When is it Wrong to Watch a Movie?
Answer quickly: Is V for Vendetta an acceptable movie for Christians to watch?
V for Vendetta is a 2005 action/thriller movie based on a comic book. It received generally good reviews from critics, but since it’s rated “R”, it’s not intended for anyone under 18 years old. That’s why, when one of the deacons from my church popped it into the DVD player on the bus filled with church members (including a dozen or more kids under 18) on the way to our fall church retreat, I was a bit surprised. As you might expect from a movie with the word “vendetta” in the title, it contains many violent scenes, not to mention anarchist ideology and other scenes inappropriate for children.
Was it wrong to show this movie to teens? Was it wrong to show it at all on a church sponsored excursion?
And how should Christians decide what we should and shouldn’t watch? That’s the topic of a thoughtful article at Relevant Magazine titled “When Is Watching a Movie Wrong?” Here are some highlights:
In the Bible, Christians are instructed to dwell on things that are excellent and worthy of praise – “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable …” (Philippians 4:8, TNIV). We should pay attention to this instruction, but what does it all mean? Who defines “true,” “noble,” “right,” “pure,” “lovely” and “admirable”? What does it mean for something to be edifying? Can something painful and disturbing be as edifying as something innocent and joyful?
Is it a coincidence that, in the list of things “to dwell on” that Paul outlines in Philippians 4, “whatever is true” comes first? I don’t think so.
One of the crucial functions of art is certainly the way it captures, frames and confronts us with truth in all of its messy glory. But some will protest: Do we really need to be reminded of life’s most disturbing truths through art?
How do you make decisions about what is and isn’t okay to watch in a movie? What kinds of violence, sex, etc are acceptable (if any) and why?
Related: Love doesn’t often work out like in the movies, and is often misrepresented. Learn How you can Love by Faith
Tags: Culture, darren hewer, Family, movie, Movies, Relevant magazine, righteous, true, V for Vandetta, violence, World
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The question my family asks is ‘What is the intent of the movie?” If it a vehicle for blasphemy (Religiosity), pornography, or mindless violence (Saw), then we do not watch. If there a part of a movie that is offensive, we fast forward through the part. Remember that God uses all things, both good and bad, to further His plan for salvation. I became a Christian after watching “Constantine” so you never know when or where God will speak to you.
My opinion is that many christian lack understanding of God’s word and the true meaning of being a born again christian.It is not about the outside,it is a inside job.What i see or hear is not true unless i believe it to be.If my heart hasn’t change and iam trying to live a christian life by watching everything i do once again iam in bondaged.God’s word say” Who the son set free is free indeed”.The word,and the son are the same so if you are reading the word,it will set you free from sin,not yourself.We judge right or wrong from our heart’s so if our heart is wrong then our judgmentment will be too.God tells us to judge not because our ways are not his ways and our thinking is not his thinking.I said that to say this alot of christian are playing roles instead of being honest and true we are all a work in progess.If you watch a movie or not it will make no different in your spiritual growth if you are trusting God to lead you on the path of righteous.It is not the movie that should concern us it is the time used in watching movies.Time is very important so don’t waste it on thing that are not important.