The Christian and Horror Movies

[JonHenry]

BTW, that really eliminates the time i spend mulling over things i used to watch. God's way allows me to think on Him, and keeps me free to worship. In my mind, that is a priceless freedom!

Yes, I know I can watch anything I want -- I AM a free person -- but I have found more contentment in my life since I stopped ordering off the the world's menu.

jh

 

[Helen]

Thank you JonHenry. When I saw this thread had surfaced again, that is exactly what I was going to mention. Here it is in context, folks:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things.
Philippians 4:8

consider also Colossians 3:15-17:
Let the peace of Christ rule in yourhearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And WHATEVER YOU DO, WHETHER IN WORD OR DEED, DO IT ALL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD JESUS, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Or, a little earlier in that same chapter:

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

And it is also written that every thought should be taken captive to Christ.

I don't think horror movies and books and video games would qualifiy...

 

[Mike McK]

Originally posted by Johnv:
I was once told that my watching of Toy Story was viewing occult material

Reminds me of one of my favorite lines from the Simpsons:

Daddy won't let us watch "Davey and Goliath". He says a talking dog is Satanic". - Todd Flanders

 

[Ransom]

To be precise:

[Todd is watching Gomer Pyle.]
Ned: Is this all he watches?
Maude: Well, he used to watch Davey and Goliath, but he thought the idea of a talking dog was blasphemous.

I must admit, having never seen the show originally, I didn't get the joke until after the "Gravy and Jobriath" parody they did last season, and the subsequent Mountain Dew ads. The potential for parody is overwhelming. ("I dunno, Davey!")

[ November 06, 2002, 12:44 PM: Message edited by: Ransom ]

 

[Mike McK]

Cool. Actually, it's funnier that way.

I know I remember Ned saying something about "Davey and Goliath", though.

 

[Kiffin]

When I was in college, the Associate Pastor of the Fundamentalist Church I was a member of told us it was wrong to go see any movie at the Theator because some lost person would say, "What is a Christian doing watching movies?" and you might ruin your testimony because they might think your going to see a R rated movie. He said it would be better if you rented a movie from the Video store rather than hurt your testimony. ???? I still have not understood that logic.

 

[Ransom]

Yeah, that's the reason I never go into the supermarket to buy groceries. What if some unsaved person thinks I've gone in to buy cigarettes or contraceptives?

 

[Helen]

The fact that you guys are making fun of all this instead of looking at the Bible speaks worlds for where your priorities are.

 

[Ransom]

On the contrary - I have looked to the Bible, and have found nothing there that would forbid scary stories, in and of themselves, as a means of pleasure.

 

[Helen]

Do they help you in your walk with Christ?
Do they keep your mind on what is good and lovely and beautiful?
When you watch them, is this an activity you are doing as unto the Lord?

 

[Ransom]

Helen asked:

Do they help you in your walk with Christ?

No, neither do they hinder it.

Do they keep your mind on what is good and lovely and beautiful?

Yes, if the story in question is well crafted.

When you watch them, is this an activity you are doing as unto the Lord?

Always.

 

[neal4christ]

On the contrary - I have looked to the Bible, and have found nothing there that would forbid scary stories, in and of themselves, as a means of pleasure.

Sure...no problem with stuff that glorifies murder, witchcraft, necromancy, and the like.....let me see, there is a verse coming to mind....

"Finally, brethern, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are OF GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be an PRAISE, think on theses things." Phil. 4:8

Sure.....Horror films fit this......not!

 

[Ransom]

It seems to me there is a difference between featuring murder, witchcraft, etc. as a plot element, and glorifying it; furthermore, it does no good to confuse the two.

 

[Helen]

It funny, but sad, how people will find excuses for what satisfies their own desires apart from what God would have them spend their time and money doing...

I can just see the disciples all taking an evening off to go view the lastest horror flick...

 

[neal4christ]

Ransom, could you give some examples of movies you consider acceptable, please?

Neal

[ November 06, 2002, 02:50 PM: Message edited by: neal4christ ]

 

[Ransom]

Helen said:

It funny, but sad, how people will find excuses for what satisfies their own desires apart from what God would have them spend their time and money doing...

Ahem. You have no idea what God would have me spend my time and money doing. Please don't take your personal hangups and assume we are all equally weak. It is the height of Pharisaic arrogance to presume that you can dictate God's terms to the rest of us - and furthermore, without any clear statement in Scripture you are merely arguing in circles anyway.

 

[Helen]

It's not a matter of being weak, Ransom. We are told to judge words and actions of others. I am not judging your heart. But spending your time and attention and money on horror movies is an affront to God's work of grace in your life. I have a feeling you are sort of addicted to the adrenalin rush they give. If it is of any comfort to you, any woman who is a soap opera addcit is in the same boat.

Go spend that time and attention on old folk in a rest home. They are so lonely....

 

[AdoptedDaughter]

Originally posted by tiggertoddy:
Furthermore, for me to "get help" as far as reality, let me ask you this: Since when does psychology/psychiatry have any validity concerning my walk with Jesus? the reality is this: The ONLY "counselor" I will EVER take seriously is Jesus Christ. Psychology and psychiatry is meant for people who refuse to admit that they are sinners, and would rather place the blame on others, when the fact that they are suffering is because of sinfulness of THEMSELVES and their actions. Psychology and psychiatry are smokescreens. Jesus Christ is the ONLY one that can take away our sins.

tiggytoddy, I am sorry that you feel that way...

What I understand from your post is that you believe that those who go to psychologists/psychiatrists do so because they refuse Christ?

Psychology is the study of the mind and people, Christians go to pyschologists because of things that happen in their life and conditions that they are born with.

Have you ever hear of ADD? Well....if it weren't for pyschologists, parents would just think that their child had something horribly wrong with them, but instead, with ADD diagnosed, the parents have a way to deal with the child.

Have you heard of mulitple personality disorders, scizophrenia? Or any other mental "diseases"? Well...Without psychiartry, such conditions would go on untreated and people would be living in fear.

Earth is a horrid place because it is not perfect! But God has placed people on this Earth with different abilities to help us get through this life... To say that the only counselor you will ever go to is Christ, remember this, Don't go to your pastor/preacher because believe it or not you're going to a counselor!

Are you married? If not, don' think about it, because then you have to go to pre-marital counseling, and oh no! You've gone to someone else... You seem to have a lot of anger in your post, when you reply, try to do it with love and in calmness not in anger and swiftness!

We are swift to speak and slow to listen, while it should be swift to listen and slow to speak.

~Teresa~

 

[Ransom]

Ransom, could you give some examples of movies you consider acceptable, please?

In the horror/thriller genre? I appreciate Alfred Hitchcock's films, particularly his best known ones (Psycho, Rear Window, Vertigo, and so forth).

I have yet to see Signs, but M. Night Shalamayan's first two films, The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable are both very good examples of the genre.

I am also a big fan of early 20th-century monster movies (such as King Kong), the many Godzilla movies, and the films of Ray Harryhausen, which often have a horror/thriller theme (e.g. It Came From Beneath the Sea or The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms).

[ November 06, 2002, 03:06 PM: Message edited by: Ransom ]

 

[Ransom]

Helen said:

It's not a matter of being weak, Ransom. We are told to judge words and actions of others.

And in disputable matters, you are told not to do so. You have not shown there to be any objective standard of which the horror genre falls foul; therefore, Romans 14 applies until you cough one up.

I am not judging your heart. But spending your time and attention and money on horror movies is an affront to God's work of grace in your life.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Amazing Self-Refuting Sentence!

I have a feeling you are sort of addicted to the adrenalin rush they give.

Could you be any farther off the mark? You seem to be labouring under the assumption that I ingest a steady diet of horror movies. I don't; in fact, they comprise a very small percentage of what I do watch (I prefer science fiction and Shakespeare). My argument is not to justify my own personal tastes, only to challenge man-made, so-called "standards" that have no firm foundation in the Word of God.