It was our joy last night to have the Jacob Brothers with us. They have been singing Gospel music for nearly 50 years. It was a joy to hear some songs of our faith. I saw a lot of smiles afterward and heard a lot of words of satisfaction.
At every concert the old question raises itself, was this edification or entertainment? Is it alright to be entertained? What's the difference?
As I thought about it I tried to understand it this way. If I was entertained, I had a happy, feel good time that lasted, if I was lucky, until I went to bed that night. In the morning I might remember the feeling but few of the lyrics of the songs.
If I was edified I felt good, or maybe felt reproved, corrected and a pinch of guilt and made things right between the Lord and me, and enjoyed the night. The next morning I still had the words of a song in my mind and the blessing continued.
So which is it, entertainment or edification? Both are good, but I would expect something that lingers and lasts is better. By the way this applies to our Sunday worship and the preaching of God's Word , too.
What do you think? Comment please.
Great question to think about! Entertainment is about a shallow (emotional?) response: I enjoyed that. Edification involves spiritual help or change. Sometime edification is entertaining, but it is usually not entertaining. It's kind of like food. Sometimes food that is good for you tastes good. But often it doesn't taste good. We need broccoli, but we want chocolate.
ReplyDeleteIn the same way though if we discipline ourselves by only eating good food, slowly we train our palate to appreciate and like good food more. The same happens with Christians who train themselves in godliness. Edification (spiritual help and encouragement) tastes better and is more likely to be entertaining. Of course some forms of edification that we need the most (rebuke) I think will always be spiritual liver - never entertaining.