Movies

“There's nothing in this movie that is worse than something I would see on the street or even at Walmart, so it's not bad.” “I've heard much worse language than this at my job.” “There are only a couple little places where the talk is suggestive, but there are no bad scenes.” “I can handle the language and the violence as long as there is nothing sexual.” “With the exception of that one scene, that was a good movie.”Sound familiar? Have you ever said anything like that, or thought anything like that after watching a movie? I have.

Just recently I watched a movie. I already had my guard up. I was thinking before I sat down, “If there's any immodesty on here at all, I'll get up and leave.” And the movie started well. Not too far into it one of the actresses was wearing a low cut blouse, but I'd seen way worse than that. It really wasn't very bad. I kept watching. A little later there was some suggestive dialogue regarding sexual things, but nobody came out and said anything and the movie moved on before I could react. I kept watching. Then there was some violence – nothing too graphic. I kept watching. A little more suggestive sexual talk. Again, it wasn't really being specific or explicit – just hinting around jokingly. I kept watching. The movie ended. I felt guilty. I said to myself, “But there really wasn't anything THAT bad on there. Why should I feel guilty?” There was no serious immodesty. It was NOT sexually explicit. What was wrong with it?

Look at my line of justification as the different scenes gave me discomfort in one way or another. Is there a difference between me seeing a lady in shorts and a tank top at Walmart, and me having a picture of the same hanging in my room? Is there a difference between me hearing suggestive sexual talk at work, and me reading a book with that kind of content? Obviously I have no control over what the girl at Walmart is wearing or what the guys at work are talking about. I can control what's on my wall and what I read. But I'm going to hear it and see it anyway, why not entertain myself with it? Besides, I'm not entertaining myself with the immodesty or the suggestive language, I'm entertaining myself with the story plot and the exciting things happening. The story would be even better for me if the girls would wear modest clothes and the guys would clean up their jokes.

So what was wrong with it? Or is my conscience just too sensitive? Do I just need to lighten up a little bit? After all, there was nothing on there that was any worse than many TV advertisements that I've seen in waiting rooms, restaurants, etc. (I don't have a TV.) Why did the Holy Spirit talk to me about it? If that was so bad, are there any movies I can watch with a clear conscience?

It was wrong for me because of a principle from God's Word that I try to apply to my life. I try to glorify God in everything I do. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says that even in eating and drinking I should be glorifying God. Romans 12:1-2 says that I am to be a “living sacrifice” to God. Sacrifice implies death or a giving-up of something. Perhaps that would be those areas of entertainment that do not line up with the principles in God's Word. God's Word calls me to “flee sexual immorality.” (1 Corinthians 6:18) Does placing sexually-suggestive thoughts in front of me sound like “fleeing” from it?

I am convicted about what I watch. How strict should I be? How “radical” do I need to be? The Bible tells me to seek God with my whole heart. Does that mean just on Sunday in the worship service? Or does it mean in my personal time with God in the mornings, and the rest of my day doesn't matter? When I am going after something with everything in me, I am spending every waking moment striving toward that goal. I might even be dreaming about it. It consumes me. The Bible tells me that God is a rewarder of them that “diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Does God really have all of me – every area of entertainment, every thought, every action, every attitude?

Recently, I decided to try to “beef up” a little bit. I read up on different workouts to build muscle. I bought some supplements that are supposed to help build muscle. I spend a significant amount of time each day lifting weights. I changed my diet. I stopped drinking pop. I try to avoid eating a lot of sweets. All day long, I find myself doing things (or not doing some things) to help me reach this goal. If my real purpose for life is to bring glory to God, shouldn't I be spending all of my energy and time striving for that goal? The Apostle Paul compares it with running a race. We are to “lay aside every weight” and run! (Hebrews 12:1) Are there movies that I am watching that are a hindrance to my life's purpose of glorifying God? If so, I need to stop watching them.