Time Out From Media

Since Shannon and I have been married (and before that, I'm sure), we've allowed ourselves to be inundated with media. This comes in the form of movies, TV shows, the internet, books and video games. During this time, though we've seen spiritual growth and maturity come about, our relationships with God have seemed a bit stagnant. At the same time, I think we've begun to cling to media for our source of joy. It's the thing that we look forward to at the end of the day. For empirical evidence to support this claim, we need only look at the gifts we received/requested for Christmas and how much of our free time we have put forth toward taking in media. I got 2 Miyazaki movies, the X-Men Trilogy, and X-Men Legends (an X-Box Game). Shannon got the complete Jane Austen collection (book) and the recent cinematic version of Pride and Prejudice (it's very good if for anyone who questions the brilliance of Jane Austen as an author). When this is added to the fact that we just borrowed two seasons of Stargate from my friend Peter, we have at least 120+ hours of media entertainment (180+ hours for me with the game included).

All this said, we're overloaded and practically enslaved by media. What are we to do? But only this week I believe that I heard God very clearly. It was sort of an answer to prayer and yet very unexpected because I thought myself incapable of hearing such a request from Him. I've fasted from media before, usually for 40 days at a time, but usually to very little gain on my part. So I really didn't feel like giving up playing video games anymore or giving up movies for another 7 weeks of my short life which is left on this earth. But, somehow, giving up my free time to God was the only thing that made sense to me this past Wednesday night. I was shocked that I could even conceive of the idea let alone actually think it was a worth while idea. It was almost immediately obvious that God's Spirit was doing a work in us when I told Shannon and we both had agreed that night.

So now we're choosing to live media free. The reason I share this is mainly because I'm not viewing it as a fast. Fasts have a pre-decided duration. This one is completely up in the air. From the beginning I felt that we would just know if it was ever okay for us allow it back into our lives. When we decided, I also felt that God was answering prayers for a deeper closeness to Him and greater hunger for His kingdom rule in our lives. This is not to say that I've seen any explosive breakthroughs, but suffice it to say that He is working. I know that He's going to renew our hearts for the purpose of spreading His name and renown. I also feel, but am not sure, that He will redeem our hearts as far as media is concerned and that we will no longer look to it as our source of comfort. Rather, we'll find our meaning and purpose in His Son's death and resurrection and live lives set free from the curse. I know that this is God's plan for us. It's the only thing that makes sense to me really.

Right now, to be honest, I don't feel like worshiping Him or studying the Bible. I'd rather watch a movie or do something else that would not be very fulfilling. But I know that the life He has for us must be bigger than this. I see my friends who enjoy media but don't seem to be enslaved by it. There are other friends that enjoy so many things the world offers and yet appear to live lives devoted to God. I want that for us. I want to be able to enjoy the life God has given me in the many forms that it presents itself and live free from guilt and condemnation. I want the cross to cover my life completely not so that I can do whatever I want, but so that I can do whatever God wants and be able to exult in it. I want to live free. ~Michael