I love going to the movies. I love going with my parents and whispering jokes about the dialogue to my mom. I love going with my friends and discussing the movie over hot chocolate or Coldstone. I even love going by myself occasionally, which can be a deliciously freeing experience. I love giant bags of popcorn. I love medium sized Diet Cokes with a little bit of Cherry Coke at the top. I love watching previews (sometimes more than the actual movie). I love huge multiplexes. I love small independent theaters. I love summer blockbuster season. I love fall art house season. I love holiday Oscar season. I loathe the January-April "let's release films that wrapped three years ago" season, but will still see those films because I love going to the movies.
All that to say, I have a question about movies and I need your help (don't you feel important and affirmed?) As many of you know, "The Golden Compass" is causing a bit of hubbub in the Christian world (my brother just wrote two excellent posts about this film on his blog) and some Christians are encouraging others to boycott. While I don't think that all Christians need to avoid this particular movie, it raises the question if there are any movies that all Christians should avoid. Are there any movies that would be across the board sinful for every Christian to see or does it always depend on the individual's conscience? And if there are indeed movies that no Christian should see, what is the criteria by which we judge these movies?
Once again, I'm forcing you to do the dirty work and help me develop a solid opinion, while I get to sit back and eat Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips. So here are my specific questions to you:
1. Are there any movies that no Christian should see?
2. If so, what criteria would you use to decide whether or not Christians should see that movie?
3. What criteria do you personally use to decide which movies you will or won't see?
Put on those thinking caps and let me know what you think! Meanwhile, I have some television to watch.
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5 comments:
wow Jenny, that's a tough one. I think it's a tough one because the whole issue is on a giant continuum. On one end, we have movies that almost every Christian will say are impermissible to see, such as hardcore and exploitative pornography. On the other end, you've got, say, The Prince of Egypt, which everyone may watch (although I'm sure there's someone who's bound to disagree with me on this). One thing I find particularly disconcerting about college (yes, even Biola) is that people feel free to watch lots of lousy movies because of the context. Therefore, I think your questions are pertinent.
Perhaps the key is to remember that famous dictum that some famous guy said in some famous book, "the medium is the message." With books, we can critically evaluate the message. We can sift it, put it up to the scrutiny of logic and Scripture, etc. However, with images, we seem to have far less control over the influence they exert on us. Like it or not, all of us have a number of indelible images in our minds, and some we would like to get rid of.
Therefore, perhaps the question we should ask regarding any movie is, "are there numerous powerful and senseless images in this film that will have a long-term negative effect on me." If you are a critical-thinking Christian, images seem far more dangerous than words. Ok, that doesn't take us far, so Toph, why don't you take us further?
1. I'm prone to answer yes, but I don't know which ones they are, or which criteria distinguish them from less unwholesome films.
3. I've sworn off Quentin Tarantino movies, because I know I'd probably enjoy parts of them, but that they all contain lots of foul language, sex, and violence. I used to not let violence be much of a factor, but I can't handle it any more.
Great questions! I think Jeff you nailed it. If we can critically evaluate the message, beliefs, theology, ethic, philosophy, values, etc. then there is nothing sinful about watching any movie. But critical thought is less common than common sense (and that is not that common either). So for many the medium is the primary means to judge of the message.
But movies are more than message, they are medium--visual, auditory (music, words, phrasing, sounds), and perspective. And our response to the medium can be so subjective! It can make or break a movie for an individual, regardless of its message.
But is it all subjective? Some things that affect us tell more about ourselves or our common sinful leanings and weaknesses. Are there aspects of medium that are just universally vile and unpalatable for the Christian? What's the mold that ruins the whole loaf? Or can we just throw out a few slices and be ok? Sexual content, graphic violence, foul language, axioms or memorable lines that contradict God's truth all can affect our thinking.
It brings me back to my first thought to Jenny's questions: "Is there any movie which every Christian should watch?" or :Is there any movie that has both excellent medium and excellent message?" In honesty I cannot think of a single movie that I could recommend universally and without qualification. Maybe instead of asking what we shouldn't watch we should be asking what we should.
hmmm. good question jenny. i think for sure that no christian should ever see a michael bay movie. what you get in action packed sequences you completely lose in every other area. that was kind of a joke but it's probably true.
it's tough to answer without any personal bias. i try not to limit any movie based on some specific "taboo" element: sex, violence, language. (obviously there are some limits here). i'm more interested in whether the movie is acting as a good piece of art. is it doing something interesting and unique? is it pushing the medium? what is the piece attempting to communicate, and does it do that effectively? do i agree with the message? it's definitely a complex issue, but i think someone would enjoy a more mentally stimulating body of work based on some artistic criteria, rather than a "i don't watch r-rated movies" mentality.
like jeff said, a lot of people watch lousy movies because of the context. you can play it safe and watch every lightweight, derivative hollywood movie that comes out, or you can really be challenged by something legitimately powerful.
I'm reminded (but not so reminded that I remember the exact quote) of what the Supreme Court justice said about defining pornography. "I don't know what pornography is but I know when I see it." Paul says that to the pure, all things are pure; which leaves me out. I guess the standard I use for determining which movies to see and which to avoid is very personal; how does viewing this stuff affect my relationship with Christ and can I do this with a clear conscience? (Whatever is not from faith is sin.) This means that I may avoid films that other Christians can freely see, and vice versa. This approach makes it difficult for me to make blanket policy for all believers. Personally, I tend to err more in the direction of being too accepting of what I watch than in being too restrictive and so I wouldn't feel right about making rules for others.
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