Is going to the movies OK?

Whether one goes to the movies, or watches one on TV or from a video, what is the difference?

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR> My Pastor does not go to the movies because he of the multi-plexes. He says people would see him and not know what he was seeing, and therefore might think he was seeing something inapproiate. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think this Pastor's reality check has bounced.

 

NB, You need to talk to God directly about issues like this. Jesus hears us and will answer if we ask. My wife and I rarley go to a movie but do rent movies maybe once a month or so. We are somewhat picky about the ones we choose.

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by NewBeliever:
Is it OK to go to the movies?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Yes.

 

New B, I hope you didn't take me wrong. I think this was a good place to ask a question like your movie question. If I sounded grumpy in my post please forgive me. I was trying to point out that sometimes we forget to go to God directly or probably more likely we ask but forget to listen and look for an answer. Keep listening to God and he will direct your heart about movies. And if you go to one or rent one you shouldn't have he will tell you, I have done and he spoke to me loud and clear. Take care my friend.

 

NewBeliever: <BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I am delighted to hear your pastor is more concerned about God's reputation and the integrity of his ministry than his own pleasure.

Mark Twain once wrote "As to the Adjective: When in doubt strike it out." Little did he realize the Biblical principle along the same lines. Romans 14:23, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

 

If you can find a wholesome one . . . gooooooo! Pass out some tracts. Tell someone about Jesus. Have a good time!

 

&lt; Is it OK to go to the movies? &gt;

"OK" is as good as can be said about it. It definitely is not great.

 

The idea of not going to a theatre because someone seeing you go in doesn't know if your watching an x rated film or not holds no water with me. My mother used the same reasoning for her disapproval of attending movies. Somehow its ok for others to see you go into a video store though even though you can just as easily rent a porn flick--go figure. In my experience of going to movies, people couldn't care less about what you are going to see since they are too wrapped up in the movie they are about to view.

Evil things happening in a theatre? Unless of course it is making out (which I have yet to see in a movie theatre) anything else is considered indecsent exposure and is against the law so if caught those involved would be arrested and charged.

Supporting hollywood financially, well geesh you have no idea what you might be supporting every time you go to the video store or the grocery store or any store for that matter. Just my opinion of course. &lt;smiles&gt; dar

 

No movies for me! Why should I support the worldly lifestyle of those actors and actresses?

 

NewBeliever said:

Is it OK to go to the movies?

My Pastor does not go to the movies because he of the multi-plexes. He says people would see him and not know what he was seeing, and therefore might think he was seeing something inapproiate.

Which as a reason not to go to the movies is wholly inadequate. It's like saying I don't shop downtown because, although I just went for some aspirin and some pens, I might meet someone who didn't know I was just going to the pharmacy and stationery stores, and might think I was there to patronize the gay bookstore.

If the pastor wants to provide a reasonable explanation why he doesn't go to movies, there are dozens of legitimate ones to choose from:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>He is offended by harsh language.
<LI>He might be tempted by the potential nudity.
<LI>The movies present situations which he, as a Christian, chooses not to be exposed to.
<LI>He wants to be above reproach for the sake of the flock.
[/list]

Instead, what you get sounds an awful lot like: "I'm afraid to be seen at the cinema because I don't think my congregation trusts me."

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Dr. Bob Griffin:

~That it supports Hellywood and the filthy lifestyle of that crowd
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

OH MY GOSH! When I saw HELLYWOOD, I nearly fell off my chair from the uncontrollable laughter! You have GOT to post this in the Humor section! I've never heard it referred to that way...but it's SOOO true! LoL!

 

NewBeliever, I agree. Your pastor's reasons for not going to movies are wholly adequate for him. For Ransom to say "Which as a reason not to go to the movies is wholly inadequate" is, to me laughable! Your pastor's reasons are your pastor's reasons! I don't go to movies for several reasons. 1, I don't like crowds. 2, the seats are not as comfortable as my easy chair. 3. I like to be able to pause the movie when I have to go for refreshments or to the restroom. Those are my reasons and for me they are wholly adequate! For me to try to impose those reasons on someone else would be wrong, but my reasons are my reasons and nobody has the right to tell me they are wholly inadequate!

 

The pastor's reasons for not attending movies for HIM is fine. The fact remains no one is going to give a flip if you go or don't go. No matter where you go, you'll end up supporting "evil people" no matter how you look at it. -dar

 

If your pastor feels the obligation to set this type of example, more power to him.

I am picky about the movies I watch at the theatre--and at home, but it has to do with time and money and -- I have better things to do usually.

 

I went to see Elvis in G.I. Blues when I was
around twelve, saw two more movies during that
era, then never saw another movie until Prince of
Egypt. I did not see any between then be-
cause of church rules, not my own standards.
Now, I will go see a movie, but unless it is a his-
toric depiction, I will not go to anything but G-
rated and an occasional, carefully chosen PG.

I will tell you what blew me away re movies:
When my husband and I married, he and his two
teens had never had a TV, and I had three and a
VCR. When I saw how out of control they imme-
diately became--the trash they were willing to
watch and the movies they rented--I put my foot
down. I told them all, "These are MY TVs and
VCR! I will get rid of them unless you get some
control!"

I told them that there would be no more rentals
of movies that were other than G or PG, no
more fighting movies, no more overt sexual
trash, etc, and if they did not like it, too bad.
Well, I had a fight on my hands, but I was not
going to have that trash in any home I lived in.

We all survived.

[ August 14, 2002, 06:39 AM: Message edited by: Abiyah ]