Faith

YOUR CRAVE FOR AMUSEMENT

Next to the need for sex and sleep is the need to be amused. Humans have a crave for amusement. We all like to laugh, and we really want or better still sometimes crave for amusement and get us out of our ordinary emotional state. This gives us an idea of the reason for the recent boom in the entertainment industry.

Anyone that is able to appeal to our sinking emotions gets access into our pockets and of course our minds. We, in turn, tag the fellow celebrity. However, we are too blindfolded by this crave to be amused that we don’t even mind if it comes at the expense of our souls. What do I mean?

Comedy

Have you ever paid attention to the most of the content of the comedy or jokes we have in the entertainment scene today? Most jokes out there- (definitely not all) are explicit in nature. If they are not making a jest of a female body part, then they are about some guy that couldn’t hit on a girl or about girls that refuse guys sex after spending all the guys’ money.

Movies

Movies are more sensitive. We watch movies most of the time “for the fun of it”. However, some concepts are being translated into our minds subtlety. Like from a personal perspective, I believe the movie “A thousand words” has too many New Age movement content, “I Give It A Year” was saying that ‘taking a divorce’, then moving on to the next person is the solution to a struggling marriage.

Every movie communicates something which could be either beneficial or detrimental to the soul. I enjoyed “Warm Bodies” and “Frozen”. Both movies portrayed the power of friendship. (I hope to do a post on these movies someday).

Apart from the messages these movies try to communicate, we find ourselves in a society where we see some acts as sinful. However, we don’t mind watching such acts on our Television screen, with the excuse of – “at least it’s just a movie, it’s not like it actually happened”.

Take for instance images of adultery, nudity and profanity that are carried in most movies today. It hurts me to see Christians watching movies where God’s name is used as a curse word and laugh over such actions. Take for instance “The wolf of wall street”, where the “f” word was used an average of every 21 seconds- approximately 506 times, the “s” word 70 times, while God’s name was blasphemed 28 times.

Allow me the pleasure of not mentioning R rated movies. By the way, I wrote an article; What I do When It Gets to Sex Scenes in Movies.

Music

There has been a continuous battle on what kind of music is permissible or healthy to listen to- “secular versus gospel”.  I am of the opinion that secular doesn’t equate evil. Read more in this post; My Opinion on Secular Music.

That politics is secular doesn’t make it evil. I learnt from my Pastor (Iren Emmanuel) that a Gospel song is one whose counsel is consistent with the word of God. Going by this definition, some gospel-tagged songs will not fall under this category and some so-called secular songs will fall under. For instance, a husband singing “Olomi” by Ebenezer Obey or “Tonight” by John Legend” to his wife will not be out of the context. Still, I have had it more convenient or let me say “safer” to listen to cover videos or just the audio of these so-called secular songs because of their video content.

I am definitely not a killjoy. I know that most of what has been read to this point are issues of personal concern and struggle to many youths today, of which I am not an exception. However, one question keeps ensnaring me.  “Am I being amused to the detriment of my soul”?

Consider this Proverb- “Above all else, guard your affections. For they influence everything else in your life…Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions.  Watch your step. Stick to the path and be safe.  Don’t sidetrack; pull back your foot from danger”. (Proverbs 4:23-27)

What if being amused at the expense of one’s soul is wrong i.e a sin? Like using my body parts (eyes, ears) as an instrument to sin.

Never offer any part of your body to sin’s power. No part of your body should ever be used to do any ungodly thing. Instead, offer yourselves to God as people who have come back from death and are now alive. Offer all the parts of your body to God. Use them to do everything that God approves of”. (Romans 6:13)

Every kind of wrongdoing is sin” (1 John 5:17)

I will wrap this post up with a question, and then I will allow Yahweh give us a suggestion on what the answer might be.

WHAT IS THE COST OF A HUMAN SOUL?

“Woe to the world for such temptations to sin and influences to do wrong! It is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the person on whose account or by whom the temptation comes!  And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble and sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life maimed or lame than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into everlasting fire.  And if your eye causes you to stumble and sin, pluck it out and throw it away from you; it is better (more profitable and wholesome) for you to enter life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the hell of fire”. (Matthew 18:7-9 (AMP))

Is there anything worth being crippled or blind for? Your soul is, according to Jesus.

I AM NOT SAYING BEING AMUSED IS A SIN. BUT ENSURE IT’S NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR SOUL BECAUSE IT WON’T BE WORTH IT ON THE LONG RUN.

What has this post communicated to you? I am waiting to see your comment.

Thank you for reading, I’ll be waiting to see your comment. 

About author

Articles

Tolulope Oludapo is a young Christian who lends his voice through the media by sharing practical wisdom for everyday living in the most experiential and simplified fashion. This has fetched him the direct followership of over 30,000 users on his blog, lifegiva.com. A blog he founded. He loves to write on varying subjects that affect life, faith, relationship...everyday living.
Related posts
Faith

How to Deal with Addictions: Stories from Real People

Addictions are hard to overcome. They can affect our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual…
Read more
Faith

Balancing Faith and Busy Schedules: 4 Practical Tips for Devotion

Do you struggle to find time for God in your hectic schedule? Do you feel guilty for not spending…
Read more
Faith

The Bible and Polygamy

Recently, popular Actor and movie producer- Yul Edochie, announced on social media that he has a son…
Read more
Newsletter
Become a Lifegiva

Get the laest articles, merch deals, personal Q&As, behind the scenes, unmissable news about Lifegiva and more!

Sign up for our Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & freebies. Let's stay updated!