Entertainment vs. Recreation

There are a couple of threads that have discussed what type of entertainment might be suitable for true believers.

There is the Ravenhill quote that "entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy."

Did he mean ALL entertainment or was he using exaggeration to make a point?

Another question is this: Is recreation the same as entertainment? For example, if I take a hike in the woods or go fishing because I like to, is that entertainment? At least for me?

I tend to think that God wants us to enjoy his creation. Some do this by camping or other outside activities while others play games like baseball.

Is this wrong? If I do these things am I substituting it for joy? What if I find joy in doing it? Can't certain forms of entertainment or recreation be done as unto The Lord?

If a Christian is not to participate in any form of recreation or entertainment, what would that look like? I believe that Jesus in his 33 years likely had some recreation. What do you think?

That's a good question TMK. I had thought the same thing.
I suppose what most folk have in mind on the recent discussions is entertainment in the sense of Theatre, movies, tv, etc.

But we have to be honest and admit we all enjoy some form of recreation like gardening, walking, playing sport, etc. Maybe this is different in that we are not passively being entertained, but engaging our minds and bodies in something.

Anyway, good point.

I do not think we should ask these types of questions, they only find relevance in man centered religion. Paul said it quite well, whatever is not of faith is sin.

You know The Pope is supposed to be the Vicar of Christ, sometimes I wonder if us Christians have many Vicar's of Christ ourselves? Should we really entertain, "no pun intended" every thought or quote from every Pastor as this is what Jesus told us personally to do? What if I were to have quoted "entertainment is the devil's substitute for joy" would I have been taken as serious as Ravenhill? In God's eyes were all equal, I personally think that listening to what God tells us, is much more important than man. If God wanted our steps to be directed by man, he would have had man write the Bible without his inspiration. If we limit ourselves to the places we attend because of man's opinions, and God wanted to use us in that place, but we listened to man, now what?

This is a good question.

I am reminded of a group that was experiencing great revival but they wanted to pursue more holiness less carnality and less worldliness so they descided to stopped having volleyball fellowships. I am not sure if such was a cause or an effect but I feel that it was probably around about this time that the revivle started becoming less with in that group.

One of the main reasons I ask these questions is because if we truly care about our walk with the Lord then the last thing we want is a seared conscience.

Let's face it, we folks here in the US have a lot of "leisure time" or let's just say a time when we are not working. I know this is not true for everyone but I think in general that is true. We work our 8 or 9 hrs a day then come home and we have several hours before we go to bed. Not to mention weekends.

Back in the "old days" and certainly in bible times I don;t think there was a lot of down time. You had to work long hours just to survive. The same would be true of the pioneers, etc. It is still true for the Amish, etc.

So we do have a lot of time that is available for us to "fill up." Even if we spend 2 hrs a day in the Word (which I think would be way more than average) we would still have several hours left. What do we do with that time?

Television for many is the lazy default. When I watch TV i try to watch good stuff which generally means Andy Griffith or Leave it to Beaver or some classic movie. But I probably watch too much. But like I said it is a lazy default.

I don't feel convicted about the TV I watch- which goes to Zeke's point. But the question is- should I be?

TMK....I don't feel convicted about the TV I watch- which goes to Zeke's point. But the question is- should I be?

The idea of leisure time usually means "ME" time for most people. Its time spent doing what "I" want, what "I" enjoy. Perhaps if we were living for JESUS, taking up our cross daily, submitting unto HIM and seeking to be a servant to others and HIM we would be for more busy then we ever thought possible. Perhaps it just comes down to praying and asking GOD what HE has for you to be about today. The answer might surprise some...

GOD bless
maryjane

Greetings Just_in

I used the word usually to mean in most cases but not all.meaning that there are many who use leisure time for self gratification, but not that everyone does this. Sorry if my post was confusing. I was trying to be "real" in what I was saying. What I wrote I meant for myself as well. I often think if I just focused on Jesus and did not get caught up in worrying what other might think or say I would be just fine. After all HE would not lead me to do something that was out of HIS will or a waste of time.

Who can say what is profitable in another persons life and how they spend there time? I cant . God may lead you to go with a brother to a ball game and praise HIM for that while HE may lead me to something else and I still praise HIM for that. I know the LORD has often used times of fellowship among some brothers while they play golf . I personally do not see this as preaching relegion but am thankful for the LORD working in others lives.

God bless
Maryjane

1 Cor 6- 12:-All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.

I think the above scripture should be our standard. A Christian should not be mastered by any entertainment or recreational activity. I used to play lot of tennis 1 year back and was petty good in it. I used to play tournaments. I used tennis to relieve me of my work pressure. I was in a high pressure job that required managing a team for delivering within tight deadline. Soon I found that I was getting addicted to Tennis as my stress buster. I was not able to accept a situation where I was without tennis for more than 3 or 4 days. I felt like I deserved few games of tennis once in 2 days for to compensate my work pressure. I felt sad and the joy of serving the Lord departed from me when I was not playing the game due to weather or busy schedule. I believe this is a deceitfulness of worldly pleasure that Jesus spoke. Tennis started mastering me. A game which was perfectly legal became my master. With lot of continuous struggle, Lord was able to bring me out of this mess. I still play the game once in a while but I am no longer affected for not playing this game.

If there is an event or recreation without which we cannot survive then we are masted by it. Our freedom in Christ is gone and sold to this recreation.

That is a good illustration, Sree. Thanks.

by just-in on 2014/4/2 22:19:16

It is very hard to see what is going on in someone's heart, so then many religionists attempt to label outward things as "sin". There is inward adultery that many may not see outwardly, but God never misses anything.
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I agree it is just about impossible to see what is going on in the heart of another. We are told to know each other by our fruit not by outward appearances. Only GOD can see the heart of a man/women and so its best to leave judging to HIM.
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Just-in wrote:I could really careless about a ball game, but certainly don't begrudge or judge my brother or sister if they want to go to one.

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I hold nothing against a brother/sister doing what ever the LORD leads them to do in their lives. I believe if we spend our time in prayer asking GOD to show us, HE will lead us to the things HE wants and has for us each day. If JESUS is LORD of my life then I should consult HIM as to what my day will look like. That is why I said that if we pray and ask GOD what HE would have for us each day there might be some who are surprised by the answer, HE might have for us to spend time in leisure today and sharing with someone. Either way I give thanks.

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Just-in wrote:Remember, many of the religionists of Jesus' time judged Him based on His outward activities of hanging out with drunkards and sinners. What would the church do today if Jesus went into bars to eat with drunkards and talk to them? What would the church think if they saw Jesus by Himself in public with a lady who had already had 5 husbands. Or what would the Church whisper to each other if they saw Jesus with a prostitute or telling a sinner that He was going to come home with him tonight for some leisure and dinner?
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I don't know how to answer this or respond to this except with my own heart and belief. I believe the true CHURCH (the BRIDE) would know HIS voice and trust HIM.

(perhaps these questions above are just rhetorical, but that is my heart on the matter)

Thank you for sharing your thoughts here with me. I appreciate that you took the time to do so.

God bless
maryjane

Wonder what the Christians of today might have thought of Jesus, he went to many different places, did many different things to reach the people. Jesus sat down by the well, only place he could go to reach the woman. He waited, Jesus positioned himself where the lost world was. He went where the Religious (Jews) would not go. We work, play, eat in places where we can reach people outside of the building. This doesn’t mean that Jesus condoned her behavior, It does mean that Jesus was willing to dwell near sin, in order to reach people who are in sin.

Sree, well said

by MrBillPro on 2014/4/3 6:29:56

Wonder what the Christians of today might have thought of Jesus, he went to many different places, did many different things to reach the people. Jesus sat down by the well, only place he could go to reach the woman. He waited, Jesus positioned himself where the lost world was. He went where the Religious (Jews) would not go. We work, play, eat in places where we can reach people outside of the building. This doesn’t mean that Jesus condoned her behavior, It does mean that Jesus was willing to dwell near sin, in order to reach people who are in sin.

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Greetings MrBill

You have been on my heart very much over the past week or so. I pray you are well.

I agree JESUS was willing to meet people where they are but HE never left them there did HE(Praise GOD) Sadly I have had those in the world who know just enough of the Bible use these truths that JESUS ate with sinners to continue on in their own sin. Its heartbreaking to see the truth twisted in such a way, yes JESUS ate with sinner, yes HE spoke to the woman at the well but HE never lowered HIMSELF down into the sin they were in. Instead they saw in HIM such character and truth, it was beyond anything they had ever experienced in their and I am sure as we can read it had an affect upon them. I think that is the heart of the issue in all of this, when I look to myself can I say that people see JESUS in me, so much so that they ask questions, that they want to know HIM? If not, then it really does not matter where I spend my time or with whom I spend it does it...

I fear that I have probably gotten off topic more then I should have. It does happen from time to time :)

Thank you for sharing here with us.
God bless
mj