God gives us a standard to make our lives better and more productive, not to make them boring.
How can a Christian know what God wants them to watch on television or what type of activities He wants them involved in?
We won’t find Scripture that says, “Thou shall not watch this or that on television” or, “You shall not go to this activity or that one.” However, we will find Biblical instructions to help us judge or prove what is right for us to do.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving (testing) what is acceptable to the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
(Eph. 5:8-11)
The Bible is telling us not to have anything to do with sinful things. In verse 10 we are told to prove or test what is acceptable to the Lord. We can put things to the test and see if they are acceptable to the Lord or not.
If something is a work of darkness, we are not to have any fellowship with it. Some things are obviously a work of darkness and some things aren’t as obvious. This is why the Bible gives us a positive standard by which to judge:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
(Phil. 4:8)
We have to ask ourselves if the things we are doing or watching fit into the above standard. This is how we prove or test what is acceptable to the Lord.
God gives us this standard to make our lives better and more productive, not to make them boring. This is how every Christian should decide what he or she should do or not do.
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Joe Cameneti Sr. is the lead pastor of Believers Church, located in his hometown of Warren, Ohio. Pastor Joe, along with his wife Gina, pioneered Believers Church in 1983 following his graduation from Bible School.
In addition to leading a thriving local church, Pastor Joe is the host of a weekly show called "BCTV." The program is aired locally on WFMJ, the NBC affiliate, reaching thousands weekly.
Pastor Joe is a gifted communicator, skilled in the art of building bridges to unchurched America. Transparent and authentic, you'll walk away challenged and encouraged to connect with God in a deeper way.