4 Ways to Filter What You Watch through the Lens of Your Faith

If you haven’t noticed, our society is swiftly shifting into a new normal. With the continuous bombardment of information and endless entertainment, the well-coined, “popcorn brain,” has emerged, declaring that the average American spends so much time scrolling social media and the plethora of TV shows that it’s actually rewiring our brains. Recent studies show that it is becoming more and more difficult to focus on long term tasks, some even claiming that it’s leading to a rise in mental illness.

So, today I challenge you to get through this article without the need to check your phone or get sidetracked by some other digital force. Training our brains to focus for longer periods of time will not only help us with mental endurance and ward off that need to gain the next dopamine hit, but more importantly it will empower us to seek real wisdom that comes from our God.

Fellow followers of Christ, we need to pay attention, equip ourselves with truth, and lean into our faith as we live in a world that is quickly becoming emersed with dark and deceitful distractions. First, recognize that God wants us to use our time wisely (Ephesians 5:15-16) and not allow entertainment to become an idol in our lives (Leviticus 19:4). God also wants us to place our sights on what is true, noble, and right, and pure (Philippians 4:8), knowing that harmful images can be burned into the depths of our minds, causing irrevocable damage.

What Does the Bible Say about Screentime?

"So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days." - Ephesians 5:15-16
“Do not put your trust in idols or make metal images of gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God." - Leviticus 19:4
"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." - Philippians 4:8

Is Excessive Screentime a Sin?

While screentime isn’t a sin, misuse or abuse of it is. That said, we must train our minds to be intentional as we pick up our phones or reach for the remote to check out the latest news, shows, or movies. By filtering what we watch using the lens of our faith, we can gain mental clarity and peace of mind, not bending to the popcorn brain phenomenon but rather seeking to train our brains to align with God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will.

Photo Credit: GettyImages/Niyaz_Tavkaev