By Briana Bass, Christian Romance Author, Devotional Writer & Certified Professional Coach

Do you remember watching Saturday morning cartoons as a kid? Or rushing home from school to catch your favorite afternoon program? I particularly remember a Jack Russell Terrier encouraging my love of classical literature. And an eclectic teacher who used a school bus to teach me science. There were kids who spent their recess playing and making friends, babies who went on adventures, and teens competing in obstacle courses.

As an adult, I enjoy first responder shows about found family. I’m a sucker for a good cooking program. Kids fighting monsters in the Midwest? Sign me up! There are some series and movies I avoid because I’m simply not a fan of police procedurals, graphic sexual content, or graphic violence. Or most reality competition shows. They’re just not my thing.

All of the media I’ve alluded to is secular. Some characters are Christian, and sometimes you’ll see them go to church or celebrate Christmas, but the content itself does not fall into Christian genres. Yet I still watch it. I listen to secular music. I read secular books. I do not limit myself to only Christian content.

There are some Christians who do not engage in secular popular culture. That’s cool. You do you. You have every right to choose what content you consume. We all have different likes and dislikes. But none of us has the right to police someone else’s entertainment.

Drawing Boundary Lines

I write closed-door romance. This means lots of sizzling kisses but no graphic sexual content. I don’t use a lot of swear words and there’s no on-page graphic violence, either. While those creative decisions align with many Christian values, they are not what make my books Christian romance. That’s true of a lot of closed-door romance books. In fact, most books in this subgenre are secular. If you limit yourself to only Christian closed-door romance, then you’re missing out on some great love stories. If there is something you don’t want to consume, then you have every right to not consume it. But it’s also okay if you choose to enjoy it. You can read Christian closed-door romance, and you can read secular closed-door romance. Go on. Have fun!

The thing is, we can become legalistic about secular culture and entertainment. At what point do you draw the line? Are professional or college sports allowed? Classical music? Nursery rhymes? Does something check the box so long as it mentions Jesus? Different Christians are going to have different responses to that which just goes to prove my point. There isn’t one set of rules anyway so why restrict yourself from content and media you enjoy?

Secular media isn’t always the devil in disguise that some Christians make it out to be. Media can teach us morality. Right and wrong, good versus bad, these are life lessons we can learn from secular media, Christian media, and even from other religions. Yes, sometimes media exists simply for entertainment and in some cases, yeah, the message it’s trying to share doesn’t align with Christian values. But we can’t pigeonhole all secular media. It’s time to let go of this notion that secular entertainment is evil and anti-Christian and that Christians are sinning if they consume it. I don’t know the history of this perspective, but I do know that it’s overreaching and ridiculous.

My Entertainment, My Choice

To be honest, some media that labels itself “Christian” doesn’t align with Christian values, either. Or at the very least, it may align with one denomination’s perspectives but not another’s. It becomes quite complicated and exhausting attempting to parse out what is “Christian” and what is not. I’m sure there are some people who would claim my books aren’t Christian because my characters drink socially, because I include a female pastor, and because I write make-out scenes.

Yes, there are some values we can all agree on. Exploitation is bad, consent is good. But consuming secular entertainment? We are divided. Determining what constitutes Christian media? Again, we’re not of one mind. With so much gray area, it’s nearly impossible to convict someone for what they enjoy (as long as what they enjoy doesn’t harm themselves or others).

The type of media you consume is a personal choice. If you believe that the Holy Spirit is convicting you to stop reading certain books or watch certain movies, then you must remember that the Holy Spirit is only speaking to you. There may be a particular trigger that could be harmful to you or something unique to your situation that God is protecting you from. That doesn’t mean you get to determine whether or not other people should consume the same media you now avoid. It’s their choice, and it’s okay if they consume secular media. Think of it this way: people in recovery avoid alcohol, but other people still drink it and that’s okay. We should apply the same principle to consuming secular entertainment.

Give Yourself Permission

Let people watch or listen to or read what they want. It’s okay if what they want to amuse themselves with is secular content. There are lessons to be learned from every area of entertainment, or at the very least, opportunities to enjoy simple pleasures. There’s so much we can discover when we step outside the imaginary boundary lines we’ve drawn.

You don’t need my approval to enjoy secular entertainment, but if you would like to have it here it is: it’s okay to consume secular media. You’re not breaking a commandment. You’re not a bad person. There is nothing wrong with you. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Enjoy it!