Entertainment & Jesus

There is much in the four written accounts of Jesus’ life that point to his humanity. Jesus was born (Luke 2.7), matured (Luke 2.40), became tired (John 4.6), hungry (Luke 4.2), ate and drank (Luke 14.1), slept (Matthew 8.24), wept (John 11.35), and died (Mark 15.37). There is no doubt that Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of Man, was absolutely human. Of course the gospels are not a complete record of Jesus’ life (nor would that sort of thing be possible: John 21.25), but there is something about the recorded life of Jesus that stands in stark contrast to my own, as well as most everyone we know.

At no point in the gospels do we find Jesus engaging in recreation, being entertained, or generally doing anything that didn’t pertain to His divinely appointed purpose. There are a couple of accounts that would perhaps suggest this, but they are less than convincing. We find in John 2 that Jesus attended a wedding feast in Cana, where His first (and most debated) miracle occurred. We find Jesus eating in the homes of individuals such as Pharisees (Luke 7.36; 11.37; 14.1) and tax collectors (Mark 2.15), yet these occasions are noted for His teachings and discussions instead of the main course. The only recorded feasts Jesus traveled to attend were those required under the Law of Moses, such as the Passover (John 2.23) and the feast of booths (John 7.2, 10), which were not entertaining in nature. It is usually about this time that people will rightly state that Jesus did often withdraw into desolate places (Luke 5.19), but even this was done (as the text states clearly) for the purpose of prayer (see also Luke 6.12).

Simply put, the gospels are noticeably void of references connecting Jesus and entertainment. We do find entertainment occurring during the lifetime of Jesus, but the dancing of Herodias’ daughter (Matthew 14.6) would certainly have no place in the life of a child of God. And before the obvious objections arise, we also do not find references to Jesus doing many sorts of things that are necessary or commonplace in daily life, such as relieving oneself or sneezing/having the hiccups/stubbing His toe/etc. There is a clear difference between the physical and the recreational, and yet in our world recreation is widely accepted to be as indispensable as food and sleep. It would not be proper to categorically state that Jesus never engaged in recreation, and yet there is a lesson to be drawn from the lack of its mention in the gospels.

The vast majority of discussion on entertainment is centered around the choice of entertainment, instead of whether or not we should be engaged in it. We argue that as long as what we choose to do, be entertained by, or distract ourselves with follows the principles of Phil. 4.8: “Finally, brothers, whatever thing is true, whatever thing is honorable, …” then it must be acceptable before God to do. And there are various levels of opinion on whether or not this activity or that show or this song is proper for a Christian to engage in. A thorough look at the life of Jesus begs this question: why does entertainment and recreation consume the lives of Christians (i.e. followers of Christ), when the accounts of Jesus’ life do not mention it?

The ultimate irony in the lives of Christians is that we bemoan our lack of time and energy to visit the sick and spread the gospel message, lament our tepid (or non-existent) prayer lives, and actively proclaim that our Bible understanding “isn’t where it ought to be”, while at the same time daily (and sometimes hourly) giving our lives over to vain, “wholesome” diversions without a second thought. We read verses such as John 2.17, where Jesus’ vigorous cleansing of the temple caused His disciples to remember Ps. 69.9: “Zeal for your house will consume me” and think to ourselves “Yes, I am to be consumed with zeal for God and His commands, as Jesus was.” Can it be said of me that the most zealous portion of my life is for my diversions, or my calling? I am certain that the honest answer to this question frightens us. And yet, are not all of our actions and decisions going to be judged by the living God? (1 Pet. 1.17; 4.5; 2 Cor. 5.10) How can we believe that our failure to carry out God’s commands for us will be overlooked due to our involvement in anything else? We aren’t told what the one-talent man did with his time (Matthew 25) after he buried his master’s talent in the ground, because frankly it doesn’t matter what he chose to do instead. He was utterly condemned for his rejection of the master’s command.

This underlying belief in our constant need to be entertained can bleed over into other passages, if we let it. “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Col. 3.17) Do we not take this so often to mean that whatever our activity is, as long as it doesn’t violate any Biblical principles (drinking, evil companions, etc.) and we are thankful to be doing it, it must be acceptable before God? We must take care to remember, brothers and sisters, that “wholesome” distractions are exactly that: distractions. When it comes time for my children to eat supper, it matters not whether they have spoiled their dinner with vegetables or junk food. The fact remains they have prevented themselves from eating the prepared meal with something else. In this same manner we as Christians must remain ever vigilant in regard to the amount of time we spend being entertained and recreating. We cannot hope to be excused from the call to work in God’s kingdom because we’re constantly distracting and diverting ourselves with “wholesome” activities.

Followers of Jesus must be willing to do so to the death (Luke 9.23) and be willing to forsake all in favor of Him (Mark 10.29-30). If we are willing to do so with most of time we spend distracting and diverting ourselves, what can we hope to gain from it? We are fully aware of the eternal reward that is promised the faithful (Rev. 2.10; Matt. 6.19-20; etc.). The passage in Mark 10 gives a list of the most precious things many of us possess on this earth: family, homes, lands (wealth), and then Jesus states that those who forsake them in favor of the gospel will receive a hundredfold in this life, and then eternal life. Jesus promised those who would follow Him they would not do so to their loss, but to their immeasurable gain.

What could you gain in exchange for some of your entertainment time?

• How about better relationship with God through prayer? (1 Th. 5.17; 2 Th. 3.1; James 5.13) Would this be worth more to our souls than yet another season of a TV show that is soon forgotten?
• How well do you know your brothers and sisters in your local congregation? Have I admonished the idle, encouraged the fainthearted, or helped the weak in my number? (1 Th. 5.14) What “app” on your smartphone is worth more of your time than your brother and sister in Christ?
• How many of your friends and neighbors have obeyed the gospel? (1 Peter 4.6) Or perhaps a better question: how many of your friends and neighbors have rejected your attempts to show them the truth of Jesus Christ? How much is it worth to their soul to be saved, forgiven, redeemed from certain death? (James 5.19-20) Is it not worth a single hour of your time?
• How well do you know the word of God? (Ezra 7.10; 2 Tim. 3.15) An even tougher question: how well do your children know the word of God? (Deut. 11.18-19) What is it worth to you to spend the time, the hours and days in contemplation of the scriptures? What does it mean about you if you cannot find joy and happiness in the scriptures?
• How is your relationship with your spouse? (Eccl. 9.9; Eph. 5) Many of us would pay any price named to have a close, intimate relationship with our mates, and yet we will not sacrifice our entertainment (i.e. distractions) to spend time attaining that goal. We destroy our relationships with our spouses, children, and parents not through premeditated action, but simple negligence.
• There is intended to be a clear contrast between those that are of the world, and the Christian who is simply “in the world”. (John 17.16; James 4.4; Phil. 2.15) What greater contrast could we have with our world today, which is inundated with entertainment of every imaginable category, than by rejecting that which diverts our attention in favor for the word of God has called us to do? If we cannot do so, does that not indicate our true feelings for God?

A clarification is probably in order here. The Bible does not outlaw fun or happiness or enjoyment. Jesus nor the disciples lived grumpy, cold, Puritan-like lives. They experienced joy in the same way God experiences joy: when His children obey His will! Numerous times in the epistles Paul and others express their overwhelming happiness at the news of other brothers and sisters in Christ sticking with the doctrine, and doing the right things. (2 Cor. 7.4; Phil. 2.2, 3 John 1.4) Solomon even instructed us that God wants us to be happy. (Eccl. 2.24-26, 5.18—20) As Christians in God’s household, we must learn to be happy and find joy in the things that makes God happy, and in the things that bring God joy. One of the happiest days ever recorded in scripture is found in Nehemiah 8, where the people were read the Old Law, and as they wept they were told not to weep but rejoice. “And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” (10b) You see, God’s joy and happiness should be that which empowers us, and refreshes us, and keeps us going.

One final thought in this category: we do find Jesus eating in the homes of other people repeatedly in the gospels. What is recorded about those instances is not the food selection, nor the typical dinner conversations that we have so often today. We do find that Jesus took each and every opportunity, both with the Pharisees (Luke 7.36) as well as the sinners (Luke 19.6-10), to teach the truth of the Word of God, and spread the message of the coming Kingdom. As Christians, even the time we spend in social settings can (and frankly should) be used for the purpose of furthering God’s kingdom.

We are becoming increasingly unwilling to give ourselves as living sacrifices to God (Romans 12.1). In comparison to the life of Jesus, this should give us more than just something to think about. “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Eph. 5.15-16)