Movies: Are they Really Devil Spawn?
Lutheran Logomaniac | Movies: Are they Really Devil Spawn?
There’s no doubt about it: movies are here to stay. (I know, brilliant revelation.) Should Christians be free to see any movie they want to, even if it extols sin in its various forms (murder, adultery, fornication, gossip, theft, and the like)? Here are a few thoughts from a chronic moviegoer who happens to also be a Lutheran pastor: 1. Not everything that appears evil is evil, and not everything that says “Christian†is Christian. When we talk about movies (or TV, music, etc.), we are forced to make judgments. It is very possible for a clearly secular movie (e.g. The Shawshank Redemption) to have brilliant insights into the nature of sin and redemption. In the same vein, movies that have a “Christian†theme (e.g. Left Behind) could actually be quite destructive to the faith. 2. What is my reason for going? If you are going to a movie to become, uh, aroused, or encourage theft or violence or unbelief, then obviously you have some serious thinking to do. Having said that, no ones motivations for anything are entirely pure, so I wouldn’t get completely bent over this one, either. 3. Entertainment is good. God loves for us to use our imaginations, to enjoy His creation, and to learn from our fellow man about human nature and what that means for us sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. But like anything, entertainment can easily become a god in itself, and take away from the callings (vocations) where God has placed us. 4. Movies can give us an insight into our culture. While we may go to a movie for entertainment purposes, they can also give us a deep insight into our culture. It doesn’t take much discernment to figure out that movies today have a lot more spiritual and other-worldliness about them than they did 10-20 years ago. We can learn about the pop spirituality of our culture by movies, as well as by books, TV and other venues. So the bottom line is this: Movies are not by definition devil spawn. Some are good; some are bad. Some may be destructive and hurtful; others may draw you into who you are as a child of God. But they do require wisdom. And part of wisdom is asking people with a firm faith whom you trust.While Rev. Peperkorn is speaking of film, I think his criteria are equally valid for other forms of art/entertainment, whether music, TV, or literature. In a similar vein, I had hoped to write a post on responsible use of Christian freedom and this might be it. We love the Law and we want a legalistic scheme on how to be Christians. Some want "all movies are evil" and some want "all movies are good." The same desire for legalism goes for music. But as Pr. Peperkorn points out, we, in Christian freedom, approach the media we consume critically. We concern ourselves especially with avoidance of sin, that the thoughts, ideas, and persuasion or agenda do not lead us away from faith and from vocation. My friend Jason recently pointed out that there seem to be a disparity between the music I listen to (and its presumed message or agenda) and the actual truth I hold to. Since then I've struggled to find the disparity. I wonder if its not the music in the library itself but my approach to it (objectively or subjectively.) I suppose thew problem is a true consumer mentality is one which consumes without criticism. On the contrary we must hold the critic's view. We can listen to and even enjoy music that has messages, views, and attitudes contrary to our own. But we must approach with wisdom of God's Word and the faith that it brings. Otherwise it can draw us away from truth to fiction. So I consciously restrict my diet of that which can overwhelm faith with unbelief. I've had a dark time in my life and I attribute it to the saturation of contrariness from the music I listened to. I learned that with music, art, TV, and film I consume with moderation lest I be consumed by the media.
