Reclaiming Lost Ground
Teaching media discernment to your teen may be putting the cart before the horse.
Articles within this series
One of the best Scriptures for direction on media discernment is Colossians 2:8, "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of the world rather than on Christ." Every movie, TV show and song contains someone’s philosophy.
Of course, not all entertainment is "hollow and deceptive," but much of it is. And unlike being taken prisoner during wartime, the captivity process of the mind occurs slowly — a gradual desensitization. Unfortunately, some teens — even Christian teens — willingly allow themselves to be taken captive by the world.
For these young people, teaching media discernment is getting the cart before the horse. What they need first is to give Jesus Christ the foremost priority in their life. Here we need to remember that, as with any territorial struggle between righteousness and worldliness, we wage war first and foremost on our knees.
The words of Nehemiah are meaningful in this context: "Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes" (Neh. 4:14). Regarding our sons and daughters, we must realize that we’re in a battle. A spiritual battle for their hearts and minds. Fighting for this high ground is not optional — it’s essential for their well-being and protection.
Nothing can take the place of a victory in this war to name Christ as Lord in your teen’s life. Once that ground has been claimed, your family can agree on the goal of honoring Christ in all your entertainment choices. And you can work together to see that goal accomplished.