Seen Any Good Movies Lately?

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled Matthew 5:6

The other day I went to the movies. As usual there was a series of previews before the movie. And as usual there was a series of previews for movies that push the envelope of unrighteousness. From sex, to murder, to straight out evil (in this case witchcraft and demonic activity), it would seem as if the producers of these movies actually opened the Bible, saw what God says not to do, and then made a movie glorifying it. Over the years there has been a steady diet of these types of movies and TV shows fed to America.  As the years go by, the entertainment industry gets progressively worse and worse. You will occasionally hear someone protest by asking, “Why does Hollywood make such filth?” The unfortunate answer is that we have a taste for this type of “entertainment”. America has developed an appetite for unrighteousness.

Standing in contrast to our culture, Jesus says “ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.”  People who hunger and thirst for righteousness have a deep desire in them to see God’s perfect standard lived out not only in their lives, but in our world.  Most evangelical Christians would agree that much of what Hollywood produces is a stark rebellion to God’s righteous standard. Although we may know this to be true, we seem to think that it is acceptable for entertainment value.  Romans 1:32 states,  “ Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.” (ESV) Even if we do not practice the things we see in the movies or on TV, watching and paying to watch them is a type of approval. Christians should be aware of what God’s standard calls for in this area.

When I was growing up the wisdom from many of the church’s leaders was that it was wrong to even step into a movie theater or rent a video.  I am not endorsing that viewpoint. There is nothing wrong with watching a movie for entertainment value. However, we a Christians should practice much discernment with what we watch.  Not only for our own personal holiness, but we are showing approval of the content of a movie when we watch it. Each individual Christian should make a decision about what they watch. Do you believe that God hates adultery? Why would you watch a movie or a TV show that glorifies adultery? Finally, imagine the effect it would have on the entertainment industry if everyone who claimed to be a Christian would not watch movies that stand in direct contrast with Christ’s teaching. Not only would it be a witness to them that we believe in Jesus, but that we believe Him. Imagine if by our witness we could change what Hollywood produces.