What are appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians?

[Soloist]

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?

on a whole, I'd say science fiction for sure, (again applicable to the specified groups I mentioned) generally they would object to fantasy outside of the two I mentioned, I think likely psychological thrillers, horror, likely most styled books like Tom Clancy... Generally I see adult books related to non-fiction or theology. I don't see many fiction books geared towards adults generally. https://homejoys.blogspot.com this lady might give you some idea on what the women might read for pleasure but I'm not really sure on the men. I suspect men really don't spend a lot of time reading for pleasure among my conservative groups.
I didn't grow up among the Mennonites, so I grew up on things like Isaac Asimov, Frank Herbert, Timothy Zahn... Generally speaking, I still read some but I find the majority of science fiction is anti God. Kind of makes sense I guess.

If I had to comment more broadly on entertainment, I'd say Conservative Mennonites tend to spend more time being industrious then entertaining themselves in their spare time. Generalization though.

[Ken]

The OP asked what are appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. And not what are the specific arcane set of rules that apply to each individual plain group. I think that is a more interesting question than simply answering that such and such a group only allows computers with x-type of filter or for y-purpose. Or that such and such a group only allows vocal music but not instrumental.

I think the same general rules should apply to everyone Christian and non-Christian alike. Namely that forms of entertainment that involve vice or negative pathologies or addictions should be avoided. And that forms of entertainment that involve healthy pursuits, social engagement, or individual self-improvement and learning should be encouraged. So...

BAD: gambling, social drinking and recreational drug use, porn, addictive behavior that isolates (intense video gaming, etc.), and things that deaden the mind rather than stimulate it.

GOOD: Outdoor exercise, social collaboration with others, self-improvement and learning skills (cooking, gardening, music, art, reading, woodworking, etc.)

Bottom line? If it makes you a better and healthier person it is probably good. If it does the opposite it is probably bad. And that goes for both Christians and non-Christians alike.

[Soloist]

The OP asked what are appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. And not what are the specific arcane set of rules that apply to each individual plain group. I think that is a more interesting question than simply answering that such and such a group only allows computers with x-type of filter or for y-purpose. Or that such and such a group only allows vocal music but not instrumental.

The OP seemed to like my post

[Ken]

The OP asked what are appropriate and inappropriate forms of entertainment for Christians. And not what are the specific arcane set of rules that apply to each individual plain group. I think that is a more interesting question than simply answering that such and such a group only allows computers with x-type of filter or for y-purpose. Or that such and such a group only allows vocal music but not instrumental.

The OP seemed to like my post

And I think we agree in that you closed with saying essentially the same thing as me: "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..."

Although I don't necessarily agree that obsessions are necessarily bad. They can be healthy or unhealthy. Take your fishing example. If an obsession with fishing means you take the time to educate and teach yourself about your local aquatic ecosystems and food webs, learn what makes for a healthy or unhealthy water body, and spend time working to improve your local water body, educate others about conservation, and so forth. As many fishing advocates do. Then that obsession is probably a good or healthy thing. On the other hand if it means you are compelled to dump $250,000 into a state-of-the-art fishing boat and spend all your money on expensive sportfishing vacations in search of trophies then maybe not.

[JohnH]

Rio and Las Vegas are cities with millions of people in them including faithful followers of Jesus in God-honoring churches. I would not say a Christian needs avoid such places; to the contrary, we should be sending missionaries there.

[JohnH]

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.

Most OOs have smartphones by now. Seems they slid under the radar alongside EBikes.

The split off groups like Danners etc tend not to.

[Szdfan]

So...is posting on MennoNet appropriate or inappropriate entertainment?

[Ken]

Rio and Las Vegas are cities with millions of people in them including faithful followers of Jesus in God-honoring churches. I would not say a Christian needs avoid such places; to the contrary, we should be sending missionaries there.

There is a difference between living ordinary Christian lives in Reno or Las Vegas or anyplace else.

And traveling for ENTERTAINMENT to destinations that market vice and debauchery as part of their appeal. Gambling in the case of Vegas and I assume carnival for Rio? Although that is just one week out of the year and celebrated across Latin America and the Caribbean.

[Soloist]

So...is posting on MennoNet appropriate or inappropriate entertainment?

If you have to ask… you already know

[Soloist]

Although I don't necessarily agree that obsessions are necessarily bad. They can be healthy or unhealthy. Take your fishing example. If an obsession with fishing means you take the time to educate and teach yourself about your local aquatic ecosystems and food webs, learn what makes for a healthy or unhealthy water body, and spend time working to improve your local water body, educate others about conservation, and so forth. As many fishing advocates do. Then that obsession is probably a good or healthy thing. On the other hand if it means you are compelled to dump $250,000 into a state-of-the-art fishing boat and spend all your money on expensive sportfishing vacations in search of trophies then maybe not.

Honestly, I was thinking of a certain child when I was thinking of this… is utterly obsessed with fishing… hooks all over the bedroom, half built lures. will spend any amount of money to get any fishing item and gets fussy if we don’t let them go fishing after school, even if they have homework to do. That homework tends to get done extremely quickly and very sloppy if fishing is on the line.
This child would have absolutely zero interest in what you consider a healthy obsession and totally would want to buy an expensive fishing boat if they could afford it.