Squid Game and Media Musings From a Christian Perspective

Recently, I watched the Netflix show Squid Game, and like many, I thoroughly enjoyed it. However, the show has generated some controversy, specifically surrounding violence and the issue of children watching such shows. Putting the viewing age aside, although it is certainly apparent that it would not be age-appropriate for anyone under 18, Squid Game caused me to consider an issue Christians seem to be forever talking about: how should we relate to media and various forms of entertainment?

As Christians, we ought to examine our motives for entertainment, because the chief end of man is not to have a pleasurable, comfortable life full of popcorn and cheesy rom coms. Our purpose is to glorify God in all that we do and to enjoy him forever. This conversation cannot be side-lined as media and various forms of entertainment constantly bombard us. Various television shows, movies, and video games are constantly vying for our attention; therefore, it is not as simple as switching them off and ignoring them. It is becoming increasingly vital for us to consider how best we should relate to media and how we ought to consume media.

Why this is an important issue and why we Christians should be considering how we use technology and consume media:

1. Media is not neutral

Firstly, media is not neutral, and it is dangerous to treat it as such. Yes, dangerous; we cannot just passively let media wash over us. This is not about any bias found in news media but is about forms of entertainment, like Squid Game, and how they are almost constantly sending a specific message, affirming a lifestyle, or speaking from a specific worldview. This lack of neutrality is inevitable and is a feature of any media, as entertainment is produced by finite humans who are not naturally inclined to be impartial. If we wholeheartedly believe something or ascribe to a specific belief system, as all humans do, we often produce things that affirm said worldview. It becomes a problem when we are unaware of this and subconsciously accept underlying messages which contradict what the Bible says. For example, we may think watching a trashy reality T.V dating show is harmless, but have we considered the message the program is sending? What message are they sending by having their contestants sleep with one another? What worldview are they affirming? Would this offend or grieve God?

Maybe I sound like an old fuddy-duddy or an overly pious and uptight individual. That is fine. I am not saying these shows are off-limits; that is up to our own discretion. We are not to become hermits and have our only recreational time involve churning butter or burning all electronics and ceremoniously deleting our Netflix subscriptions. Instead, we need to be conscious of this new battleground that has emerged in the 21st century. Instead of just going ‘cold turkey’, we must be filtering what we interact with through the Christian worldview, and to do this effectively means constantly being in God’s word and hearing the public teaching of God’s word.

Personally, I am certainly guilty of kicking back after work or university, laying on my bed, with my phone and passively scrolling. Frankly, I would say many people, religious or irreligious, would probably admit they spend too much time on various forms of media. It is a problem shared by many and is not aided by how addictive these forms of entertainment can be. Although, as Christians, we must remember that even if we are relaxing, the devil is always active, and these forms of entertainment are a perfect opportunity to gain a foothold. In 1 Peter 5v8, it says, “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”. Satan is always active, and we must not forget this.

2.As Christians we ought to be wise with our time

Secondly, we should be using our time wisely. Ephesians 5 v 16 says, “making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” We only have a certain amount of time on this earth, so we ought to make that time count. A past teacher once said that we ought to “use our recreational time for our recreation,” in other words, use your downtime for kingdom-related endeavours. Of course, at the time, young me internally rolled her eyes, but my teacher, she was right. We often have limited free time, so it is wise to use some for eternal good rather than solely for fleeting, frivolous fun.

Before moving on, I must stress that this is not a black and white issue and that an additional hour of T.V is not damaging your soul. Entertainment is not inherently evil, and we should enjoy ourselves, but that is not our sole purpose. Rather, we must examine our hearts and carefully consider whether how much media we consume negatively impacts our walk with Christ. What is the first thing you do when waking up? Do you prioritise reading the Bible? How is your prayer life? What do you do on a Sunday evening? It would be hypocritical to say I do this perfectly; arguably, I’m a terrible culprit of the ‘mindless scroll.’ The majority of us enjoy various forms of entertainment, and that is all well and good; however, we must remember that we are not put on this earth for pleasure. I would argue we Western Christians, who, on average, enjoy a life of relative comfort and security, have sadly forgotten this fact.

3.A Brief mention of our call as Christians

Finally, we cannot effectively create disciples if the world’s sin entertains us. Part of being a Christian is sharing the hope we have with unbelievers and proclaiming Jesus as Lord (Matthew 28:16-20). That requires us to share a crucial part of the gospel message – confess your sins, repent and turn away from them to Jesus Christ. Additionally, we are called to be ‘salt and light’ (Matthew 5:13-16), in other words being effective witnesses and having a positive impact on the culture around us. In an “Ask Pastor John” episode on Christian engagement with media, John Piper mentions that we cannot be salt and light if we find the glorification of sin in what we watch entertaining. This makes sense! How are we any different from the world if we enjoy watching others in their sin?

Rather than overindulging in media or becoming culturally starved, and avoiding any form of entertainment, we need to bring our interaction with media under the lordship of Christ. Whether it be Instagram, a movie, or any other form of entertainment, we ought to be aware and switched on, ultimately seeking to serve Christ well with our time.