Movies Bad?

[Dr. Shane]

Movies produced by Hollywood pose pehaps the greatest danger to the church today. I am amazed that anyone would want to silence a voice speaking out against such flagrant evil.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Isaiah 5:20

The vast majority of Hollywood movies are evil. To glorify them and recommend that other Christians go see them is to call what God has called evil good. When we watch them we are lending our minds to the Hollywood directors and writters much like we would if we let someone hypnotize us.

Satan seeks to lure a Christian away from Christ, little by little. He does it the same way one can boil a frog. Place a frog in a pot of lukewarm water and slowly bring it to a boil and the frog will never jump out. That is how Satan seeks to draw a Christian away from Christ. He does it through little compromises and Hollywood is one of his most important and most used tools. First he will get us to watch a program with inappropriate language, then perhaps a little violence, a little nudity and programs that condone or normalize sexual sin like premarital sex and homosexuality.

Can anyone imagine what Ellen White would say about the movie theater today? If God called forth another prophet can anyone imagine him or her condoning attendence to any movie rated greater than a "G", with the possible exception of documentaries or movies like "The Passion"?

Each of us knows the evil of the theater. That is why some have gotten upset when I pointed it out in another thread. It is the truth that is upsetting. There are some good movies out there. This past year I have taken my family to a Whinnie the Pooh movie and the Peguien March movie. Yet the vast majority of movies are simply filth and harm our spiritaul relationship with Christ. Why are people afraid to face that truth?

[Dr. Shane]

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We tell ourselves that small doses of immoral entertainment won't really hurt us. But since the average American watches more than 25 hours of TV each week, this steady diet of casual sex, inappropriate language and extreme violence are sure to wear down anyone's tolerance.

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[Dr. Shane]

"The values of both children and their parents are shaped by the cultural air they breathe. The poet Percy Bysshe Shelley said that poets are the true legislators of the world, and the same today could be said of rock stars, TV producers, filmmakers, and journalists, all of whom have more influence on people's lives and people's thoughts than an army of politicians" (Gene Edward Veith, World magazine).

[Dr. Shane]

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Every time you buy a movie ticket or rent a video you are casting a vote telling Hollywood "That's what I want." Why does Hollywood continue to promote immoral programming? Are YOU part of the problem?

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[Dr. Shane]

Post deleted by Shane

[cricket]

Shane, each of us are entitled to our own opinions. Personally, I feel that women should never wear make-up or anything that attracts attention: you have made it clear in times past that you feel it is all right for women to make themselves look pretty for their men.

Hopefully, we can continue to agree to disagree.

[Dr. Shane]

Are you trying to change the topic Mrs. Wall??? <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[cricket]

Why are people afraid to face that truth?

No, Shane, I'm not trying to change the topic. I'm just trying to point out that not "everyone" is afraid to face this "truth"; that some people don't agree with you that it is necessarily a "truth".

[Dr. Shane]

The <img src="/ubbtreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> graemlin was to indicate I was being light hearted with you.

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" Psalms 101:6

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Phlp. 4:8

"Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" Hab. 1:13

[aldona]

Well, let's be consistent here.

What the folks who are against movies are saying, is "There are many movies which depict immoral acts and have content that is inappropriate for a Christian to watch. Therefore, all movies are bad and Christians should not go to any theater or watch any movies."

Let's extend this principle to other forms of art or entertainment.

There are many books which describe immoral and illegal activities, contain pornographic images or blaspheme against God and religion. Therefore, all books are bad and it is not appropriate for Christians to read any books or go to any book stores or libraries.

There is a lot of music which has violent or sexually explicit lyrics, foul language or incites people to acts of violence, lust or drug use. Therefore, all music is bad, and Christians should not listen to any music or play any musical instruments. (The most extreme Islamic fundamentalists, e.g. the Taliban, actually do take this position.)

Some art works depict scenes of pornography, violence or disrespect against religion and God. Therefore, all art is bad, and we should not have any art works or pictures in our homes or churches, or published in books.

Starting to sound ridiculous? I thought so.

I pray that God will guide me and my family as we try to view (and read, and listen to) that which is good, which uplifts the viewer and promotes values that are compatible with our Christian faith.

I hope I never go from "I will set no wicked thing before my eyes" to "I will never set anything at all before my eyes" or "I will wear a blindfold over my eyes at all times so that I can't inadvertently see something bad, and thus ensure that I never see anything good either."

aldona

[Neil D]

Quote:

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There are many books which describe immoral and illegal activities, contain pornographic images or blaspheme against God and religion. Therefore, all books are bad and it is not appropriate for Christians to read any books or go to any book stores or libraries.

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And the leading book that shows us what is bad literature with graphic violance, pornography, and adultery and other immoral information is.......

the bible..

[/tic]

[Dr. Shane]

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What the folks who are against movies are saying, is "There are many movies which depict immoral acts and have content that is inappropriate for a Christian to watch. Therefore, all movies are bad and Christians should not go to any theater or watch any movies."

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This is not my position at all (and I am not claiming Sister Aldona is saying it is).

My position is "There are many movies which depict immoral acts and have content that is inappropriate for a Christian to watch" and so we shouldn't watch those movies. It doesn't matter if they are on DVD, television or the movie theater. Such movies are objectionable for Christians to watch.

However there are good movies that we should watch. Not only do I believe we should watch them should they be on TV or DVD, but I believe we should spend our precious dollars in the box office when the movies are in the theater. When we attend the movie theater we are sending a strong message to Hollywood to make more movies like the one we are paying to see. Each of us is either part of the solution or part of the problem. We have a vote on the movies Hollywood makes. When Christians, as a group, stop attending movies with objectionable conduct, Hollywood will start making less of those movies.

[Robert]

Shane is correct...MOST movies are garbage. So if you want to "feed the flesh" go right ahead. There's very little out there that's wholesome. Who are you guys kidding?

Now if you guys would like to feed the "flesh" a tad bit less, then go here and check out the content:

Family film guide

[Neil D]

By extension, the bible also has reports of those acts and sometimes gives lurid details about them. From your reasoning, we shouldn't read the bible then....

[Dr. Shane]

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17

[Robert]

Quote:

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Neil D said:

By extension, the bible also has reports of those acts and sometimes gives lurid details about them. From your reasoning, we shouldn't read the bible then....

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The Bible paints mankinds' sins as it sees them and seeks to turn sinners to the God/man Jesus Christ.

Hollywood seeks to glory men's sinfulness....It mocks one's need of Jesus Christ.

Big diff....BTW, bad reasoning skills.

[Neil D]

Quote:

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"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17

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What good works are you producing when you complain about 1]the evils of the world and 2] proclaim the avoidance of evil? If you look at what the pharasees works were, your admonitions mirror them in the modern day sense very clearly.

Jesus pointed to a relationship with God...You can not get a good relationship with God without experimenting with God. When a movie makes a good impression with a lot of people, are you willing to say that God is in it? What about a good adventist speaker? Are you saying that God doesn't order the profitablilty of a movie as well as a speaker? If God doesn't, who does?

I can argue that you truely don't know. Wanna know how? It's because of your negitive view of life in general...Gentlemen, life from God is meant to be lived,...and not complaining about the evils of the world...

The gift is the life itself...and the wonder of it with all the nuances and views that are available to you....

And yet, here you are..stuck in front of your computers, argueing about how bad things are in the world, and proclaiming how your view is better than the rest of the world....When in reality, everyone else can see how small your lives truely are....

It's not bad logic, Robert and Shane....It's inspiration....

And that's why [:"blue"]

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:16, 17 [/]

[Robert]

• It's because of your negitive view of life in general

1 John 2:16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.

Bad, negative Bible!

[Dr. Shane]

It is healthy and edifiying for those in the church to talk about the dangers of theaters and television. These influnences can easily suck us into the secular culture and seperate us from God. One trembles to think how many have accepted Christ only to be pulled away, little by little, by popular culture through film and music.

If we spent more time in prayer and Bible study, the amusment of Hollywood would lose much of its attraction to us. I use to love action movies like Rambo and Terminator. Bruce Willis was one of my favorite actors. Breaking away from the action-movie addiction has not been easy. Yet the busier I make myself with Godly things, the less temptation I have to deal with. I still have not seen the latest Terminator movie and may never see it. And that is ok. I doubt when Jesus returns I will regret not seeing the final Terminator movie.

[gina i]

I don't go by what EGW says. I go to the movie theatre. I enjoy the odd movie & I love foreign films. It's up to me to decide of Satan's luring me. If I feel things get out of hand, I won't watch something.

I read my bible, I study & I pray. I know what my limits are & I know that there is harm in a lot of things, not just a movie theatre.

When I became an adventist there were 3 things that constantly got on my nerves "No theatre, no Coffee & no Jewelry" HA! What about no judgement on what I choose to do & put in my body??

I'm more worried about my salvation - going to a movie theatre will not diminish my way into heaven. But I think you can make the discretion on what type of movies to watch.

[Dr. Shane]

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I don't go by what EGW says.

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While not everything Sister White wrote is supported by the Bible, for the most part she is just a lesser light shining on the greater Light. Most of what she wrote is reinforcing what is recorded in the Holy Word.

Now when Sister White spoke of the theater she spoke of the live theater of her day. Many in her day considered actors and directors in the live theater to be on the same level morally as prostitutes and alcoholics. That wasn't just a goofy belief of early Adventists. For many, becoming an actress or actor was like joining the circus. Their families were ashamed of them for it. Much different than today.

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It's up to me to decide of Satan's luring me.

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How about looking at young girls in miniskirts? Can I do that and decide if Satan is luring me? How about listening to sexually provactive hip hop music? Can I do that and decided if Satan is luring me? When does Satan get to decide when he is going to lure me?

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What about no judgement on what I choose to do & put in my body??

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There are laws of nature. If the bridge on a road is out, is it judgment for someone to post a sign stating the bridge is out? Of course not, right? Such a sign would be a warning of the natural consequences of trying to cross a gap without a bridge.

God has also given us warnings of natural consequence of our actions. By beholding we become changed. If we feed our mind with the agenda that Hollywood's writters and directors have for us, we will become changed into what they want us to be - or at the very least closer to it. If we feed ourselves with Scripture and spiritual books (like those written by EG White) we will become changed into what God wants us to be - or at the very least closer to it.)

I fear hundreds of thousands will be eternally lost because of the influence theater has had on them.

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[gina i]

I see your point Shane, thank you. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's about self control. And we have to pray for that, because certainly I don't think we have it on our own:)