The American Idolatry of Entertainment
Michael Spencer (Internet Monk) writes a very provacative post on the seductive nature of entertainment in the church and in American culture entitled American Idolatry: What's Entertainment? This post should be required reading for any discussion on ministry, parenting, or life in America in the 21st century. It is that insightful. Here is an excerpt:
Getting our bearings on the idolatry of entertainment is difficult. There is no doubt that American culture is addicted to entertainment, and that this addiction is now in a stage of consuming almost all aspects of our culture. For evangelicalism to exist in American culture, it will breath the air of this entertainment addiction. It is language, thought, the content of vast tracts of our cultural, family and individual lives.
This addiction is so deeply and completely part of our culture, that we are largely unable to talk about anything without judging it by its entertainment value or to conceive of improving it without causing whatever is being improved to become more and more “entertaining.” Our lives are empty, and entertainment promises to provide something- some feeling, some stimulation- that makes us real and alive. The promises of the Gospel to give us living bread and thirst-quenching water are covered over by bells, songs, lights and big screens.
Work must be entertaining. Education must be entertaining. Marriage must be entertaining. Family life must be entertaining. Children must be entertained. Our lives must be full of more and more entertainment. Entertainment will save our economy. Entertainment is the ultimate judge of talent, worth and value. We are entertained from cradle to grave. Leaders provide it, and the mob insists upon it. Of course, religion, church and God must all be entertaining, or we will have nothing to do with them.
Wow. I think he's right. As a pastor, I definitely see that in so many of the people who come and visit our church. In the discussion on whether our church is right for them, so often, what is meant is, "Is it entertaining for us and our children?" God help us.
What do you think about this? Have you noticed this tendency or addiction in your own life? In your children's lives? How can we change this?
This is especially convicting in light of your previous post about the Congo. I will never forget as a child many years ago hearing a missionary to Africa, Dr. Sam Cannata (sp?), speak in my church. He spoke even then about how American Christians crave worldly goods and comforts and how this is so foreign to the Christ of the Bible. We can now add entertainment to that list, because church in a lot of places has become all about attracting people to the fine facilities with the best show going on on Sunday morning and the rest of the week as well. We want to be entertained. We want our kids to be entertained. I have taught children in Sunday School for over 40 years, and I can tell you that most children that I encounter today are bright and articulate, but they want everything to be fun and easy. Stand on your head to keep them interested, but don't ask them to do anything that requires any effort (unless you are prepared to give them a tangible "award" aka "bribe"). Oops, my comment is too long. I guess you can see that you have struck a chord with me.
Posted by: Cate Hanchez | June 29, 2006 at 01:37 PM
Allan, I do think there is nothing new under the sun. A few years ago many of my friends in the ministry and I got concerned because our culture was absorbed, it seemed to us at least, with being happy or having joy or feeling good. Entertainment may be the cultural way of providing that "feel good" craving.
Our concern was that the pain, yes true pain, of real dicipleship would be abandoned and it seems to have come to pass. I know the burden is light and the yoke is easy but that is in comparison to what Jesus suffered and what the end results of Grace are all about not the absence of difficulty and pain.
I'd better stop as you can see I feel strongly about all this. Well stated post on a real problem.
Paul Burleson
Posted by: Paul Burleson | June 30, 2006 at 07:09 AM
You gone to meddlin', now.
Thank you for this post. It showed me something that had just happened in my life. We have a nice house, and a nice computer with all the games, and big-screen tv's all over. But, lately, in the evenings (and sometimes early mornings), Peggy and I take our coffee and just sit on the back deck. We talk, and just sit and think .. I believe the bible refers to that as meditation, which it has much to say about.
Wow. What times of refreshing those are. Particularly at night, with the outside lights highlighting the trees, and the sounds of the crickets filling the air. Such a treat.
I guess what makes it such a treat is that it ministers to Peg in a way that watching tv never has. And, God has told me many times that I am to meditate on His word, and on life as well.
That brings up two points. One is that God didn't say "Get busy and know that I am God". He said to be still.
Second is that my real hunger for God started on the steps of a cabin in Southern Indiana, as I was alone with a bible and God, observing what He had created in the woods all around me. I need to go back to that spiritual well, more often.
Thank you.
Posted by: Bob Cleveland | June 30, 2006 at 08:48 AM