by I have long thought that Americans in the 21st century have been harmed by convenience more than helped. Instead of sitting around scrubbing laundry on the tub, we have washing machines. Instead of cooking food we have microwaves. The list goes on. Now, before you say, “This guy’s headed to becoming Amish!” remember that I am posting this on the Internet. 
This all brings me to the latest musings while shoveling snow. We got some of it yesterday, and being without any mechanical manner of moving it other than brute force, I was out there doing just that. My snow moving musings have been everything from how my sons and I could one day build a snow moving empire culminating in buying a big truck with a blade to the more mundane. Yesterday, my thoughts centered on Mary Poppins.
I’ve been reading Tozer’s thoughts on Worship and Entertainment and had finished the work, but my thoughts haven’t left some of his arguments. My musing began thinking that Mary Poppins was a bad movie in disguise. I mean, think about it– you have a father that knows nothing of his kids other than their name, a mother who does not seem to hold a job outside the house, and yet seems to occupy her time with getting “Votes for Women” (a noble thing, mind you, but priorities!), and the cook and maid that don’t like the idea of taking care of the children either.
But then, I got to thinking. Yes, the “Votes for Women” is quite the priority issue, but the movie’s moral
also teaches the fact that the true good things in life are found in spending time with the children, giving to those less fortunate, and placing value where it should be. Indeed, Mary’s entire mission is to get that family back together in a right relationship.
The more I thought about it, the more interesting a barometer Mary Poppins became. When we leave Mary, we leave with the thought “the father finally got it, the family is more important.” When we leave current remakes of the theme, such as Home Alone, we leave with “Man, it was cool how a kid can fend off burglers despite the fact that his family left him.” This alone shows the great difference in the entertainment choices that we are presented with.
So, where am I going with all of this? What have you and I accepted as entertainment that shouldn’t dignify our time? What does the movie/tv show teach? What’s it’s moral? Boil down that thing you are addicted to, be it soaps, sci-fi, whatever, and is that which is left worthy of time better spent with your family, the Word of God, etc. Can you worship God through your watching of that thing? If the answer is no– don’t let anything stop you from turning it off, or getting up and walking out.
you know, you are right, of course it is not only t.v. though it is computer too, i had trouble with that at one time to where i wanted to be on the puter so much and it took time away from God. Then i read a quote that said “If your Bible is falling apart, your life probably isn’t” and that woke me up 🙂 i pray all is well your way, are you ready for Christmas? GOd bless!
I differ a little bit in your point MIn. Shows and movies either affirm what the Bible says about man’s condition, or they can be used as examples to reveal Scriptural truths. In using Mary Poppins, I think you’ve made the point that we (as believers) should not watch something vacantly, but to examine what we see in regards to what God has said.
But taken too much (as with many things), they only serve to distract. If all one does is watch to be ‘entertained’ and shut off all filters in interpreting those images and sounds through a biblical lense, then that’s a sure way to hold oneself back spiritually.
But your final point is correct. Anything that detracts time with the Lord, is time worth giving up in pursuing that relationship w/our God.