Media Discernment

Discernment – the act or process of exhibiting keen insight and good judgment.
Learning media discernment is very important for Christ-followers (especially young Christians) in order to maintain a focus on God’s communication and plan for us. What I mean by “media discernment” is the ability to identify and distinguish those things in the media (music, movies, TV, books, magazines) that are inherently “bad” for us, and separate them from the “good” or “neutral” category. It is like having radar to detect stuff that we know deep inside that God would rather have us steer clear of. Sometimes it is easy to identify this: obviously God would rather us not choose to view a pornographic movie or magazine. Other times it is not so clear. Music in particular is a form of media that is sometimes difficult to have clear discernment for good and bad, because it isn’t always visual and the lyrics can sometimes cloud an otherwise clear message. Nevertheless, I believe that it is extremely important for all youth, and Christians in particular, to develop a strong sense of discernment about what they choose to listen to, see, and be exposed to.

In my own life, music has always had an extremely powerful pull on my emotions, attitudes, and way of viewing the world. When I was a teenager, I had a youth pastor who helped me to understand why it was important to develop a sense of discernment, to basically learn how to be careful what I listen to. He would often listen to our records and tapes with us and help us to evaluate the good and bad, and to understand why it was important for us to pay attention to it. I am not just talking about the style or genre of music, but rather the content of the message, the lyrics, and the way it makes you feel about yourself, others, and the world. Ask yourself “Does this song glorify God or does it show rebellion towards God and his plan?” It is not just the style of music that is the topic of this discernment issue, but the content and the message being sent out to the listeners. I thank God that I started to learn this art of discernment early on (in high school), and that I have been able to improve my sense of discernment and continue to improve my understanding of God’s will in this area of my life. It has helped me to develop a positive outlook on life, and has given me a strong sense of looking out for and being careful with what I “consume” in the form of media (music, movies, TV, magazines, etc.) – to help me to determine what is good and what is bad for my soul, and ultimately to help me stay focused on the goals and attitudes that God has intended for me.

-Andy G.


See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human traditions and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:8