The Unexamined Life is Not Worth Living – Socrates

These were wise words by the ancient philosopher, and filtered through a biblical worldview Christians are called to use their days resting and recreating with intentionality as they work their jobs as image-bearers of God. There is rest in God, and joy in God, but no express “me time”. God will indeed give and grant us rest and peace and relaxation as He see fit within the context of Jesus-centered lives. We are not religious people giving a portion of our time to church and community to warrant our weekends and goofing off; we are God’s people designed to bring him glory in our playtime and hobbies that truly lets us live in the manner we were created for, which ultimately brings true happiness.

Turning to rest or entertainment as your comfort (or escape), apart from relationship with Christ, is idolatrous. Entertainment is not evil. Webster’s definition defines two postures toward entertainment: one is “diversion” and the other is “engagement”. Christians should engage life with discernment, and this means both the people they talk to as well as the media they consume. To allow things like hobbies to serve as diversion seems at odds with what we profess about joy and hope and satisfaction in this life though Jesus Christ. A Christian is called to find opportunities to reflect God in rest and recreation.

Colossians 3
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Cor. 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:23-24
“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.

Assess existing hobbies and areas of life focus:
• Does it glorify God?
• Does it reveal God the Father, Son or Spirit?
• Does it build up (edify) others?
• Does it lead to cross-talk?
• Does it lead to thanking Jesus and speaking his name?
• Is it the “best use of time”?

Last question – ARE YOU HONEST, or do these help you rationalize?

Ephesians 5:15
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time…

God calls us to live counter-cultural lives wherein we are not “working for the weekend”, or putting in “time with God” apart from “time in culture”. In John 17, Jesus calls his disciples to be IN but not OF the world. At Mars Hill, we encourage our members to be in local festivals, art, culture, theater, places of assembly, thirdplaces, hot spots, etc. and be students of the culture – film, sports, poetry, and more, familiar in the same way the apostle Paul was in Athens when he preached in Acts 17. We do not create a Christian ghetto, but interact with our community and the many who populate it that don’t belong to Jesus. Bearing all this in mind, we should assess our areas of cultural engagement and determine how God is calling us to glorify him, build others up, and point everyone toward the Savior we serve.