Is theater/movies/tv sin?

[DaveXR650]

Would like your thoughts, I have been vexed by all the swearing and sin in entertainment today. I tried to lok up wholesome or clean tv shows, and even the ones defined by articles today as wholesome and clean have fornication, getting drunk, high, and such things in them, which rules them out of being clean and wholesome to me.

I had been under the thought that it was okay to just ignore all the bad stuff and just focus on the parts that are okay, but I am not sure anymore, and not sure what is okay anymore as there can be a lot of things to do with revenge and sinful attitudes.

But we are not under the law, so not sure how to view all this.

I admit I'm still part fundamentalist but you asked. I think that there is something about the modern movie technology since the invention of motion pictures that is able to present to us a realistic enough visual scenario that we have difficulty keeping it from affecting us. Of course this is partially true with literature and pictures and plays but the motion picture has even more of an effect. I'm not claiming to get that out of the Bible, it's just what I have observed. If you watch the classic movie channel Ben Mankiewicz, in his introductions says this constantly and the movie industry is well aware of this fact.

So I say this. There is nothing wrong with you saying that you will not watch this or that, or refusing to go to movies and so on. If you are having trouble with something being a temptation get rid of the TV or computer, if that is the problem. It is legalism if I start telling you what you are allowed to view or make it a "standard" for a Christian. But not being under the law does not mean that you are not allowed to avoid sin and circumstances that could lead to sin. Just keep it to yourself and don't put what you do on everyone else.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I don't know. I watched it for the drama and the storylines. When I watch a show that has sex scenes(now that I don't watch so many TV shows after my wife died, I guess maybe I should say "When I watched") the quicker those are over with and get back to the story, the better as far as I am concerned.

That's like a man who says he reads Playboy for the articles.

I guess it's because I'm a female that this type of content is offensive to me.

I'm done here. I'm doing no good anyway.

 

[DaveXR650]

I'm done here. I'm doing no good anyway.

Yes you are. Jason asked a serious question.

I guess it's because I'm a female that this type of content is offensive to me.

That should be an even better reason for a Christian man not to watch that stuff, rather than just how it affects us. I had overlooked that.

 

[KenH]

That's like a man who says he reads Playboy for the articles.

I figured someone might bring that up.

No, I have never had a Playboy magazine - for the pictures or otherwise. I watch dramatic TV shows or movies for the...drama. As I stated, the faster they get the sex scenes over with the better as far as I am concerned. For that matter, I would prefer that they left such scenes, along with the foul language, out altogether.

Now, if someone doesn't want to watch such, or if they would be affected by it in a bad way, then they should not watch it.

However, I don't think that people should avoid reading the violent sections of the Bible nor the sexual sections, such as, for example, Lot and his daughters, or the Levite and what happened to his concubine

 

[37818]

Two Scriptures relating to the issue, used by fundamentalists regarding this matter.
Psalms 101:3, ". . . I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: . . ."
James 4:17, ". . . Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. . . ."

FYI. Those in some kind of leadership might be expected to observe some strict standards. Where rank and file church members those stricter standards would not be imposed or required of them.

 

[JesusFan]

Hello,

I had seen A. W. Pink and Spurgeon say comments that seemed against the theater, and I was wondering their perspective. I found and read this tract that I believe speaks to their sentiments perhaps from I don't know when.

The Christian and the Theater

I am wondering how you all decide what is ok in terms of our entertainment of books, stories, movies, tv, theater, etc.

Also how do you decide on how much time to give these things?

I actually think a lot of sense is made in that tract and think as a society we do spend too much time on etertainment, though I likely think more rest is okay than the author did.

I think that it could be true that we are paying actors to sin when we watch things in which they do.

I am not sure on actors having bad life styles, I mean some do, but not sure its fair to make a judgment about it regardless.

I do think that entertainment often does make our mind not interested in thinking about the things of God, but rather thinking about entertainment and when we can get more of it.

I am supposed to go to a theater production of some kind this Saturday, a 1 man production that relates to C. S. Lewis. I am thinking its ok, I am thinking the actor is likely a Christian to want to do this production, and I am thinking the people who go will likely mostly be Christian as well, and the person who bought the tickets bought them hoping we all would talk more about Christian things with each other it sounds like.

Would like your thoughts, I have been vexed by all the swearing and sin in entertainment today. I tried to lok up wholesome or clean tv shows, and even the ones defined by articles today as wholesome and clean have fornication, getting drunk, high, and such things in them, which rules them out of being clean and wholesome to me.

I had been under the thought that it was okay to just ignore all the bad stuff and just focus on the parts that are okay, but I am not sure anymore, and not sure what is okay anymore as there can be a lot of things to do with revenge and sinful attitudes.

But we are not under the law, so not sure how to view all this.

Thanks for any help.

Think they would be reacting more against theater such as Broadway, and think that all depends on what the movie and tv show is promoting!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Hello,

I had seen A. W. Pink and Spurgeon say comments that seemed against the theater, and I was wondering their perspective. I found and read this tract that I believe speaks to their sentiments perhaps from I don't know when.

The Christian and the Theater

I am wondering how you all decide what is ok in terms of our entertainment of books, stories, movies, tv, theater, etc.

Also how do you decide on how much time to give these things?

I actually think a lot of sense is made in that tract and think as a society we do spend too much time on etertainment, though I likely think more rest is okay than the author did.

I think that it could be true that we are paying actors to sin when we watch things in which they do.

I am not sure on actors having bad life styles, I mean some do, but not sure its fair to make a judgment about it regardless.

I do think that entertainment often does make our mind not interested in thinking about the things of God, but rather thinking about entertainment and when we can get more of it.

I am supposed to go to a theater production of some kind this Saturday, a 1 man production that relates to C. S. Lewis. I am thinking its ok, I am thinking the actor is likely a Christian to want to do this production, and I am thinking the people who go will likely mostly be Christian as well, and the person who bought the tickets bought them hoping we all would talk more about Christian things with each other it sounds like.

Would like your thoughts, I have been vexed by all the swearing and sin in entertainment today. I tried to lok up wholesome or clean tv shows, and even the ones defined by articles today as wholesome and clean have fornication, getting drunk, high, and such things in them, which rules them out of being clean and wholesome to me.

I had been under the thought that it was okay to just ignore all the bad stuff and just focus on the parts that are okay, but I am not sure anymore, and not sure what is okay anymore as there can be a lot of things to do with revenge and sinful attitudes.

But we are not under the law, so not sure how to view all this.

Thanks for any help.

No it is not

 

[Piper]

So where do you all draw the line

Nudity, situations that portray adultery, gay movies.