~The Surgeon General’s Warning
{A Guide to Media Consumption}

Posted by Stephanie Wright on September 17th, 2010 in Blog | 5 Comments

I absolutely love fall! Aside from the turning of the leaves and pumpkin pie, fall is a wonderful season because of two fantastic words: Season. Premiere. Oh yes! Next week is huge in terms of television, as most shows return from summer vacation and start anew.

If you ask anyone who knows me, they would probably tell you that I have an addiction to entertainment. And that’s probably not far from the truth. Each year I compile a list of my favorite TV shows, their date and time during the week, so as sure not to miss a single episode. Each year, that list gets longer and longer. I quote movies and television in everyday life. I just love entertainment!

Even so, I understand that in all of my media consumption, I need to have limitations. Allow me to explain. Nowadays we know the risks of smoking, and that if a person chooses to smoke; they make themselves vulnerable to cancer and emphysema. We are aware of the fact that alcohol can impair a person’s decisions while under its influence. Despite of how both of these can be hazardous to our health, we are still given the right to consume them. However, we are warned of the negative effects.

I feel that the same could be said with entertainment concerning our spiritual health. The bible says to “guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23 NIV). Now let’s be honest and admit that we can’t watch a movie or TV show without being affected by it. (You remember crying at the end of Titanic!)

Just as we should be concerned about what food we allow into our bodies, so should we be wary of what messages we allow into our hearts and minds. The more we allow certain messages to have our undivided attention, the more likely it is we will begin to accept those messages, or feel less strongly opposed to them (this is why my husband always changes the channel when a lingerie scene comes on!).

Now I’m not implying all media is absolutely evil, I’m just suggesting that as you become invested in a show, proceed with caution. But we all know there are certain shows that might not be very safe to watch. If you make yourself aware of what messages it is sending your way, you will be better prepared to “guard your heart”.

So this entertainment season, make sure to keep your eyes peeled and your mind protected!