|
Christians, Movies and Culture
Maurice Velasquez
As Christians,
we are to be different than the world. So why do we believe that
watching movies is not being like the world or appearing to be like
the world? Movies today are a key means (probably the key means)
through which our culture, and the minds and souls of many, are
defiled and led astray. Hollywood is a powerfully negative force of
influence in our culture, in the minds of our young people and in
our corporate “psyche”. It is probably the single main and most
powerful source where the church
and its people are being attacked. There are usually 4 ways to respond to this.
Our approach is the 4th one listed below:
 1)
The Public at Large
What most people do is watch movies seeking only entertainment and
gladly accepting the worldview and immorality presented as
alternative and viable worldviews and ethics.
Christians
2)
Entertainment only - Many Christians who choose to watch movies
unfortunately do so in the same fashion as the world. They watch
them just for entertainment [mind you, we have to admit that we too
watch movies for their entertainment value. We thoroughly enjoy
them. But we do so not just for entertainment]. We watch them as a
recent author taught, "with our eyes wide open" mindfully aware of
the messages, worldviews and ethics being promoted.
3)
Boycotting Altogether - Many other
Christians decide to not watch movies out of a desire to
protect their minds and those of their children. We sincerely respect this
approach and firmly
believe that Christians who believe it to
be wrong to watch movies should abstain from watching them, and that
other Christians who think it is acceptable to watch movies should
not look down upon them.
4)
Cultural Involvement - Our approach is different. We take the view of Martin Luther who
said that if the church is not speaking to those things that the Satan
and the World are attacking, then the church is not rightly speaking
Christ to the World. We consider watching movies as part of the Cultural Mandate believing that Christ came not only to win individual people, but
the whole man, families, cultures and nations. He came to save the
mind, the heart, the body and all that man touches, thus the arts
and all disciplines. All things are to be done for the glory of God.
In order to do this, we must be aware of and involved in what is
being taught in the arts, and be
well-versed,
rightly discerning and rightly speaking. In this, we follow the examples of both Daniel
in the Old Testament and Paul in the New. Daniel and
the godly Hebrew young men were in captivity and viewed it as
acceptable to learn the literature of the pagans as demanded by
them, but
yet refused to disobey Mosaic law on their diets. They did not view
it a sin to be educated in the literature of unbelievers as long as
they did not behave or believe in accordance to them. In the New
Testament, we see St. Paul quoting from pagan literature when preaching the gospel to the
Athenians on Mars Hill (and in several other places in the New
Testament). He quoted from them to either support the Gospel message
or to provide a counter argument (in I Corinthians 3 for example, he
addresses directly the Greek Philosopher's teaching of the Natural
Man as opposed to the Christian view). We seek to follow both
Daniel's and Paul's example seeking mastery of Scriptures and Arts to better
wage dialogue and persuasion.
The challenge
for Christians today, however, is that externally it appears as
though we are being like the world but a closer look at it, we are
seeking to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ
that we may do warfare against strongholds that raise themselves
against the knowledge of Christ, both in our personal lives and in
our culture. We
therefore here introduce
our series of movie reviews entitled "Film Encounters".
Film, Ideas and Images
Ft. Randall Toms
Maybe an
Episcopalian priest shouldn’t enjoy the movies so much, but let’s
face it–I do. On one level, I love movies just because they are
entertaining, and I derive a great deal of pleasure from watching
them. On another level, I look at movies at the most important
vehicle in our time for the conveying of ideas. In our era, movies
have, by and large, taken the place of books. Not many people read
good books, but people do attend good movies, sometimes without even
realizing that they are good movies. It is my
intention in these movie reviews and criticisms to write about films
on a number of different levels. Sometimes, I will give plot
summaries of films. At other times, I will write about various
artistic techniques and performances. Most of all, as some of you
know, I love to interact with the ideas and philosophies that are
often presented in movies. Some of my comments will center around
those kinds of discussions.
Our Intent: Ideas
and Images
In these
comments, I will not address the issue of whether the movies are
good or bad, or moral or immoral. I will make no mention of whether
people, Christians included, should watch the movies or not. I will
leave that to the individuals’ consciences. I will give no ratings,
such as stars (*, **, ***, or ****). My primary intent will be to
evaluate how successfully the movies present their ideas and
images. Some of the movies may convey messages with which I
disagree. Most of the books I read and the movies I watch convey
messages of which I do not approve. Nevertheless, I think it is
important for people, especially Christians, to examine these
various ideas and philosophies. Some of my reviews, perhaps, will
not even sound like a “Christian” review. That is,
I may not make any direct link between the movie and the Christian
faith.
Some of the
reviews will concern movies that are "now showing." Some will be
older ones that are out on DVD. Other classic films, may be
reviewed with much longer comments based on more extensive
research. I hope you will find these reviews enjoyable. Perhaps
they will also help to generate some interesting discussions. Most
of all, I hope that it helps you to appreciate and enjoy this very
important medium of communication. To read a review, simply choose a
movie from the list below.
Enter "Film Encounters" |
Film
Encounters