My husband and I were having dinner with a friend recently and he asked us: “So, what are you guys ‘binge-watching’ lately?” For some reason, I wanted to pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about. But the truth was, we had two different series going at that moment. And it wasn’t uncommon for us to watch several episodes…in a row. On weekends, of course. But still.
What are you bingeing on?
My response to that question – especially my wanting to conceal the truth – was enough to push me towards some serious internal reflection. Why did I feel slightly embarrassed about my admittance to being an occasional binge watcher? Was there something my conscience was telling me?
The very definition of ‘binge’ is: a short period devoted to indulging in an activity to excess. While we typically associate this term with eating and drinking, we now live in a sort of binge culture, especially when it comes to technology and entertainment. When else in the course of history was there so much free access to endless entertainment instantly available at the click of a single button? Never! As Christians, we’d be remiss to say this reality doesn’t invite new areas of temptation and new opportunities for honest reflection.
So what does the Bible say about our binge tendencies?
One Scripture verse that comes to mind is where Paul is exhorting the early believers,
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, perfect and pleasing will.”
Romans 12:2
This verse is striking because it seems to be saying that when we do conform, when we give in easily to the various patterns of this world (aka what ‘everybody else is doing’), it’s a slippery slope for us spiritually. In other words, when we follow the ways of the world without a periodic practice of prayerful self-examination, we can get de-sensitized to the will of God for our lives. Yikes.
Now this is not a scare tactic to try and get you to do away with your favorite series on Netflix. Rather, it is a reminder of the importance of paying attention to the gentle nudges the Holy Spirit often gives us when we’re giving into any area of excess. It is taking time out to pray like the Psalmist did:
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting”
Psalm 139:23-24
What I’ve discovered in praying that prayer is that bingeing in and of itself is not wrong. It’s what we’re bingeing on that makes the difference. It’s kind of like when Paul tells the Roman church that while they were once slaves to sin, now in Christ, they are slaves to righteousness. His argument is that they’re going to be slaves to something. Their humanity is going to worship something, so why not make it God? I think the same logic can apply to our modern techno-bingeing tendencies. If we are going to binge on something, why not make it something that is good? Something that moves the dial of our hearts and souls towards God? So I ask again:
What are you bingeing on?
- How about bingeing on God’s Word?
- How about bingeing on worship music?
- How about bingeing on prayer for your loved ones?
- How about bingeing and basking in the wonderful presence of our Lord?
Next time you’re settling into another binge session to watch your favorite series, perhaps choose to cut it (at least one episode) short to simply shift your binge to something else. The Author and Lover of your soul is waiting and He loves nothing more than a bit of overindulgence every now and then. For He is the only One who can truly satisfy.
Link to tips site: https://www.webmd.com/balance/ss/slideshow-binge-watch-risks