Harmless?

Okay, I just watched one of the worst movies I have ever watched in my life. I do not mean the acting, production quality, or even the story line/plot. I am speaking of a darker intent behind this movie.

For a long time I have wrestled with many types of entertainment. What to watch, read, listen too etc. I have strong opinions about a lot of things and strong convictions for many types of such things. But tonight, God delivered a "slap in the face" reminder to me. The harmless movies, books, and music I chose to listen to are NOT as harmless as I always believe them to be. I became lenient in specifically what I have chosen to watch recently (over the last couple of years). And tonight, I was convicted harshly that I have to be careful about the entertainment I choose.

Fact, entertainment is not always harmless and in fact can be very much so the opposite. The movie I watched was a wake up call to just how active the devil is in the world today. He is not just "out there somewhere", he is literally in my home and mind because of "harmless entertainment." The thought of thousands of innocent eyes seeing the things I watched tonight sends shivers down my spine and brings tears to my eyes. The devil is actively working through entertainment attempting to strike fear, to place curiosity in peoples' minds for things that they should not be curious about. And I am not going to pussy foot around this, he is just waiting for any opportunity we give him to pounce. So as a believer and follower in Christ I beg you to please, please, please be careful what you let into your home and especially into your mind!

No, entertainment in and of itself is not a bad thing. But there are only two kinds, Godly entertainment or ungodly entertainment. There is no in between and there is no "harmless" or mindless. It ALL has a purpose, to distract from God or to draw you closer. And yes, there is a way to differentiate between the two (Philippians 4:8, James 1:17,). I have openly committed myself as a follower in Jesus many times and that is why I am writing this. I was reminded that the entertainment that seems harmless or mindless on the surface could have the opposite affect. And that as a believer, I need to start looking deeper and prayerfully consider what I choose to "entertain" myself with.

This is not going to be a favored opinion and I am perfectly fine with that. I needed to say this and my prayer is that I did so in a loving way. I am not judging and I am not condemning, I am merely sharing what God taught me tonight because that is what I believe is apart of what being a believer in Jesus is all about.

For the purpose of not advertising the movie, I will not be disclosing which movie I watched in this post. If however, someone wants to know so they can avoid it, I will share it. I will say it is on a popular streaming service that is currently, and very strongly, advertising the world's version of what the rainbow stands for.

Written July 13, 2022