Pardon me for starting another flame war.... ahem...discussion about movies and the Christian life. I didn't quite find what I was looking for in previous threads (although I found a lot of food for thought) and so I'm taking the oppportunity to start this one.
My wife and I have recently had our first child and we are starting to question our movie-watching habits. We don't have cable TV, but we do rent DVDs and go see movies (esp. if they are on a big-screen cinema).
OK. We are wondering what movies we should be cutting out. Neither of us wants to tell her that she should do as we say, but not as we do. Which leads me to one principle that I think makes sense--we will not watch any DVDs that we would want to keep her from, as well. Personally, I would not have a problem with a young child watching The Passion, especially since it would be sandwiched around comments about what the violence in that movie brought about. I'd rather see the Passion of Our Lord than Disney's Pocohantas, believe it or not.
I'm not necessarily asking for a debate as to how many movies might be appropriate for a Christian. Some very well might say 2 or 3 a year, others might say quite a few more. But what principles do you folks use when determining whether to see a movie or not?
I agree that our chief end is to glorify God, and that it is shameful even to discuss what the heathen do in secret (Eph 5:12) But does this mean that we cannot view a movie unless its purpose is to do this? I'm not necessarily saying yea or nay here, but this does seem a bit extreme. Extreme or not--is this a biblical approach? If Paul was OK with someone who ate meat offered up to Ares (as long as it did not lead a weaker brother astray), does this mean that its ok with our watching a classic Bogart mystery thriller (which I'm hoping I won't have to give up), even if it has some smoking and drinking in it, provided that nobody in our family actually smokes and drinks?
.01 for your thoughts.
My wife and I have recently had our first child and we are starting to question our movie-watching habits. We don't have cable TV, but we do rent DVDs and go see movies (esp. if they are on a big-screen cinema).
OK. We are wondering what movies we should be cutting out. Neither of us wants to tell her that she should do as we say, but not as we do. Which leads me to one principle that I think makes sense--we will not watch any DVDs that we would want to keep her from, as well. Personally, I would not have a problem with a young child watching The Passion, especially since it would be sandwiched around comments about what the violence in that movie brought about. I'd rather see the Passion of Our Lord than Disney's Pocohantas, believe it or not.
I'm not necessarily asking for a debate as to how many movies might be appropriate for a Christian. Some very well might say 2 or 3 a year, others might say quite a few more. But what principles do you folks use when determining whether to see a movie or not?
I agree that our chief end is to glorify God, and that it is shameful even to discuss what the heathen do in secret (Eph 5:12) But does this mean that we cannot view a movie unless its purpose is to do this? I'm not necessarily saying yea or nay here, but this does seem a bit extreme. Extreme or not--is this a biblical approach? If Paul was OK with someone who ate meat offered up to Ares (as long as it did not lead a weaker brother astray), does this mean that its ok with our watching a classic Bogart mystery thriller (which I'm hoping I won't have to give up), even if it has some smoking and drinking in it, provided that nobody in our family actually smokes and drinks?
.01 for your thoughts.