How Can I Know What Media is Right for My Family?

These are perilous times for parents...and kids. So many forms of media. So much content to decipher. So much our kids are absorbing and, perhaps, internalizing, from Taylor Switf's music to video games like Roblox and movies such as Captain America: Brave New World and the much-nominated Emilia Pérez. Some are age-appropriate, some not. Some come with ratings and parental controls, some don't. How can a parent know what media align with their family's values, and which don't? How can parents help their children develop critical thinking skills to make wise choices?

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Consider the Medium

First, questions about what styles of music and other media are proper for Christians have existed for centuries. Martin Luther ignited criticism by adopting the tunes of work songs and drinking songs as settings for congregational hymns (such as his “Ein Feste Burg," which English singers know as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"). Following the initial performance of Frederic Handel’s Messiah, the composer was attacked from the pulpit for fifty-two straight Sundays by none other than John Newton, the author of “Amazing Grace.” The syncopated style of jazz music was once considered “low” and profane by some Christians.

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And, of course, many Christians have serious doubts today about the various forms of rock, hip hop, and rap music, as well as other forms of entertainment such as video games, movies, and TV shows. Sure, music and other media may have "charms to soothe the savage breast,” but they also possess the power to inflame it. So perhaps our family's consumption of media can be judged by the moods and habits it creates and the passions it stirs. For example, do certain media feed my addictive tendencies? Is my binge watching a whole season of a TV series the best use of my time? If we really want our entertainment habits to please God, perhaps we (and our children, as we teach them critical thinking skills) might ask, “Does this stir feelings in me that draw me closer to God? Does it fill me with an appreciation for truth and beauty? Does it (at the very least) not prompt ungodly impulses or images and hinder my walk with Him?”

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If our answers to those questions are positive, okay. If not, we would do well to adjust our habits, in obedience to Jesus, who said, "And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell" (Matthew 18:9 NIV).

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Consider the Message

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Sometimes, of course, our critical thinking task is clarified or simplified by the content of the media we're consuming, whether overt or subtle (or even subliminal). That is, some movies, games, or music say things that don't quite align with the biblical standard, "whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things" (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

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Obviously, some media are so violent or raunchy that the choice is obvious. And sometimes ratings and parental controls can help to block such content--but not always.

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Does this mean that Christian families should consume only “Christian” media? If so, how do we define what is "Christian" and what isn't? Must it have a Christian "moral?" Or is it enough to come from a Christian? If Christians are free to enjoy paintings that do not portray Biblical scenes, to read “secular” history, humor, and fiction, can Christians be enriched by a nonviolent video game or PG-13 movie?

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These are great discussions to have between parents and as a way of helping kids grow and develop their own critical thinking skills about what reflects--and doesn't reflect--the values of their family and faith.

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Consider the Messenger

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The media and the message are not the only factors to consider.

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If a discerning Christian or Christian family feels comfortable with some particular media and its message, should they concern themselves with... the messenger?

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Should we avoid someone's music because she appears onstage in skimpy lingerie? What about artists whose personal lives don’t conform to Biblical standards? Someone's lifestyle will influence whether I want to stream a sermon or buy a book. Is the same true of an actor or performer? On the other hand, the beauty of a painting isn’t always affected by the morality of the artist, and a dazzling touchdown pass doesn’t have to be caught by an upstanding citizen to prompt me to applaud. Should more be required of a performer or content creator?

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Obviously, some performers’ lifestyles are so immoral and their opinions so anti-Christian that it can’t help but come across in their performances. The immorality of others may not color their music, but may still give the Christian cause for discomfort. In such cases, a good rule of thumb is, “If in doubt, throw it out.” Paul the Apostle suggests that if your conscience is bothered by something, it is best to leave it alone (1 Corinthians 8:7).

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The Bottom Line

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What's the bottom line? Perhaps the following guidelines can be drawn:

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Be alert when consuming media of any kind to the habits and moods it creates and the emotions it stirs.
Don't tolerate messages that contradict the Gospel or compromise your (and/or your family's) values.
Since performers can so easily become role models, and role models must be chosen carefully, be careful about whom you give repeated opportunities to influence you through their art.

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An Easy-to-Trust Entertainment Option

Adding to the difficulty for parents is the shifting landscape of many content creators. For example, Disney products were a safe bet for Christian families in the past, but that’s no longer the case. These days, parents can’t rely on the messaging of once-trusted media sources. But there is an entertainment platform that offers not only safe but truly empowering messages for kids. The TruPlay Games app provides a safe, high-quality entertainment environment featuring games, videos, and digital comics offering Bible stories, Christian themes and values, and countless hours of engaging fun for children, youth, and adults. It is a Christian resource for all ages, but especially for children, sometimes referred to as “the Netflix of Christian mobile games for children.” And it's intentionally structured to avoid the dangers of some other platforms.

TruPlay employs a subscription-based model, which allows children and adults to play, read, and have fun in an environment with no in-app purchases, no ads, and no in-app texting or chats. This means, of course, that kids can't spend money, buy "loot," click to go to outside and unknown sites, and "chat" with possible predators.

TruPlay's website (TruPlayGames.com) clearly details the app's offerings, and free downloads and trials are available in both the Apple App Store and GooglePlay. Explore the following links to unlock a safer gaming experience for your kids:

https://www.truplaygames.com/games-more

https://www.truplaygames.com/user-registration

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How Can I Know What Media is Right for My Family? | TruPlay Parents’ Guide