When you think of the movies, you might think of action, adventure, thrilling mysteries and romantic love stories. However, you might also think of glamour, wealth, celebrity culture, violence, and gratuitous sexual themes. Of course, all of these conflict with a Christian worldview.
Movies can be a source of fun and relaxation, and they can also be thought-provoking and artistic. But as believers, no matter what we’re about to do, we should first ask: will doing this bring glory to God?
As Christians, what should we be looking for in movies? Should we stick with Christian movies or be open to secular films? Read on for some biblical guidelines to consider next time you’re planning a movie night.
What is a “Christian” movie, anyway?
In some cases, it’s obvious. Some movies have a distinctly Christian message and purpose. However, it’s always important to think critically about what we watch. Just because a movie is made by “Christians,” deals with Christian themes, or features Christian actors, we can’t assume it’s correctly representing a Christian worldview.
As an example, let’s consider the classic Christmas movie, It’s A Wonderful Life. In one sense, it has a lot of clear Christian themes and messages. The main character prays, learns the importance of family and integrity, and tries to help the poor even at his own expense. By the end of the film, honesty is rewarded, and greed is punished. There’s no nudity or graphic violence, and one character is an angel. Sounds like a Christian movie, right?
However, on another level, not everything in this movie accurately reflects Christianity. For example, the main character’s guardian angel comes to earth to protect him, in order to “earn his wings” in heaven. At the end of the movie, a little girl says, “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings!” The audience understands that the guardian angel has finally achieved his goal.
It’s clear that the on-screen portrayal of angels in It’s A Wonderful Life has very little basis in scripture. In fact, inaccurate portrayals of biblical concepts, like angels, can be misleading and harmful.
The point here is not that it’s wrong to watch It’s A Wonderful Life. However, this movie illustrates an important principle: we can’t just assume that a movie is fully “Christian,” just because it looks that way on the surface.
Is It OK For Christians To Watch Secular Movies?
As we’ve seen, simply sticking to “Christian” movies can be problematic. It’s easy to watch a “Christian” movie with too much trust. If we assume that all its themes are God-glorifying and biblical, just because it claims to be a Christian movie, we might be deceived. No matter what a movie claims to be, we’re responsible to evaluate it in the light of God’s Word.
In John 17:14-19. Jesus prays to God the Father before being crucified. In this prayer, Jesus says that His followers are not “of the world.” However, Jesus doesn’t ask God to take his followers out of the world. Rather, He wants them to stay in the world while being protected from evil influences.
A popular phrase in Christian culture today is, “Christians should be in the world but not of the world.” We often tend to focus on the latter part (“not of the world”), but let’s also remember the first part. God has put us in the world. To an extent, that includes knowing about and understanding the world’s society and culture. Sometimes, secular movies can remind Christians of biblical truths, even if that wasn’t the producers’ goal.
Is It OK To Watch A Movie Just For Fun?
Sometimes, at the end of a long day, you just want to lean back in the recliner and rest. Mindless movies can help you do that. But is “mindless entertainment” ever the right choice for a Christian?
The Puritan minister, Richard Baxter, made a list of questions that Christians should ask before reading any book other than the Bible. These questions included, “Could I spend this time no better?” and “Are there better books that would edify me more?” Baxter preached that Christians are better off sticking to the Bible, instead of reading “just for fun.” Although we should value much of what the Puritan’s stood for, this aspect of Puritan thinking may be harmful. Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 seems to indicate that it’s fine to have fun.
God designed human beings to need rest, both physical and mental. In fact, he ordained a whole day of the week just for rest. Even Jesus needed to get away from the crowds and rest, and he invited his disciples to come with him in Mark 6:31. Jesus attended social gatherings designed for fun, and we know that recreation can have a place in the Christian life. However, it’s important to guard our minds, even while we’re relaxing.
How Do I Choose A Movie To Watch?
Some movies just can’t be an edifying part of your Christian walk. Scripture gives us some helpful principles to guide our choices.
First, consider this: does the movie encourage you to love the world and its values (wealth, power, and self-worship)? In 1 John 2:15-17, a clear contrast is drawn. Some people love God. Others love the world, with its lust, pride and greed. Many movies portray wealthy, powerful, selfish people as heroes; if we’re not thinking carefully, they can inspire us to do the same.
Second, is the movie a source of sexual temptation? Jesus says that lusting after someone’s body is like committing adultery. This question is more complex than whether the movie contains nudity. Also, the answer to this question may vary from one believer to another. James tells us to run away from temptation. When in doubt, avoid potential sources of sexual temptation on-screen.
Third, is the movie designed to glorify violence? As Christians, we are supposed to be “peacemakers” on earth. Jesus didn’t violently resist arrest and crucifixion. Instead, He modeled strength through meekness. Movies that make violence feel exciting or commonplace can warp our worldview.
At Harmony Baptist Church Galesburg, we know it can be hard for Christians to make God-honoring choices about their entertainment. Being part of a vibrant Christian community can help. We’d love to welcome you into our church family as we seek discernment together. Check out our Contact page to plan your visit!
