"Entertained Away From Christ" - The Pied Piper of our Age

"Once upon a time, a piper played a tune so sweet that no child could resist following him... but his melody led them away from home, never to return again."

In the same way, our culture's endless stream of entertainment has become the Pied Piper of our age. Lyrics echo in our minds, movie scenes replay in our imagination, and social media reels consume our attention. All the while the Word of God is pushed to the background. Paul reminds us in Colossians 1:28-29 that his mission was to "present everyone mature in Christ." Yet how can we grow into maturity if our minds are enslaved by the Piper's song instead of being renewed by the Spirit? (Romans 12:2)

Think about how easily entertainment sticks in our minds. Without effort, you can probably finish these lines: "Don't stop believin'.." (Journey), "We will, we will rock you" (Queen), or anything Taylor Swift these days. How about "May the Force be with you" (Star Wars). These words roll off our tongues because they've been rehearsed in our hearts through repetition. Meanwhile, how quickly can we recall Colossians 2:2-3, where Paul speaks of Christ "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge"? Statistics reveal the depth of this addiction: 83% of U.S. adults now watch streaming services while the average household pays nearly $552 per year on streaming subscriptions (Forbes Home 2025 Media Streaming Stats You Should Know). Netflix alone reported record-breaking engagement in 2025, with new releases drawing millions of streams in days. Add in the fact that music streaming is slated to reach $143.89 billion by 2032 (Coherent Market Insights 2025) and it's clear: our culture is saturated with entertainment. This is before we even tie in college and professional sports events that add into the volume of those entertainment dollars and hours. We are rehearsing the Piper's songs more than the word of God, and our minds are being discipled by algorithms instead of scripture.

The question is simple, but profound: Whose tune are you following? The Pied Piper of our age plays through glowing screens and catchy hooks, leading us step by step away from Christ's mission. Yet Jesus calls us to "go therefore and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19) and to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2). The Piper enslaves; the Shepherd frees. Today, you must choose: Will you keep marching to the Piper's song, or will you tune your heart to the voice of Jesus and toil, struggling with all His energy that He powerfully works within you (Colossians 1:29)?