The Early Church on Entertainment

Gavin Ortlund explores how the early church viewed entertainment in the Roman Empire.

Gavin Ortlund (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is President of Truth Unites and Theologian-in-Residence at Immanuel Nashville.

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00:00 - Introduction
01:14 - 1) Entertainment Then and Now
08:13 - 2) The Shaping Role of Entertainment
21:09 - 3) Grace to Heal From Entertainment
24:29 - Two Suggestions
27:48 - Three Cautions
33:58 - Following Christ Leads to Joy

[buckeyelevi]

I remember the day when I realized that through the power of the gospel, I could be made pure again. I could be innocent. I could have motivations of love instead of desire. Oh what a glorious day it was! Then, to look back over the years and to see it actually taking place? “Worthy is the lamb who was slain!” is all I can say.

[Ampwich]

If you think I'm gonna actually sit here and watch a 36 minute video about if church fathers back in the day would watch TV....well you'd be right

[BryceBulthaup]

"Entertainment is catechesis" is very true, never heard someone phrase it like that before. Good stuff Gav

[andrebmkt]

Adultery is certainly learned. Here in Brazil we have a TV channel called "Globo" which shifted the morality of the population MASSIVELY via its soap operas. When exporting its soap operas to Cabo Verde in Africa, its populace gradually experienced a massive increase in adultery via the subtle messages of "acceptable adulteries" portrayed in the soap operas, as well.

[pianoatthirty]

“No matter who you are, no matter what you’ve done, you are not beyond the grace of God…. Those words, ‘washing off through grace’, that’s it - that’s the gospel.” I was just thinking the other day how reading the Bible for the first time in my life feels like I’m vomiting out all this pain and sorrow that’s been inside my whole life. Thank you Gavin for what you’re doing here.

[TheJoeschmoe]

So when it comes to these questions, of entertainment or whatever, I think St. Pauls words in Corinthians should be considered:

"All things are lawful to me, but I will not be brought under the power of any."

Simply put, do you consume the entertainment, or does it consume you? That's the question we should be asking ourselves as Christians.

[BrianWright-milc]

When you said "be free of it" it reminded me of my own realization and desire for freedom when I finally repented and it is so good. God has rescued me from sin and is working in me day by day. My struggle with entertainment now lies more in the distraction it can pose. Even in this I know the Lord will see me through, but it is a struggle especially after a long day to not watch that Office episode for the 9000th time and instead do something constructive for the kingdom or for my family or even for myself. The passivity of entertainment is a danger that underlines all the other dangers it poses. And I have to admit I'm not doing a great job in this area. Beautiful teaching, Gavin thank you for continuing to surface these jewels of wisdom from our ancient brothers and sisters.

[benjismith]

I just want to say, thank you for being sensitive to the obsessive compulsive tendencies of your viewer. As someone who suffers from intense OCD, things like this can bring a lot of anxiety, but you handled this very well and with lots of compassion.

[caleb.lindsay]

For me the most fundamental lesson I learned from the Holy Spirit on this topic generally (vice, sin, entertainment, etc) is:
"Until you stop viewing having your ability to kill yourself limited as oppression, you are enslaved to death."

I say it in this way despite it being more confusing sounding because the negative statement of a thing can sometimes be more potent than the positive. You are not more free because you do meth, you are less free. You are not more free because you watch porn, you are less free. These are consuming, enslaving habits that drive you promptly towards demise. That is not freedom. Anything marching you towards death is enslavement. Anything marching you towards life is freedom.

Choose Christ and be free to live and live abundantly.

[jeremyneufeld]

Great video! I believe the key of discerning your personal boundaries in media is when you start to glorify, or nullify the evil that is occurring in it. That line can be different for many people so discernment is important. Once again a very good watch, and very informative!

[Christian-utsp]

Haha I was really worried about where I thought this was heading because I can think of certain movies where tragic events (sometimes involving violence) are depicted as part of the story, and I feel like to class all of that as bad would do real damage to art generally. However, you recognized the same towards the end. Great video.

[rogeraraujo]

I've recently spent 4 hours playing "Bunny Garden" (an anime dating simulator) yesterday. I went to bed at 1am. Pastor, you don't realise how blessed this video is to me this day 😂. Repentance all the way. I will change through christ. Introverted male young adults are doomed in this entertainment world. 😅

[Papajohnsfanclub]

Just found this channel while doing research on Eastern Orthodoxy. This guy is very knowledgeable and seems to value the need for intellectual satisfaction when it comes to some of the more key theologies.

[TheNinjaInConverse]

I didn't have WiFi for a summer once, and that made me read so much, try to learn the guitar....all sorts of things! I wish I wasn't going back to school so I could keep that up, often.

[Brett.Crealy-khsk]

Well handled without shaming folks, that's wisdom! I've heard it said, it's shame that holds a particular sin to someone..

Bring it out into the open with a trustworthy Pastor, Elder, Brother or Sister in Christ, or understanding spouse, and let the shame and sin both go where they belong, to the cross where they were nailed!

Thank You for that message of freedom & grace Brother Gavin! 🙏🕊️👍

[Chegui-km]

Doing a study on food by the church fathers is also fascinating

[joshuareeves]

This was a very good video. I really appreciated it. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and these convicting calls from the church fathers. On the note of encouragement, as I heard you speak Cyril's well known quote kept ringing in my ears: "Your accumulated offenses do not surpass the multitude of God's mercies; your wounds do not surpass the Great Physician's skill."

[vaultdweller]

Ah, now I see why Augustine was so against the theaters in his writings (I am currently reading The City of God). I thought that in the theaters there were plays like Shakespeare's or Sophocles's tragedies and thought that Augustine is too harsh on entertainment in general. Now I see that I was wrong.

[raphaelfeneje]

Got to stop polluting my mind with things that I'd usually call fun. Have to reform my mind. God's grace is sufficient. God bless you immensely ❤🙏✝️

[gracenotes]

"The problem with entertainment is not that it has too much joy in it, but that it deadens joy." So true! But let us not be among those who forsake worldly pleasures but make no strong connection with heavenly ones. John 10v10