What are appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians?

[Maccupid]

I was wondering what you all thought were appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. The values of the world are very different from the values of Christians, but in the modern day especially, it seems like the strangest and most inappropriate things have been completely normalized. What kind of behaviour or themes would make you drop a sport, put down a book, stop watching an episode or movie, or quit any other form of entertainment you typically enjoy?

Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. This is my first post here (I commented once or twice I think), so I apologize if this doesn't fit or I missed something when I was reading the posting rules.

[temporal1]

Welcome!

Good questions. i’m also interested in responses.

From your introductory post, are you most interested in conservative Anabaptist, Conservative Mennonite views?
There’s a mix+range of mostly Christians actively posting, it’s ok to request specific views.

[Maccupid]

Welcome!

Good questions. i’m also interested in responses.

From your introductory post, are you most interested in conservative Anabaptist, Conservative Mennonite views?
There’s a mix+range of mostly Christians actively posting, it’s ok to request specific views.

Hey there, nice to meet you

Yup, I would really love to see the Conservative Anabaptist/Conservative Mennonite views on different forms of entertainment especially, but I know that views can vary even within those groups, and I feel like there are good perspectives outside of it. So any answer would be appreciated. What are your thoughts on the topic?

[temporal1]

Because i’m not CA or CM, i’ll wait for those responses; like you and most who register, that’s my primary interest on forum.
Response is largely dependent on who happens to be around when the topic comes up.
From experience, it’s worth waiting, i expect some helpful feedback.

i’m not sure anyone has worded their questions as you have, i think it’s a good approach. Food for thought.

i agree with you, so much has been “normalized” on the internet, in all forms of “entertainment” that shouldn’t be.
It’s often painful to see it. Even worse to realize this is the world most young people, even children, swim in.

Even decades ago, many wanted more restrictions on television, etc., now tv is somewhat passe’.

[JohnL]

The Bad Stuff
-Las Vegas. All of it.
-Casinos.
-Rio de Janeiro.
-New Orleans esp during Mardi Gras.
-Burning man and rock concerts.
-Most beaches.
This next one will surprise Robert and others knowing me-
—-Star Trek or any sci-fi conventions. Some mighty strange behaviors there.
-Bars.

The Good Stuff
Life’s too short to spend that much money or time on things that don’t glorify Jesus.

Work can be both enjoyable and serve the Lord.

Singings and church fellowship.

Church picnics and volley ball or softball games.

[Soloist]

I was wondering what you all thought were appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. The values of the world are very different from the values of Christians, but in the modern day especially, it seems like the strangest and most inappropriate things have been completely normalized. What kind of behaviour or themes would make you drop a sport, put down a book, stop watching an episode or movie, or quit any other form of entertainment you typically enjoy?

Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. This is my first post here (I commented once or twice I think), so I apologize if this doesn't fit or I missed something when I was reading the posting rules.

Ultimately you need to decide what you believe is okay and not.
Firstly, when I refer to Conservative Mennonites, I'm referring to groups like Bethel, Western fellowship, Pilgrim, Nationwide or Eastern.
I personally don't see computer games for example as particularly wrong, although I would say there are many that are wrong. I don't object to things like Risk or Civilization, but wouldn't think FPS specifically shooters would be acceptable. Computer Games tend to be frowned on but they seem to have made exceptions when it suits them so hunting games and things like Oregon trail have been played.
Then we can hit magic things, I strongly object to magic based entertainment although Conservative Mennonites don't agree although they would with that statement. You see, they don't think of Lord of the Rings or Narnia as magic based entertainment and I would. So LoR and Narnia tend to be on their shelves and I've even seen Grimm's fairy tales.
Almost across the board the Conservative Mennonites they object to sports although they don't see a problem with playing casually baseball or volleyball, they would quibble as to if its appropriate to do on Sunday. They would not be attending sports games professionally and I doubt they would go to a public school soccer game for example.
Things like Mini golf are somewhat church dependent, my experience they generally object but it may not be an actual standard. Bowling alleys and the like tend to be objected to, myself I wouldn't see a problem with the bowling itself, but the things that go with it.
Eating is a form of entertainment that is rarely objected to, it may be spoken against but tends to be the wink nod sort of sin.
TV is across the board forbidden although things like youtube slip in and "educational" tends to be unusually broad when someone wants to ride the fence. Unfiltered internet is objected to, although as it moves away from being "schoolhouse" based only, it tends to eventually lose the filter. Internet use is suppose to be for useful aka a tool although it has a tendency to be used for multiple "extra" things.
Smart phones have weaseled their way into most churches, Nationwide would have some that would object to using them for navigation and no internet or extra apps, very very few object to smart phones altogether at this point.
At my church, phone games aren't allowed but then some "games" do actually get accepted, things like Wordle or Settlers of Catan.

You will find quite a lot of diversity from family line to family line as well.

My general thinking is that if you allow TV, you will find your personal filter to eventually be too narrow and at some point, you will watch things that you objected to when you started. Otherwise... you end up having nothing to watch and you are accustom to entertainment to pass the time.
When we use entertainment to fill time, the time filled eventually increases. When we use entertainment to build relationships, such as playing a board game, it tends to be self limiting.
Basically, if you look at the outcomes of whatever you think is okay, you then can assess if the outcome is good and serves God, or serves flesh.
Fishing for example, can become an obsession which fails to be okay entertainment...

[Maccupid]

I was wondering what you all thought were appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. The values of the world are very different from the values of Christians, but in the modern day especially, it seems like the strangest and most inappropriate things have been completely normalized. What kind of behaviour or themes would make you drop a sport, put down a book, stop watching an episode or movie, or quit any other form of entertainment you typically enjoy?

Thank you very much for your time. I appreciate it. This is my first post here (I commented once or twice I think), so I apologize if this doesn't fit or I missed something when I was reading the posting rules.

Ultimately you need to decide what you believe is okay and not.
Firstly, when I refer to Conservative Mennonites, I'm referring to groups like Bethel, Western fellowship, Pilgrim, Nationwide or Eastern.
I personally don't see computer games for example as particularly wrong, although I would say there are many that are wrong. I don't object to things like Risk or Civilization, but wouldn't think FPS specifically shooters would be acceptable. Computer Games tend to be frowned on but they seem to have made exceptions when it suits them so hunting games and things like Oregon trail have been played.
Then we can hit magic things, I strongly object to magic based entertainment although Conservative Mennonites don't agree although they would with that statement. You see, they don't think of Lord of the Rings or Narnia as magic based entertainment and I would. So LoR and Narnia tend to be on their shelves and I've even seen Grimm's fairy tales.
Almost across the board the Conservative Mennonites they object to sports although they don't see a problem with playing casually baseball or volleyball, they would quibble as to if its appropriate to do on Sunday. They would not be attending sports games professionally and I doubt they would go to a public school soccer game for example.
Things like Mini golf are somewhat church dependent, my experience they generally object but it may not be an actual standard. Bowling alleys and the like tend to be objected to, myself I wouldn't see a problem with the bowling itself, but the things that go with it.
Eating is a form of entertainment that is rarely objected to, it may be spoken against but tends to be the wink nod sort of sin.
TV is across the board forbidden although things like youtube slip in and "educational" tends to be unusually broad when someone wants to ride the fence. Unfiltered internet is objected to, although as it moves away from being "schoolhouse" based only, it tends to eventually lose the filter. Internet use is suppose to be for useful aka a tool although it has a tendency to be used for multiple "extra" things.
Smart phones have weaseled their way into most churches, Nationwide would have some that would object to using them for navigation and no internet or extra apps, very very few object to smart phones altogether at this point.
At my church, phone games aren't allowed but then some "games" do actually get accepted, things like Wordle or Settlers of Catan.

You will find quite a lot of diversity from family line to family line as well.

My general thinking is that if you allow TV, you will find your personal filter to eventually be too narrow and at some point, you will watch things that you objected to when you started. Otherwise... you end up having nothing to watch and you are accustom to entertainment to pass the time.
When we use entertainment to fill time, the time filled eventually increases. When we use entertainment to build relationships, such as playing a board game, it tends to be self limiting.
Basically, if you look at the outcomes of whatever you think is okay, you then can assess if the outcome is good and serves God, or serves flesh.
Fishing for example, can become an obsession which fails to be okay entertainment...

This is a very helpful and detailed response, thank you . Your point about people's personal filter being widened to include things they formerly avoided is very true and has happened to me multiple times with books, computer games and television, which is very unfortunate and I want to avoid happening in the future. What themes in books do you think Conservative Mennonites and Conservative Anabaptists should avoid or that they generally do avoid?

[R7ehr]

When we use entertainment to fill time, the time filled eventually increases. When we use entertainment to build relationships, such as playing a board game, it tends to be self limiting.

Very well said.

[Ernie]

very very few object to smart phones altogether at this point.

I think there are quite a few conservative Mennonite conferences and fellowships that still object to smart phones. Include conservative Anabaptists as a whole and the pool widens. Include Old Orders and the number of those who do not permit eclipses the number of conservatives that allow smart phones.

[Soloist]

very very few object to smart phones altogether at this point.

I think there are quite a few conservative Mennonite conferences and fellowships that still object to smart phones. Include conservative Anabaptists as a whole and the pool widens. Include Old Orders and the number of those who do not permit eclipses the number of conservatives that allow smart phones.

If you noted, I was specific to only a select grouping of conservative where my knowledge base is.