Comments on: Pastors, Christians & Rated-R Movies!

By: Kirsten Knauer

Kirsten Knauer — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 15:33:54 +0000

The answer is simple. Just ask yourself….What am I entertained by? Is it something I should be seeing or hearing and being entertained by. You can’t really compare it to things you are forced to see and hear in the workplace or in life in general.

By: Pastors, Christians and Rated-R Movies… bigisthenewsmall.com - Twitoaster

Pastors, Christians and Rated-R Movies… bigisthenewsmall.com - Twitoaster — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 00:42:24 +0000

[...] ScottWilliams 48 minutes ago Pastors, Christians and Rated-R Movies… http://bigisthenewsmall.com/?p=2459 [...]

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:01:36 +0000

Charley, I’ve been trying to put this one into words for awhile now. For myself even. (grin)
I’ll try to keep it short, since this isn’t my blog (hya Scott!), but one thing that comes across clear even to me from this week’s ATM is that life is short. Are you aliens supposed to be in charge of it? Isn’t everything you encounter an opportunity to seek God’s will? Or are you supposed to make up your own minds about what is unclean?

By: Charley

Charley — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:00:23 +0000

jimmy paravane,

I don’t follow your line of reason

“it has to do with who is in control when confronted with any situation you face. Peter was sure of the moral ground he was suppose to be standing on.”

I don’t understand. Please restate how the Lord making that which was “unclean” clean relates to Rated-R movies.

By: Debra Vlasak

Debra Vlasak — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 20:43:59 +0000

We as people like to be entertained. I know that there is good wholesome family fare to be watched and that’s all good and well. When it comes to the movie ratings I always consider we have an Adversary and I know he has his hand in the entertainment industry big time. And my concience will convict me everytime it’s something I don’t need to see. Have you ever said to yourself, “I probably shouldn’t do this!” Then, you probably shouldn’t.

By: @rick_smith

@rick_smith — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 17:43:33 +0000

Good thoughts Scott. I agree with many on here – I avoid movies (regardless of the rating) if it involves nudity, sexual “type” things, etc. Somewhere that girl on the screen has a mom and dad (and God) that are heart broken by seeing their daughter exposing herself like that. Not to mention, I respect my wife so much, and have such a deep love for her, that I don’t want to put an image of any women in my head, but hers. (This is without getting into Phil. 4:8, and other verses like it.)

Granted – I also play Halo (lots of Christians are against Halo for some reason), really enjoy horror films (I’ve always been into them – as long as their is no nudity, which is hard to find these days in any films, much less a horror film), and have Kanye West on my ipod. So I’m defiantly not one of “those” Christians. I think sometimes we try to make the Bible say things that it doesn’t.

I also think as Christians we need to “guard our heart and mind” and not be so quick to put anything into it. I think there is a fine line between legalism, and holiness; and we have to keep asking God to help us to err on HIs side!

Thanks for all your good thoughts!

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:26:24 +0000

Mike, hya. IMHO, it has to do with who is in control when confronted with any situation you face. Peter was sure of the moral ground he was suppose to be standing on.

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:57:54 +0000

jimmy paravane -

How does Acts 11:7-10 relate? That passage is talking about ceremonially unclean foods now being made clean. The difference between clean and unclean animals was symbolic of the Jews (clean animals) and Gentiles (unclean animals). Now that salvation has come to the Gentiles, all animals are declared clean.

Don’t think this has anything to do with morally defiling entertainment.

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:34:13 +0000

Discernment, good personal judgment, need, case by case, personal responsibility, caution, purpose…y’all are just too easy. I like Jay’s phrase; moralistic deism, but it’s a bit high falutin for what’s being pulled on ya. Here’s a fun deconstruction: Anything But Jesus. What? (grin)
Psalm 101:3 is a good one, but here’s another passage to consider: Acts 11:7-10

By: Mike

Mike — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 14:02:02 +0000

Scott,

One difference I see between being exposed to R-rated life situations in your job and going to watch an R-rated movie is the fact that the movie typically serves only one purpose–entertainment.

I was once ridiculed by a church staff member because I refused to see a movie he saw with his co-workers that had sexuality and nudity.

Though I make no dogmatic assertions, I would have to wonder about the spiritual maturity of people who profess Christ as Lord but have no problem spending a good amount of time entertaining themselves with shows and movies that contain blasphemy, sexuality, abrasive language, etc.

As we mature in Christ, should we not become more sensitive to such things?

While we cannot completely avoid such issues with our sources of entertainment, I think we’d be wise to listen to the psalmist’s heart when he said:

“I will set before my eyes no vile thing…” (Psalm 101:3)

– Mike