For some believers, Christian entertainment is a controversial source of debate and division. Productions like Jesus Revolution, Southern Gospel, The Chosen, and even The Nativity a few years ago receive a negative backlash from some Christians. The main complaints are two-fold. First, these shows lack theological depth or biblical accuracy. Second, the lifestyles of some of the people involved in their creation don’t align with Christian values. Both complaints have some validity and its fair to point out those discrepancies.
The larger questions, however, are what are you really expecting from Christian entertainment and how much do these issues matter? Movies, concerts, and other productions are primarily entertainment, not Bible studies or theology lectures. They are someone’s artistic impression about and expression of past events. They are, of course, shaped by the character, imagination, and capacities of the creatives who produce them. Since all people are sinful, everything they create has flaws. Flawed doesn’t necessarily mean evil—just imperfect. And even then, these productions are significantly more uplifting than most of what is available through other media sources.
Given the panoramic wasteland of entertainment options promoted today, it seems we should be celebrating almost any attempt at wholesome alternatives. Most secular entertainment offers a steady stream of profanity, nudity, immorality, and woke-agenda content that contradicts everything Christians stand for. While Christian entertainers—including actors, comedians, and musicians, and other creatives—are far from perfect, their attempts to produce something which a family can enjoy together should be celebrated, not denigrated.
Christian entertainment is entertainment. Keep that in mind as you evaluate and comment on these media. Their purpose is artistic expression, not replacing sound teaching you receive through your church. Seminary classrooms and church pulpits are places where serious Bible teaching takes place. Regal Cinemas and Prime Video are not. Clarifying those expectations will help you enjoy Christian entertainment and benefit from the positive contribution it makes today.
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