Blessings!

Greetings! I appreciate your feedback. Although we will have to agree to disagree, I am all for each person seeking out, in the scriptures, their position and leading.

Oops! “the Devil’s Father..” what was I thinking! haha. I meant to imply that if one is lead of the devil, then he has chosen the devil as HIS father, as opposed to Christians who have decided to follow their Father.

I must agree with you. Most of what is produced in Hollywood is conceived and created by people who are influenced by the devil. I should have been more upfront with my overall position. I actually don’t watch any movies. I decided this about a year ago. The only movie I have seen in the last year is The Passion. This is just my personal decision.

In the Psalms, David makes a rather strong statement that I find very hard to “put aside”. Especially in this day.

Psalm 101:3

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.”

David knows all too well what can happen when things we ought not see come before our eyes. What if he had NOT seen Bathsheba that day from the rooftop?

The eye is a powerful tool. It can move someone to compassion as it did Christ at the pool of Bethesda, or Peter at the Gate Beautiful, but it can also bring terrible consequences… as it did Eve… “and when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes…”. This is the deceptive side of the eye. Satan knows this, as he did in the Garden of Eden, and will try and place things before us that will hamper our walk with the Lord.

I think we can both agree, there is NEVER an appropriate circumstance for a man to see an image of a woman with no clothes on depicted in film. I understand there is plenty of famous artworks depicting nudity, but I place those on a different level. I am speaking directly about film because of it’s true to life nature.

That said, I choose not to intentionally put myself in the position where it is possible.

You are correct. I agree that Romantic Comedies are often worse in content. They depict a lustful and unrealistic view of “love”. Unfortunately they mold societies view of what life and relationships are about.

Again, I challenge all of us, to earnestly review Ephesians 5 and seek the meaning of God’s instruction, written by Paul, for our lives:

Ephesian 5:3-4

“3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

and then…

Ephesian 5:8-12

“8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.”

I ponder now, how as a Christian, I used to read those words then go and become engrossed in a movie depicting the very things Paul was crying out about. In my opinion this was a gross mis-judgement on my part.

Ephesians: 5:15-16

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

-Matt

1. “something that was conceived and created by people who are influenced by the devil and his Father…” Um, some horror stories are told by Christians… and a lot of NON-horror stories are conceived and created by people who are influenced by the devil. Who exactly is the devil’s father?

2. Jesus had only one intent? Are you suggesting NOTHING in him went for the food, drink, or fellowship? Primary intent, yes. ONLY. No.

3. You should pray before ALL movies, so don’t single out horror. Romantic comedies are usually WORSE in content. And don’t assume only males are impacted by nudity.

1. Source
2. Intent
3. Fruit

#1 Source

I don’t believe we would catch Jesus in line for the latest horror movie? Why? Because I don’t believe he would devote time to being immersed in something that was conceived and created by people who are influenced by the devil and his Father. Jesus said he only does what the Father shows him to do. He was only interested in communication from the Father. Being led of the Spirit. I can imagine one scenario in which we might find him in line… If the Father told him, I have a predestinated child in that line and you need to brush shoulders with them. Like the Father told him to go sit by well so he could meet the woman at the well. (John 4: 6-39) Which brings me to point #2. Intent.

#2 Intent

What is the intent of one seeing such a film? Would it be Jesus’s intent, to save that which is lost. Jesus went to parties with sinners with one intent, to save that which was lost. Can we honestly say that 100% of our intent in watching a horror film is to be prepared to save the lost? That seems like a stretch to me. I don’t see how this would prepare one to save that which was lost. Jesus said that by your love for one another, the world would know you were his disciples. (John 13:35) Hence, point 3.

#3 Fruit

If you are still considering horror movies… let’s at least agree to earnestly pray before watching that next film. “Lord, is it your will that I watch this movie? Lord, what purpose do you have for me in watching this movie?” Here are some other questions to consider:

Will this movie fill me with light and love, or will it fill my imagination with darkness?
What fruit of the spirit will this promote in my life…? Love, joy, peace, long-suffering…?
(if you are a male) Will I really be able to turn away when a scene involving nudity comes on?
What condition will the my spirit be in when I am done watching this kind of movie?

In summary:

Consider the source of the content. Was this movie a product of someone led by the Holy Spirit and and inspired by Almighty God? Was is my intent for watching? To equip myself to save the lost or to be entertained? And if you do partake, take note of the fruit that comes out of it.

Ephesians 5:16 “Redeem the time, for the days are evil.”

I would challenge each of us to review Ephesians 5: 1-21 and take our next steps from Paul’s exhortation.

I am not hurting my relationship with Christ when I enjoy a good zombie flick, nor am I putting my salvation in danger. You can feel free to waste your time debating the finer points of what may or may not be acceptable to God based on what you read in out of context passages, but the only thing that ultimately matters is John 3:16, Christianity in a nutshell,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

There are NO conditions to God’s love. PERIOD. If you want salvation all you need to do is ask for it. Believe in it. Confess your “sins” and live a good life. Personally, I think Jesus would LOVE Dawn Of The Dead. Some would say that Jesus was the original zombie after all. It’s all about a personal relationship, I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful one, without fear and full of love.

Don’t be so damned serious. Enjoy your walk and do what your heart says. Let the holy spirit be your guide. All my love.

Horror films are good if only for the fact that their sharp edge bursts our American Christian bubble.

7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians is referring to our THOUGHTS, not our stimuli. The goal is that we are following Philippians 4:8 no matter WHAT is before us: comedy or tragedy, Rom-Com or Horror flick… or the real life equivalents. If I can’t think about what is true/noble/right/pure/lovely/admirable/excellent/praiseworthy when confronted with fictional horrors, what hope have I when bombarded with a season of life wherein there are TRUE horrors? Verse 7 implies that God will guard our hearts and minds; note, this implies things are being set before our hearts and minds that we need guarding from, filtration and discernment. NOT disengagement.

A lot of people use this verse in regard to our stimuli, when it’s talking about how and what we think regardless of life’s stimuli. It’s talking about our mental output, in light of or in spite of, the input. There might be other scriptures to appeal to in regard to this, but this isn’t one of them. “Garbage in, Garbage out” is a behavioral psychology model, NOT a biblical/relational model. Jesus refutes this soundly in regard to unwashed hands and eating when he says it ISN’T what goes into a person that makes him unclean, but what comes OUT, but the Pharisees refused to accept it. (Matthew 15:10-20)

Even moreso, verse 9 tells us: “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Paul remained in culture, a student of culture, as Jesus said about his disciples – that they would be IN the world but not OF it. Paul knew Pagan poetry and the idols of his culture, but many Christians shy from engaging and understanding sinners and their stimuli. They’re engaged in a religion of personal piety versus bravely engaging the lost with a confidence in Christ.

One thought, however: I think

James
Posted May 27, 2010 at 12:49 pm
and – a final thought – Phillipians 4:8 is beautiful in light of its surrounding verses…

Paul, in all his fearless culturally-engaging glory… facing everything from pagan pop-poetry to very real shipwrecks. I pray I can face life’s real shipwrecks as well as I can face the fictionals.