us recognize that even seemingly neutral content serves personal prejudices.

Making Personal Decisions

Applying these principles requires wisdom and personal conviction. The Bible provides guidance but does not specifically address every modern form of entertainment or media. Written two thousand years ago, Scripture cannot explicitly mention video games, streaming services, or social media. However, the principles Scripture teaches provide sufficient guidance for our lives going forward.

We must draw our own lines while recognizing that other believers may draw theirs differently on indifferent matters. When something connects closely to worldly values or demonic influence, we should avoid it entirely, just as we should flee from meat we know was offered to idols. Some things are so closely tied to the world that once we recognize the connection, we must refuse participation.

Consider current examples. Gambling has become heavily advertised during sporting events. This practice connects closely to worldly values of greed and chance rather than honest work and trust in God’s providence. Organizations even sell raffle tickets at children’s sports events, introducing gambling to young people in seemingly innocent contexts. Once we recognize gambling’s connection to worldly thinking, we should avoid it.

The challenge intensifies when we encounter apparent inconsistencies in our standards. Someone might point out that we participate in one activity while condemning another that seems similar. We may not always have perfect answers for these challenges. However, we must still make decisions based on our understanding of Scripture and our conscience before God.

Special Considerations for Children

We are concerned especially for Children since they lack developed filters for discerning fantasy from reality and identifying worldly messages. Young children often cannot distinguish between acceptable and harmful content. They might view shooting games where virtual characters eliminate each other as simple fun, not understanding what such entertainment teaches about violence and human life.

Parents and spiritual leaders must help children develop discernment. This responsibility includes explaining the values embedded in various forms of media, limiting exposure to content that promotes harmful thinking, and teaching children to ask critical questions about what they see and hear. Our responsibility requires that parents (and other leaders) sometimes must resist the desires of children with a strong and definite “No.”

Even content that seems educational requires parental guidance. Documentaries might present naturalistic explanations that contradict biblical teaching about creation. Historical programming might promote biased political or social perspectives. Parents should watch such content with children, providing biblical perspective and helping young people think critically about the messages they receive.

The Danger of Deception

We must remain vigilant because deception comes easily. The fantasy world of media appears so real that we can absorb its values without conscious awareness. Entertainment shapes our thinking about relationships, success, morality, and meaning. News programming frames our understanding of current events. Social media influences how we view ourselves and others.

This danger makes Bible reading and church attendance essential. We need Scripture to shape our thinking more powerfully than media shapes it. Consistent engagement with God’s Word builds our capacity for discernment and keeps our minds anchored to truth rather than fantasy.

When other believers question our choices or point out inconsistencies, we should resist the temptation to immediately defend ourselves. Instead, such challenges offer opportunities to examine whether we are being truly consistent with biblical principles. We should be willing to acknowledge when we are wrong and adjust our practices accordingly.

Cultural practices we once considered innocent may reveal themselves as more problematic when we gain better understanding. We might participate in certain traditions without recognizing their connections to worldly or even occult practices. When we learn these connections, integrity requires that we make changes, even when doing so proves uncomfortable or unpopular.

The Larger Purpose

Ultimately, discernment about media serves a larger purpose. We seek to walk faithfully with God in all areas of life. We want to love one another well and build up the body of Christ. We aim to protect our minds and hearts from deception while engaging thoughtfully with the culture around us.

This calling requires that we be discerning people who recognize fantasy for what it is. We must identify worldly values even when they appear in attractive packages. We need wisdom to know when something is indifferent and when it connects too closely to things we must flee.

There is certainly time and place for recreation. The Bible can justify appropriate rest and entertainment. However, we must recognize that the things we do and the media we consume shape our thinking and affect what we value. For this reason, we should ensure that the Bible shapes us more than any other influence. Sometimes we may choose to avoid something that is technically indifferent because we do not want it to shape our thinking in unhelpful ways. Other times we may engage with content cautiously, using it without allowing it to shape our values.

Conclusion

The question of how Christians should engage with media does not yield simple, universal answers. We face complex decisions that require wisdom, biblical knowledge, and sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Different believers will make different choices about specific content, and we should extend grace to one another in matters of conscience regarding indifferent things.

However, some principles remain clear. We must flee from anything closely connected to idolatry or demonic influence. We should recognize that media creates fantasy worlds that purport to represent reality. We need to develop discernment by immersing ourselves in Scripture and allowing it to shape our thinking. We bear responsibility for protecting those in our care, especially children, from content that could harm their spiritual development.

As we navigate these decisions, we should do so humbly, recognizing that we all see through a glass darkly and that our understanding continues to grow. We must hold our convictions firmly while extending charity to those who may differ with us on matters of conscience. Above all, we should pursue faithfulness to Christ and His Word, seeking to honor Him in all our choices, including what media we consume and how we engage with the world’s messages.

The goal is not to create exhaustive lists of approved and forbidden content. Rather, we aim to develop mature discernment that allows us to navigate media wisely, recognizing fantasy when we see it, identifying worldly values as they appear, and choosing content that edifies rather than corrupts. This discernment grows as we grow in our knowledge of Scripture and our walk with Christ, always seeking to ensure that we are shaped more by the truth of God’s Word than by the fantasies of this world.

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Don Johnson is the pastor of Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.

This article reproduces a sermon preached on March 26, 2023, which you can view or listen to here. We used Claude.AI to turn the transcript into the article. Pastor Johnson has reviewed and edited the final form of this article.

1. Malcolm Muggeridge, Christ and the Media (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1977), 60. [↩]