Filtering and time wasters

I've been thinking about the implications of Piper's blog post.

(I hope this semi-stream of consciousness is semi-coherent.)

We don't watch TV. I haven't watched TV for about 15 years unless you count the kiddie programs we watched when my daughter was a toddler and the occasional programs on PBS. Actually, we can't watch TV now because we don't have a signal converter. We don't watch many movies and stick to "family friendly" only. We listen to Christian (theologically sound not CCM) and classical music. I used to read a lot, but I have cut out almost all contemporary fiction because of immoral content.

Given all that, we're doing pretty well, right? I don't know about that and probably would be self deceived if I thought that was all it took.

And yes, there is horrible stuff out there, mind numbing, zombifying, trivial stuff, and everything in between.

So what to do? One of the first things that comes to mind is filtering with discernment both for my own media intake and for my daughter. When it comes to filtering, maybe the key is whether I am being entertained by the sin or whether I am repulsed by the sin. In other words, is sin being seen for what it is or is it being glamorized?

There are some things that obviously scream "I AM SINFUL, EVIL, AND POLLUTING!" In those cases, there is no redeeming value in continuing to watch, read, or listen. The only prudent thing is to turn off the tube, eject the DVD, and close the book.

The book of Judges is a horrific account of man's depravity and it's in the Bible. I can't censor the word of God from my daughter. But the difference is that Judges reveals the evil in every person's heart and what we are all capable of doing but by the grace of God. I can't shield her from the grisly accounts, but it's there as a grievous example not as sick entertainment.

I don't think there is a hard and fast rule. I can't and shouldn't censor everything. However, I need discernment to eliminate some things but also to discuss in the light of scripture what we watch, what we read, and what we listen to. We are living in this world, not trying to run away from it, and we need to learn how to be in it and not of it. Besides, the sin in me is worse than the sin out there and whatever is out there only triggers and feeds the sin inside. Maybe more on this later.

But what about the wasteful factor in entertainment? The issue for me isn't necesarily TV or movies. Probably, undisciplined time on the Internet is my biggest time waster. I spend more time than I should online. It's not even on what would be considered "bad" things. I could spend an hour or so blog hopping or I could be reading articles at monergism.com. But then I could be reading monergism.com when I should be getting dinner ready, vacuuming, or cleaning the bathroom. I probably spend more time than I should on this blog as well.

The Internet is like a double edged sword. There are great blogs, articles, and sermons that are very helpful. At the same time, it can eat away time so easily. I need the help of the Holy Spirit to enable me not be wasteful and undisciplined about even good things.

Well, I've said enough. Time to go vacuum.