A reader named James recently submitted a thoughtful question in response to my 2019 article, How the Early Church Approached Entertainment:

I want your opinion on the early church fathers and sports as entertainment today. Like football, basketball, baseball, or other sports. What about UFC or boxing? Which would be considered acceptable, and which would not? We’re called to not be of this world, but does that mean we shouldn’t enjoy certain things in it? What about movies that don’t glorify sex but contain some violence—like The Avengers? Or what about neutral music and neutral movies? Where should the early church fathers and we as Christians stand?

This is an important and relevant question in today’s entertainment-saturated world. As I discussed in the original article, early Christians were generally cautious about entertainment, particularly forms that glorified immorality, idolatry, or violence. The gladiatorial games, for example, were strongly condemned because they promoted bloodshed and desensitized people to human suffering.

Sports and Christian Values

Applying this to modern sports, we should ask: Does this sport encourage godly or ungodly values? Sports like basketball, baseball, and soccer emphasize skill, competition, teamwork, and discipline. Even football, though physically intense, is primarily about strategy, coordination, and perseverance. Most fans do not watch these sports to revel in violence but to appreciate incredible displays of athleticism and the enjoyable experiences with friends and family they foster.

Moreover, sports can teach and celebrate many positive values. Through sports we see the importance of discipline, as training and hard work are required to succeed. We see the importance of teamwork, as cooperation, communication, and humility lead to success. Many young people learn the importance of perseverance by pushing through the challenges sports present.

Paul himself seemed to appreciate the value of sports. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, he used the image of a runner striving for a prize to illustrate spiritual discipline. In 2 Timothy 4:7, he described his faithfulness as “fighting the good fight” and “finishing the race.” These references suggest that Paul, if not an active participant, at least saw athletic competition as a useful metaphor for Christian life, one that emphasizes endurance, self-control, and focus on the ultimate goal.

However, not all sports are the same. Combat sports, like UFC, raise more concerns because their primary goal is physical domination and injury. This more closely resembles the violent spectacles early Christians opposed. If Christians watch sports such as football or hockey primarily for the violent hits and fights, they should probably reconsider what they are feeding into their minds. Additionally, many modern sporting events are accompanied by nationalistic hymns or militaristic displays, which closely parallel the idolatrous practices the early church renounced. Therefore, while a Christian might participate in or enjoy sports, they should carefully examine their hearts to ensure they are not cultivating violence, pride, or idolatry in the process.

Movies, Music, and Media: Drawing the Line

A common question arises: Where do we draw the line in entertainment? How much bad language, how many sexual references, or how much violence makes a movie inappropriate?

This question is much like asking: How many grains of sand make a pile? If you see ten grains, you wouldn’t call it a pile. What about 50? 100? 10,000? A million? Where exactly does a pile begin?

Drawing the line is tricky.

But just because it’s difficult to define doesn’t mean there is no such thing as a “pile” of sand—or, in this case, that no movies, shows, or music are inappropriate for Christians. Some entertainment clearly glorifies sin, while others may contain minor questionable elements without promoting sinful values.

Drawing the line is tricky. I’m sure there are many Christians who won’t watch The Avengers or other Marvel movies due the amount of violence. Others will contend that the comic-book genre gives this violence a specific context, and does not necessarily celebrate immorality the way other movies do. But when movies explicitly promote sexual sin, greed, or rebellion against God this should certainly give us pause. The key is discernment: Are we watching, listening, or participating in a way that glorifies God?

The Real Question: Not Just Avoiding Sin, But Pursuing Holiness

Ultimately, entertainment choices should not be guided by a mindset of “How much can I get away with?” but rather “How can I glorify God?”

Rather than merely avoiding what is sinful, we should actively seek what is good, pure, and noble (Philippians 4:8). Entertainment itself is not inherently sinful, but in a world that constantly competes for our attention, we must be careful not to become desensitized to sin or enslaved by our entertainment habits. We would be wise to remember Paul’s warning, “but if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey” (Romans 6:13-18). Do not allow yourself to become a slave to entertainment.

If you have never turned off a TV show or movie you really “wanted” to enjoy, or purposely taken a step back from a sport you love to consume for the purpose of your spiritual health, there is a good chance that sports may have become an idol in your life. We may not always agree on exactly where to draw the line, but one thing is certain: As Christians, we must never stop drawing the line.