The babysitter’s house flooded due to the heavy rain overnight so the sitter couldn’t watch the mom’s six-month-old while she went to work. So the mom asked the owner of the small business where she worked if she could bring the child to work with her. When Teri and I came to the store, we noticed the adorable little guy lying on a blanket on the floor in her office. In front of the child, a phone was propped up so the child could see lively cartoon characters with the goal of keeping him happy and quiet. My heart was heavy thinking of the lifelong dependency on entertaining media likely ahead for him.   

I have mentioned previously that I meet many young men who are addicted to video games. Let’s assume that the games they are playing are not sinful. The popular attitude these days is that if a game isn’t sinful, then it’s okay. The truth is these individuals are addicted to their video games and live for them. “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any” (1 Corinthians 6:12).

These same young men would not spend their hard-earned money to buy a car that simply sat in their driveway and was not driven. Cars are purchased to be driven. Brother, Jesus Christ purchased us with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:19) so that we could be used by Him to proclaim the good news of the Gospel and serve Him with our lives. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10).

Please understand, I know media is an easy way to keep children happy. We were TV free until the children caught chicken pox in the late 1980’s. We got one then to keep them happily occupied. What a mistake. It took several years to get the beast out again. I believe iPads, video games, movies and cartoons are far worse today and addicting. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).