One of the best Scriptures for direction on media discernment is Colossians
2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive
philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the
world rather than on Christ." Every movie, TV show and song contains someone’s
philosophy.
We wage war first and foremost on our knees.
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Of course, not all entertainment is "hollow and deceptive," but much
of it is. And unlike being taken prisoner during wartime, the captivity process
of the mind occurs slowly—a gradual desensitization. Unfortunately, some
teens—even Christian teens—willingly allow themselves to be taken
captive by the world.
For these young people, teaching media discernment is getting the cart before
the horse. What they need first is to give Jesus Christ the foremost priority
in their life. Here we need to remember that, as with any territorial struggle
between righteousness and worldliness, we wage war first and foremost on our
knees.
The words of Nehemiah are meaningful in this context: "Don’t
be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for
your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes"
(Neh. 4:14). Regarding our sons and daughters, we must realize that we’re
in a battle. A spiritual battle for their hearts and minds. Fighting for this
high ground is not optional—it’s essential for their well-being
and protection.
Nothing can take the place of a victory in this war to name Christ as Lord
in your teen’s life. Once that ground has been claimed, your family can
agree on the goal of honoring Christ in all your entertainment choices. And
you can work together to see that goal accomplished.
