Real World Issues
Movies and Television
There are so many questionable movies at the theatres and programs on television. Should I be watching them?
Let's begin by looking at two Bible verses:
"What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 7:1).
"What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
I doubt anyone enjoys watching a movie in a theatre more than I, with a large Coke and a bucket of buttery popcorn. But when I became a Christian, I quit going to the movies, plus I quit watching programs on television which contained profanity, sexual innuendo or immoral behavior. And I didn't quit because I was told I shouldn't watch it. I quit because I lost my desire to watch these programs. I lost my desire to hear people curse, or watch people commit adultery, or hear people talk filthy and perverse. I thought such behavior portrayed in these programs was not pleasing to God, therefore it did not please Him for me to watch it either. In its place came a desire to know God, to read and study His Word, to pray, and to commune with people of like faith.
I must admit, with all the love and compassion I can, I marvel at how many Christians attend PG and R rated movies or watch profane programs on television (I also marvel at how many Christian web sites and magazines have movie reviews --- if the world thinks a movie should be rated PG or R, shouldn't that tell you, a child of God, that it contains things you should not see nor hear?). I could understand if a Christian were trying to quit, and in a weak moment, watched something they shouldn't watch. But what I can't understand is how a person can claim to love God and desire to know Him in His fulness, yet watch movies or TV programming which contain profanity, graphic violence, nudity or sexual situations and claim that it does not bother nor affect them. Or even worse, it does bother them, but they shun this conviction and continue to watch it. I can't understand why they still have a desire to watch and to fill their minds with such programming.
One argument I hear on occasion is that "I hear filthy language at school," or "I hear bad talk and innuendo on the job." Sure, most all of us do. As much as I would like to, I cannot control the speech of others around me. I cannot make the unsaved act like they are saved. But I can control what I watch on TV and I can control what movies I watch. My TV has an off switch. Does yours? "What fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?", Paul questioned the Corinthians, "and what communion hath light with darkness?..... Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." To the Ephesians, Paul wrote, "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you....." (Ephesians 4:30-31).
The Scriptures make it clear: our bodies are the temple of God and His Spirit dwells within us. Surely the Spirit of God within us must be offended when we sit and purposely watch programming containing profane language or sexual situations. And it must grieve Him even more when He tugs at our hearts and deals with us to stop, but we ignore His conviction. Paul told the Thessalonians "that every one of you should know to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour" (1 Thessalonians 4:4). The terms "sanctification and honour" in the original Greek mean "to be set apart, holy and righteous, honor with regard to a price which has been paid." Think of it! "You have been bought with a price," Paul said to the Corinthians, "therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." Paul even went so far as to admonish us to "abstain from all appearance of evil." If something even appears evil, whether we definitely know it is or not, we should stay away. Paul even told Timothy to "flee youthful lusts (to run away from it!), but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (2 Timothy 2:22).
Our minds are the battleground of Satan and the Spirit. Instead of filling our minds with profanity, sexuality and violence, Paul instructs us, "Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsover things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8).
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