It would not be hard to make
a case that our cultural obsession with entertainment is essentially a
surrogate religion. Take sports for example. Its temples are the great stadiums
that are sacred ground to many. Its priests are in the zebra stripes. Its gods
wear their names on the back of their jerseys. Its liturgy are fan chants. Its
sacrifices are the vast amounts of money that fans pay for tickets and team
gear and time that fans devote to tailgating, the actual game, and the post
game celebration.
But the god of sports isn't
the only entertainment deity. How about he world of celebrities and the
incredible amount of attention that people devote to showbiz couples and
activities.
We are so invested in the
lives of stars, athletes and teams that we are distracted from their own lives.
Have we gone from watching to worshipping? Think I am using hyperbole? Consider
the following:
Around what does everything
orbit in your life?
What are the locked in dates
in your calendar?
What are the essential items
in your budget?
Are you obsessed with an
upcoming game/episode/event/activity?
Before we become too
legalistic, we need to remind our selves that entertainment is a gift from God.
How can we not be entertained by God's creation? Entertainment can be rest for the mind and emotions.
After all, Paul says,
"Command those who are
rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth,
which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us
with everything for our enjoyment." 1 Timothy 6:17
The problem is that we make
entertainment the main event instead of just the side show. We look for the
meaning of life in Hollywood
