Is watching a R rated movie a sin?

[evangelist6589]

I will focus on R rated movies, but the question could entail all movies. The answer to the question may depend on the movie and or the person as this could be a romans issue where to some people a certain film is a sin, and to others it may not be. I imagine that to the Fundamentalist Baptist any R rated movie would be a sin to watch. And on the other side there are those claiming to be evangelical that will watch anything and claim its all okay.

On the Way of the Master radio podcast I have heard them speak about this issue and the consensus was this is a grey area, but we should not watch things that will dishonor our Lord and to me this means staying away from movies that use the Lord's name in vain repeatedly, attack God, feature much immorality, etc.. However other movies are rated R simply for the violence (Saving Private Ryan) but are actually really good movies. So what do you say?

 

[Aaron]

This looks like something a 12-year-old would ask.

 

[evangelist6589]

This looks like something a 12-year-old would ask.

Its a question for those that take sanctification and their christian walk seriously.

 

[blessedwife318]

Watching movies is a gray area. What is not a gray area for those who take sanctification and their Christian walk seriously, is unbiblical divorce followed by seeking to commit adultury by marrying someone else.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[JonC]

Two things

First, ratings reflect the norm and standards of a society – NOT the Bible. The question to ask is not whether or a Christian should watch a movie our culture deems “R-rated” but if God is glorified through the Christian’s viewing of that movie.

Second, working off of @blessedwife318 's observation, a professing Christian’s lifestyle is much more important than watching a movie. An adulterer (or someone who divorces his wife for unbiblical reasons), a drunk (or a man who refuses to set aside alcohol for the benefit of his wife, family, or church claiming Christian liberty.....or any other sinful lifestyle) will do more damage than this one issue. But the answer still goes back to glorifying God (not in the professing Christian words proclaiming “to God be the glory” but God actually being glorified in the life of the true Christian.

We have an issue in our culture with nominal Christianity. Many of those movies would not exist today if professing Christians were truly children of God, but every day we see these people preaching Christ with their words while denying Him with their actions. And here I think examining R rated movies may be useful. Do they glorify God?

I suggest that many (most?) secular movies and television shows are designed to feed the lusts of the flesh. They are designed to indulge sin – whether it is the sinfulness of violence and hate; of greed and lust; of sexual immorality, ect. So we need to be careful in our choices.

 

[Yeshua1]

Then the Passion of the Christ would be not seen, nor movies such as The Godfather saga....
Think a lot of this turns around on why R rated, and is there still a redeeming feature in the show?

 

[InTheLight]

After this thread had gone many hours with no response to the OP I figured BB had finally realized the best course of action. Oh well...

Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo.

 

[Yeshua1]

After this thread had gone many hours with no response to the OP I figured BB had finally realized the best course of action. Oh well...

Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo.

Pardon me, as I am curious to how the response back will be!

 

[annsni]

Does it meet the Philippians 4:8 test? Some R rated movies are fine and some PG movies are not, IMO. But then again, I don't think much of what comes out of Hollywood passes the test nowadays.

 

[JonC]

After this thread had gone many hours with no response to the OP I figured BB had finally realized the best course of action. Oh well...

Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo.

That's why I didn't respond when I first saw the thread because I pictured in my mind Jimmy Swaggart cautioning Christians about the pervasiveness of immorality on television...but as time went on.....

 

[evangelist6589]

Two things

First, ratings reflect the norm and standards of a society – NOT the Bible. The question to ask is not whether or a Christian should watch a movie our culture deems “R-rated” but if God is glorified through the Christian’s viewing of that movie.

Second, working off of @blessedwife318 's observation, a professing Christian’s lifestyle is much more important than watching a movie. An adulterer (or someone who divorces his wife for unbiblical reasons), a drunk (or a man who refuses to set aside alcohol for the benefit of his wife, family, or church claiming Christian liberty.....or any other sinful lifestyle) will do more damage than this one issue. But the answer still goes back to glorifying God (not in the professing Christian words proclaiming “to God be the glory” but God actually being glorified in the life of the true Christian.

We have an issue in our culture with nominal Christianity. Many of those movies would not exist today if professing Christians were truly children of God, but every day we see these people preaching Christ with their words while denying Him with their actions. And here I think examining R rated movies may be useful. Do they glorify God?

I suggest that many (most?) secular movies and television shows are designed to feed the lusts of the flesh. They are designed to indulge sin – whether it is the sinfulness of violence and hate; of greed and lust; of sexual immorality, ect. So we need to be careful in our choices.

The holier than thou attitude is all over this board in regards to my divorce. But If I did indeed sin in my divorce then God has forgiven me. I am not sure as I have been reading Keener and finding that abuse is justifiable. The Bible may not explicitly address it, as it lays down principles for us to follow. Divorces that are sin are those where a partner decides to leave because he/she feels that they are growing apart, or he/she wants to marry someone else. But according to the Bible and Keener divorce is justifiable for the reason of abandonment, marital unfaithfulness, and abuse.

Here are some scenarios that may warrant a divorce provided by Keener for the reason of abuse.

What of a woman those husband's verbal assaults have reduced her to the point of contemplating suicide?
A husband who is a drug addict sold everything they had causing them to lose their home.
A husband who beat his wife in front of the children
A husband who exploited the situation to get the children hooked on drugs

In none of the situations above would you give the okay for divorce. You will say they need counseling but what if the husband refuses counseling?

 

[JonC]

The holier than thou attitude is all over this board in regards to my divorce. But If I did indeed sin in my divorce then God has forgiven me. I am not sure as I have been reading Keener and finding that abuse is justifiable. The Bible may not explicitly address it, as it lays down principles for us to follow. Divorces that are sin are those where a partner decides to leave because he/she feels that they are growing apart, or he/she wants to marry someone else.

Here are some scenarios that may warrant a divorce provided by Keener.

What of a woman those husband's verbal assaults have reduced her to the point of contemplating suicide?
A husband who is a drug addict sold everything they had causing them to lose their home.
A husband who beat his wife in front of the children
A husband who exploited the situation to get the children hooked on drugs

In none of the situations above would you give the okay for divorce. You will say they need counseling but what if the husband refuses counseling?

I am not speaking of your divorce but of the principle in general.

But since you bring it up:

1. What makes you believe that God has forgiven you?

I do not believe you are forgiven (in fact, I can confidently say that you are not). The reason is that you say "If I have sinned then God has forgiven me". You do not admit that abandoning your wife was a sin - you can't repent of things you don't understand as requiring repentance.

2. If God has forgiven you, what makes you believe that there are no consequences?

Even if you had repented of your lifestyle there remains consequences. We will be held accountable for everything we do in this life, whether good or bad.

 

[evangelist6589]

I am not speaking of your divorce but of the principle in general.

But since you bring it up:

1. What makes you believe that God has forgiven you?

I do not believe you are forgiven (in fact, I can confidently say that you are not). The reason is that you say "If I have sinned then God has forgiven me". You do not admit that abandoning your wife was a sin - you can't repent of things you don't understand as requiring repentance.

2. If God has forgiven you, what makes you believe that there are no consequences?

Even if you had repented of your lifestyle there remains consequences. We will be held accountable for everything we do in this life, whether good or bad.

The woman was very unstable, was very abusive in her manipulative behaviors, and refused to even make it a Biblical marriage. I am confident that Keener's essay provides the biblical support I need. As he said the Bible lays down principles for us to follow in the area of divorce. So by that token I feel justified in the divorce and not in the wrong.

What if you are your interpretation is wrong and abuse is an exception for divorce? Ever thought about that? Level with me and imagine you are wrong.

 

[evangelist6589]

I am not speaking of your divorce but of the principle in general.

But since you bring it up:

1. What makes you believe that God has forgiven you?

I do not believe you are forgiven (in fact, I can confidently say that you are not). The reason is that you say "If I have sinned then God has forgiven me". You do not admit that abandoning your wife was a sin - you can't repent of things you don't understand as requiring repentance.

2. If God has forgiven you, what makes you believe that there are no consequences?

Even if you had repented of your lifestyle there remains consequences. We will be held accountable for everything we do in this life, whether good or bad.

It also can be argued that abuse is a form of abandonment. She refused to make it a Biblical marriage in the first place and therefore did not hold to her vows so she abandoned me!

 

[JonC]

The woman was very unstable, was very abusive in her manipulative behaviors, and refused to even make it a Biblical marriage. I am confident that Keener's essay provides the biblical support I need. As he said the Bible lays down principles for us to follow in the area of divorce. So by that token I feel justified in the divorce and not in the wrong.

What if you are your interpretation is wrong and abuse is an exception for divorce? Ever thought about that? Level with me and imagine you are wrong.

Biblically a man can divorce his wife for sexual immorality. The reason goes back to the nature of such physical relations and the definition of marriage. A marriage is a union, not a civil agreement.

If your wife best you then certainly you were justified in leaving to seek help. I am not saying you should stay when your life is in danger. But even this does not constitute biblical grounds for divorce.

Since you ask, I will level with you. At one time I admired your passion to reach the lost. I was wrong. You are unrepentant and ungodly at a very basic level. Anything you say is nullified by your embrace of immorality. Your church was wrong to accept you, at this point in your life, into its fellowship. But if you confess your sins and turn to God in repentance (a change, not just admitting your sin) God is faithful to forgive.

 

[JonC]

It also can be argued that abuse is a form of abandonment.

The heart of man is wicked. Anything can be argued.

 

[evangelist6589]

Biblically a man can divorce his wife for sexual immorality. The reason goes back to the nature of such physical relations and the definition of marriage. A marriage is a union, not a civil agreement.

If your wife best you then certainly you were justified in leaving to seek help. I am not saying you should stay when your life is in danger. But even this does not constitute biblical grounds for divorce.

Since you ask, I will level with you. At one time I admired your passion to reach the lost. I was wrong. You are unrepentant and ungodly at a very basic level. Anything you say is nullified by your embrace of immorality. Your church was wrong to accept you, at this point in your life, into its fellowship. But if you confess your sins and turn to God in repentance (a change, not just admitting your sin) God is faithful to forgive.

Your opinion on reaching the lost means nothing to me as I have like-minded folks on social media that are on board with WOTM which you are not.

That sounds like quite a judgment on me.

 

[evangelist6589]

The heart of man is wicked. Anything can be argued.

Why did you ignore this section in a previous post?

Here are some scenarios that may warrant a divorce provided by Keener for the reason of abuse.

What of a woman those husband's verbal assaults have reduced her to the point of contemplating suicide?
A husband who is a drug addict sold everything they had causing them to lose their home.
A husband who beat his wife in front of the children
A husband who exploited the situation to get the children hooked on drugs

In none of the situations above would you give the okay for divorce. You will say they need counseling but what if the husband refuses counseling?

 

[evangelist6589]

After this thread had gone many hours with no response to the OP I figured BB had finally realized the best course of action. Oh well...

Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo.

When you cant argue, debate, reason, and discuss, you make excuses like the one above.

 

[Jerome]

Does it meet the PhiIippians 4:8 test?

The 'PhiIippians 4:8 Policy' was imposed recently at Cedarville University by president Thomas White. The school in Ohio endorsed by the state's Southern Baptists has many students that were homeschooled:

Christianity Today: Cedarville faculty push back against stricter standards keeping curse words, R-rated movies, and sexual content out of their curricula.

Cedarville has spelled out new guidelines officially barring any materials that “may be considered ‘adult’ in nature, that represent immorality, or that may be a stumbling block to students.”

it is aimed at the student body as a whole—and those who pay for them to come. “We hear from parents regularly,” said [Cedarville vice president Thomas] Mach...so-called helicopter parents....It’s natural for Christian parents, especially those who homeschool, to make sure their kids’ classes match the biblical standards

The new policy’s instructions....For films: “As a general rule, ‘R’ rated movies will not be shown. PG-13, PG, and unrated movies should be evaluated based on language, sexual content, graphic violence, and nudity.”

“Faculty in various department meetings were absolutely furious—even faculty who tend to be in favor of the administration’s policies,” said one of the dozens of concerned professors who showed up at the town hall meetings held by administrators in March.

the PhiIippians 4:8 policy...prompted several professors in multiple departments to begin looking for jobs elsewhere. Some have started going to counseling to address anxiety over their future.