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[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]With so many secular movies containing questionable material, it can be rather difficult for us to decide what is appropriate and inappropriate to watch. As Christians, we desire purity and shouldn’t be excited about raunchy, vulgar themes that often defame the name of Christ.
Having said that, we must be wise in knowing and seeing the difference between gratuitous images, themes, diction, decisions, etc.. and redemptive images, themes, diction, decisions, etc… In other words, the questions must be asked: What is the purpose of including the questionable material? Is it there for its own sake? Or has it been included to lead to an important message and lesson? What is being taught? // What redemptive qualities are there in this film that the questionable images, themes, diction, decisions, etc… strengthen?
I am in no way making the claim that all content in movies is permissible to view so long as there is some good lesson taught or some type of redemption. There are many films that contain far too much gratuitous sex, language, and gore. Those types of films often include that material for its own sake and there is little if anything to be gained by watching it.
My worry is that I have seen many Christians take a legalistic approach to films by refusing to watch anything that includes language or nudity, etc… and while I respect an individuals decision to do so, I want to challenge our thinking on why we make those decisions. Is it for the glory of God? Or is it a sort of self-righteous satisfaction? Speaking from experience, I can tell you that I have refused to watch certain films based off content, and often it came from a self-righteous tendency to think of myself as better than my friends who were watching the film.
By way of example….
Here is an example to clarify the point I am trying to make. The issue is around nudity and/or sex in a film. One night, a group of my friends decides to watch American Pie and I politely excuse myself and refuse to watch it. The following week, the same group of friends decides to watch Braveheart (which contains nudity and a brief sex scene) and I decide to stay. Am I being hypocritical? I don’t think so and here’s why: The film American Pie essentially revolves around four friends who make a pact to lose their virginity before graduation, therefore, all the nudity, sex, innuendoes, etc.. exist for their own sake. The film Braveheart tells the story of William Wallace and his fearless fight to win the freedom of Scotland from the tyrannical rule of King Edward Longshanks. His unbelievable courage would eventually cost him his life. The message and lessons from each film couldn’t be more different. There is nothing of value (for the Christian) to be learned from American Pie, but there are a plethora of different values and disciplines to be learned from Braveheart.
If we as Christians make film censorship decisions purely based off content, I believe we will run into some sticky problems. For example, should we read the Bible with all its sex, adultery, and mass killings? Do we apply our content based censorship to the Bible? My point of course is that we don’t apply that reasoning to the Bible, nor should we. Should we refuse to watch documentaries on the holocaust, slavery, etc..? Should we refuse to watch The Passion of Christ?
Letter and Spirit
I believe that the two different approaches to this debate can be described as the letter of the law and the spirit of the law. We can be staunchly legalistic and uncompromising in our approach to films and miss out on a lot of great messages that even Hollywood can sometimes produce. Or we can move more by the spirit of the law and with all wisdom, make the decisions on which films are permissible to watch and which ones are simply gratuitous.
May we be empowered by the beautiful grace of our Lord Jesus to live our lives according to the spirit of the law, not just in which movies we decide to watch or not, but in how we interact with others. I have learned and grown from various movies that contained great messages and amazing redemptive themes even though there was some questionable content. The Holy Spirit will guide you and give you the wisdom in the decisions of which movies are permissible to watch or not. May it all be for His glory and the furtherance of His kingdom.
Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
from men whose words are perverse,
who have left the straight paths
to walk in dark ways,
who delight in doing wrong
and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
whose paths are crooked
and who are devious in their ways.
-Proverbs 2:12-15
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