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Celluloid Culture - Your Say should Christians be watching movies From Daniel, WA: Would Jesus watch Matrix Reloaded? P.S. I would personally like to think that as a Christian magazine for young people The Edge should not have movie reviews in it because it would be encouraging people to watch the movies reviewed . . . I fully believe that I’m one of those people that has been desensitised to God’s true values by watching too many “comparatively good” movies. One becomes another, then another, and next thing you know, I’m lukewarm and would like to spit me out of my own mouth. God doesn’t like us to be complacent, and quite frankly none of us want to be in a half-hearted church. It is depressing to look around and see the habits we as youth are bringing into our present and future church. I pray there is a revival of our hearts and we will no longer continue to be afraid of completely and utterly giving our lives over to be controlled by Jesus. Even if this means not watching secular movies, and being brave enough to stand up for not doing so. Cheers. Melody Tan, UK response. . . Name: Melody Tan Should Adventists be watching movies? The influence in which celluloid culture has on individuals is seen to be highly damaging, especially for Seventh-day Adventist Christians. Movies, like many different elements of popular culture, are seen to be poisoning our minds, and to take an extreme view, would ultimately draw us away from God. As such, many believe we need to be different from everybody else, and not partake in the normal activities of people in the world. As Andy Chee reminded us, “To be Adventist is to be very special, very different, called higher than any other calling on Earth, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people.” When we made the decision to follow Christ, the changes made manifest in our beliefs, behaviour and principles are so obvious that anybody who comes into contact with us know that there is something different about us. The resolve not to drink, the decision not to go out on Friday evenings and most importantly, the peace that now resides in our hearts, stands out amongst our non-Adventist friends. Andy suggests that these actions “of being legalistic, peculiar and alienated from society is something in which we as Adventists should be proud of.” Unfortunately, it is precisely because of this pride, that we as Adventists have lost touch with the rest of the world. When God said we are to be a peculiar people, did He really mean for us to be set utterly apart from the rest of world? Did He really envision us congregating within our own little Adventist community, patting our backs for not participating in certain activities, while frowning upon the “fornication of secular people?” We have become such experts at being peculiar that we’ve been truly alienated from the rest of the world. We’re so proud of being special, of being the remnant group with “the truth,” that we no longer remember the commission God gave us. We’re told to “be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain that hope you have in you, but do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15), but we’re so focused on our rules we no longer exude the hope and love of God. Instead, Adventists are merely seen as the group who don’t watch movies, eat meat or do anything on a Saturday. Nobody is going to ask us to explain any hope we have, because what kind of hope is made manifest in our not knowing that hobbits have hairy feet? We have most certainly succeeded in “beaming with the character of God so bright that it hurts the watching sinner.” So much so, that nobody wants to have anything to do with us anymore. Light of the world? We’re so irrelevant to modern popular culture that even if we wore bright neon billboard signs, people would still pass us by without so much as a glance. It may be true that celluloid culture can have a bad influence, but it is a depiction of modern society. Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? The answer is ultimately up to you, but it does not deny the fact that a lot of what we see on the small or big screen is about the world we live in today. More often than not, it reflects the values, the opinions, and the viewpoint of people whom God has called us to share the Good News with. I am not advocating that Adventists should swarm en masse to the cinemas upon reading this, devouring whatever movie may be showing. That is the reason why we were given the faculty for reasoning. But what I am suggesting is maybe we should start to understand the world in which we live in a little better. We need to know what other people live for, what they hope for, what they dream for and what they stand for. We were not only called to be light of the world, but salt of the earth. And the only way in which salt is effective, is if it is taken with the food in which it was mixed with—it requires mingling. I love movies. I’m an avid moviegoer and this interest of mine has not dampened my love for God. Friends know I am a Christian, and in fact, most have commented on the strengthening of relationship I have had with my God through the years. Has watching movies torn me away from God? Does the fact that I sit in the cinema with my non-Christian friends prove that I am somehow or other going to sway in where I stand with God? Not every non-Christian is able to understand the going-ons of the Christian world. Tell them about sanctification, justification and my personal favourite, legalism, and they will either roll their eyes at you or look at you blankly and go, “sanc . . . what?” Tell them why you choose not to go out on a Friday evening and at best, they would simply say, “Well, that’s your choice.” But all these are not relevant to them! On the other hand, every Christian is equipped with the ability to understand the non-Christian world. It is the very world in which we live. The message of God’s grace is best shared in an environment in which the non-Christian is comfortable. And that is where movies come in. Movies are not just tools of entertainment, they are the most important instruments people use to make statements. It is through these statements that I have been able to understand how the world works and what people ache for. And it is through understanding the condition of the world that we are able to better relate and be more relevant to the very people we want to reach out to. The Matrix Trilogies, Phone-booth, The Green Mile and countless other movies possess a wealth of Christian undertones which, when analysed, reflect the search all filmmakers make for God, even if it is on a subconscious level. It is not simply movies with religious overtones that are helpful. Movies like Bowling for Columbine, The Thin Red Line and American History X make strong statements on society that can be actively discussed with friends who have absolutely no religious inclination. Movies are part of pop culture. And pop culture reaches a great majority of people that evangelism never will. It brings us to the people. If Christians are able to better understand pop culture, it will equip us to reach out to more people. Christianity is about building bridges, not walls. Don’t misunderstand me. I believe Ellen White had good reason to discourage us from going to theatres. Taking her writing into context, theatres during her time were “dens of iniquity.” Cigarette smoke was rife, the environment was dubious and the content of most movies were unsuitable for a majority of audiences. I would not want to be anywhere near theatres if I were living in her time either. I will also not dispute the fact that films can have a negative influence on us, and for young impressionable minds, that is extremely dangerous. And that is why God gave us wisdom. We can use wisdom to choose carefully what movies to watch, because there are good movies out there. And ultimately, if something has an ability to have a negative influence, it can just as well be used to have a positive one. If we had people in mainstream media who are able to review movies from a Christian point of view, imagine the kind of impact that could make. When we know where we stand with God we know what thoughts and actions are pleasing to God. When we know what our principles are, choosing to watch movies is not going to take us any further away from God than if we chose not to speak with Him. God wants us to enjoy ourselves. And if we did so knowing full well that we are at peace with God, knowing what is right and wrong in the eyes of God, going to the cinemas will not dim the light He has placed in us. In fact, it may even make us saltier. Nathaneiel Gee, NSW response. . . Name:Nathaneiel Gee Dear Editor, I recently came across the letter written by Andrew Chee, who pointed out a number of fallacies associated with the incorporation film reviews in the Christian magazine, The Edge. From purely a scientific viewpoint, I tend to agree with him that movies are not appropriate for the Christian. There are a multiplicity of scientific journal articles and experiments indicating that television produces a hypnotic effect, by passing the frontal lobe filter (1,2), aggression (3), a reduction in brain power (4,5), reduced health (6), and negative attitudes (7). Movies and television seem to in many ways resemble a drug, in that they are so addictive. If you don’t believe me try turning off the telly, and instead spend that time reading the Bible. The Question. So here we come to the question. Should Christians watch movies? If the Christian wants to be hypnotised, if the Christian wants to have a reduced intellect, if the Christian wants to assimilate his standards to the standards of the television, if the Christian wants to be unhealthy and befuddle his mind, then according to the scientific literature he should watch movies. The Ultimate test. But since when has the scientific literature been our test for what is right or wrong ? Should not a “Thus saith the Lord” be good enough. Have we not been given a “more sure word of prophecy” through Ellen White. We cry, “Too hard, legalist, fanatic” as we read bold statements such as, “There are amusements, such as card-playing, dancing, theater-going, etc.., which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them. They open the door to great evils.”(CTBH 108) We claim, “that was for her time.” We find Bible texts that say “I wish above all things thou mayest… be in health, (3 John 1:2) ” ; “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes” (Ps 101:3); “whatsoever things are true.. honest…just…pure…lovely…of good report…think on these things.” (Phil 4:8) Then we turn a blind eye to applying them to the things we watch. Probably by now in most people’s eyes I’m a hard core fanatic, bent on taking the ‘fun’ out of everyone’s life. On the contrary I want everyone to have the true joy of life. You see, I was once a television addict. I know what it is like to stay up late watching a movie and forget to have evening devotions. I know what it is like engross myself in a fiction tale, and forget the reality of God’s word. I know what it is like wait anxiously for my favourite television show and get impatient if its late. I know what it is like to watch the action on a flickering screen, only to feel empty afterwards. But now, when I remember the quote “Higher than the highest human thought can reach is God's ideal for His children”.( SD 348 ) I remember the height God wants his youth to attain. I remember that Christians are called to be a “spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men”. I dearly want to be one of them who “in their mouth was found no guile…[that] are without fault before the throne of God.” Now I ask the question, “Will movies help me become one of them —Nathaneiel Gee
Jason Gee, NSW response. . . Name:Jason Gee Dear Editor, In answer to the question, should Christians be watching movies, many scientific studies have shown that movies, games, music etc, influence a person greatly for good and for bad, but in making my point I see the use of the Bible as more important, so don’t stop reading if you think I’m Bible bashing. I was once a person to question movies/videos/TV until I stumbled upon a Bible verse in 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Do everything to the Glory of God & Philippians 4:8. The Whatsoever verse (be pure, honest think on these things). This really challenged my thinking as a Christian. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2Cor 3:18) I realised clearly that if we dwell on Christ, we will be changed more and more to be like Him. Similarly, if we dwell on evil we will be influenced by evil. Ellen White clearly warns avoid reading, seeing or hearing evil that which will suggest impure thoughts.(AH. 403) It is Satan's policy to fill the mind with a desire for worldly amusement, that there may be no time for the question, How is it with my soul (eternal life) ? (MYP 373.2) Sin is of the transgression the law (10 commandments) 1 John 3:4. In Matthew 5:27 Jesus said we can sin in thought. It doesn’t take a genius to realise that watching movies will plant seeds of evil. Aww— but one may say there is no evil in movies today!? I challenge you to just think of the last movie you watched—how many of the commandments did it break? Did it show people trying to follow God or striving for money or worldly gain? Did it use the name of the Lord in vain? Promote evolution or subtly teach wrong theology? Did it show people loving each other, honouring of father & mother or did it show hatred, violence and revenge? Was there killing in it? Was there people sleeping around, sex before marriage, adultery? Was there lying? If there was, then I, as a Christian would consider myself an unintelligent hypocrite if I watched such things. I’m not saying I’m perfect and I believe I am far from it, but striving for the mind of Christ (Phil 2:5) is the only way that we as Christians will not sin without an intercessor when Jesus stands. Ellen White also states that people that dwell in fiction (or unreal things) are indulging in evil that destroy spirituality, eclipsing the beauty of the sacred page. (AH. 412) A Christian cannot watch movies that are unreal and fictitious and still enjoy reading the Bible to its full capacity. I’m not saying that all who watch movies are not a Christian, but a true Christian will one day come to the realisation that things such as movie watching are keeping them from their progression in their walk with Christ. I strongly believe that we are one of the last generations to live on this earth. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 1Pet.2.9 We are the chosen generation a, peculiar (strange, odd, different) people, the light of the world (Matt 5:14). Let us a Christians not promote, but rather warn our youth of the dangers of the devils enticing nets. May we work together to sooner the coming of our Lord God Bless |
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