Not the Spirit of Entertainment, but the Holy Spirit

Recently, a minister I deeply respect said, “Pray against the spirit of entertainment.” At first, I was very unsettled. How could entertainment—something that can reach the world with the Gospel—be something we need to pray against? While entertainment has drawn people away from Jesus for the last five or six decades, I felt he lacked the understanding of how it can be used to draw people to Jesus now. But as I prayed and reflected, the Spirit of God revealed the truth to me. The minister was not speaking against creativity, art, or storytelling. He was speaking against the spiritual corruption of entertainment as we know it. The spirit of pride, the spirit of idolatry, and the spirit of mammon. The spirit that exalts people above God. The spirit of self-promotion, idol-making, and placing our own glory on pedestals meant for the Lord alone.

The culture of entertainment as it exists today is incompatible with the Spirit of God.

Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved (Matthew 9:17).

If Christians are going to use entertainment and art to draw hearts toward salvation, we cannot depend on the framework of the world or build upon systems and foundations that are not of God. Jesus said, “Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out, and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved” (Matthew 9:17).

In essence, we need a new wineskin. We cannot pour the holy work of God into the corrupted molds of worldly entertainment. We cannot take the culture of pride, self-promotion, and idol-making and simply stamp God’s name on it. God is calling us to build on a new foundation, one marked by humility, purity, and surrender. Only then will the art we create carry the true anointing of the Holy Spirit, with the power to lead people to salvation in Christ on a greater scale.

I did not always feel this way about the culture of entertainment. At first, I saw nothing wrong with red carpets, VIP sections, and celebrity culture. After all, it seemed inevitable in an industry built on showcasing people’s talents and faces.

But the closer I drew to God, the more I began to see the destructive side effects of this culture: rampant drug use, the normalization of idolizing people, sudden deaths of the young, the high rates of divorce, the vanity and envy that fuel competition, and the shameful things people do just for fifteen minutes of fame. Sensationalism for hype’s sake has become the standard. And it is not only harmful to the audience—it is not even good for the celebrities themselves. Their lack of privacy, the crushing pressure of constant attention, the mental health struggles, the insomnia, the unhealthy dependence on prescription medication—these are all consequences of an ungodly system. There are even endless rumors of cult-like practices within the industry, and only God knows how deep the darkness really goes.

Celebrities and the entertainment industry often shape cultural trends and values. As Christians engage with popular entertainment as consumers, they also invite its consequences into their homes. As a result, many Christian households face the same struggles as the broader culture—such as substance abuse, high divorce rates, and moral confusion.

Rather than allowing the Word of God to define right and wrong, we often let celebrity influence and public opinion guide our values. We attend church on Sundays, but from Monday to Saturday, our lives mirror those of the world. This pattern extends even into Christian entertainment, where many projects are built on the same foundations as secular media. Because we rely on worldly systems rather than spiritual truth, our work often lacks the power and distinctiveness that should set it apart.

Casting Crowns, Lifting Hands, Bowing Hearts

"Casting crowns, lifting hands, bowing hearts"—these lyrics, from a song by the same minister who urged us to pray against the spirit of entertainment, offer a profound picture of the posture we should adopt within Christian entertainment. This is the posture of true worship: humility, surrender, and reverence.

The new wineskin—the new system and foundation we must build upon—must be marked by these very qualities. Our focus in all things, including entertainment, must be Jesus Christ, the One we are called to emulate. He is the perfect example of humility. Though fully God, He laid aside His divine privileges, took on human form, and submitted Himself to the will of the Father. On the night before His crucifixion, in deep agony, He prayed, "Not my will, but Yours be done." His life was a complete surrender, even to the point of death.

This is the example we are called to follow—not the lives or values of celebrities. It is Jesus who defines what is right and wrong, not popular culture. Just because we are involved in the world of entertainment does not exempt us from this calling. In fact, it heightens our responsibility. As artists, performers, and creators watched by hundreds, thousands, even millions, we must be intentional about reflecting the character of Christ.

Romans 12:10 says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” There is nothing wrong with honoring one another and recognizing the gifts God has given to us. We should celebrate excellence, diligence, and creativity in those who serve—whether actors, music ministers, directors, or producers. They should be applauded for their work—but always within the framework of worshiping the God of the Bible and exalting Jesus Christ.

The Framework of GodlyHood

I plugged Revelations 4:10 to an A.I. image creator and this is what it came up with.

With the call to let go of the old wineskin and take on a posture of humility as our starting point, there are two key scriptures that shape the heart of GodlyHood’s framework:

• 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.”

• Revelation 1:6 – “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and His Father; to Him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

  
  

At GodlyHood, we recognize that we are both priests and kings—individually and collectively. This identity calls us to a higher standard: one of personal devotion, consecration, and intentional pursuit of God. We are committed to lives rooted in prayer, the reading and meditation of Scripture, and alignment with the biblical worldview.

As a creative community, we draw inspiration directly from the Word of God and ensure that our content remains faithful to it. As kings under the authority of the King of kings, we strive to exemplify wisdom, courage, integrity, and to uphold biblical order in all we create and do.

The image above—an AI-generated interpretation of the 24 elders casting their crowns before God—is, in many ways, a stunning visual representation of the posture we embrace at GodlyHood. Though we wear crowns, we lay them at His feet. Clothed in royal robes, we kneel in awe before His throne. Every accolade, every achievement, we joyfully surrender to Him, recognizing that it is not by our power or might, but by His Spirit.

We willingly bow low before Him and give Him all the glory.