We have talked extensively about music and media in the past couple sections. You should be able at this point to identify the heart problem with music and media. Today we are going to talk about how exactly we go about doing that. What does the Bible actually say about media consumption? We are going to have to draw some lines. There are three areas that must be taken into consideration, our time, our heart and the actual content.

TIME

There are a lot of ways we can attack the subject of time. I am referring to the amount of time which is spent on media and music. The best way to look at this is to prioritize time into our schedules. The Bible has a lot to say about how to arrange your schedule and the beauty of it is that everyone’s priorities are going to be a little different even if they are biblical priorities.

Some priorities look like this.

1. God
2. Marriage
3. Parenting
4. .…
5. .…
6. .…
7. .…
8. .…
9. .…
10. Music and Media

Where this appears biblical at first glance, God does not call us to make Him first in our lives,       He calls us to make Him first in every area of our lives. A better standard would be this.

1. God in Marriage
2. My Wife in Marriage
3. My Self in Marriage
4. God in Parenting
5. Education in Parenting
6. .…
7. .…
8. .…
9. .…
10. God in Media and Music
11. Entertainment in Media and Music
12. Relaxation in Media and Music

Here’s what this looks like. If I am going to watch a movie, I need to make God first in that movie. And I am talking about time, so immediately consider the following things which are commanded of us.

• “Do not let the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it” (Joshua 1.8). This is taken slightly out of context as Joshua was a leader of the people, but the principle is there, that we should be daily in the Word so that we will know it and follow it. If we have not spent time in God’s word, truly seeking His wisdom, we are simply wasting time on media and music.

• In Daniel 6.10, we learn that Daniel would go to his upper room and three times a day, get down on his knees and pray to God. To get on your knees is to show submission. When was the last time you were so humbled by God that you were moved to pray on your knees. How many days do you go without saying a genuine prayer at all? God desires that we seek a relationship with him, not a relationship with the world.

• “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2.42-47)

• Notice the way the early church dealt with fellowship. Being an active part of the lives of fellow believers was part of day to day life. In many ways, media can actually help fellowship, but the       most valuable fellowship is actually attained in direct human contact like what is described    here. Are you sacrificing fellowship for media and music?

• Are there any other things that you have been commanded by God to do, that you simply are not doing because of an overexposure to media and music?

HEART

We talked about the heart in pretty explicit detail before hand. The important thing to remember is to look at your heart and ask yourself why you are exposing yourself to the specific type of media. “The LORD searches every heart and understands every motive…if you forsake Him, you will be rejected forever (1 Chronicles 28.9).  God knows your motives and you will be judged according to your motives. Make sure you understand the motives of your heart.

CONTENT

There are lots of reasons to be concerned about content. Ephesians 4.3 says, “among you there should not be even a hint of…immorality.”Colossians 3.5 says to “put to death…whatever belongs to your earthly nature.” Understand that if when you accept Christ, you simply move sin from your actions and put it into your mind instead, that you have not conquered the sin. Jesus wants your mind and emotions, not just your will, your actions.

Let’s return to the idea of priorities. Not only should we be concerned about the time that is involved, but we must prioritize our reasons and our motives (our hearts) as well. If we are not putting God first, then that is where you draw the line. I hope you can see at this point how everyone’s line will be in a little bit different spot, but based on these biblical standards, we should all be in about the same ball park.

At this point, if anyone is not sure on what a healthy level of media is, talk to me about it and we will see if we can’t identify the motives.