Media Choices and the Christian

On a cold winter night when there is nothing else to do, it’s easy to curl up on the couch and watch a movie, or call a few friends and head to the theater.  Many Christians—myself included—go to the theater, as movies provide a happy diversion from life.  Yet, if unchecked, our cinematic experience can corrupt our consciences, whet our appetites for sin, and implant thoughts and images that will defile our purity.  All movies are not evil, but we need to face the reality that certain motion pictures are an affront to God and must not be patronized by His holy saints.  Thus, as the salt and light of the world, a few guiding principles applied with the exercise of your conscience and application of Biblical wisdom may be in order.

1. Does this movie blaspheme God?  I saw one preview for a movie whose plot centers around a popular comedian acquiring the power of God.  I would find it very difficult to justify supporting such sacrilege with the money God gave me.
2. Does this movie glorify sin?  Romans 12:9 states, “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” I once heard a pastor say, “I will not be entertained by that for which Christ died.”  One might say that the Bible has sinful acts depicted in it.  Although this is true, the Bible does not glorify these acts.  Scripture does not cause us to celebrate when Cain rises up against Abel; rather, it portrays sin for what it is, and often in a very discreet way.
3. Is the movie sensual and/or base?  Ephesians 5:4 states, “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”  Would your conscience be defiled if you were to sit in on a conversation between two people who cracked crass jokes and made filthy remarks?  If this is the case, why is it acceptable to do this with a movie?  If you want to avoid such content, try a service such as screenit.com, which lists objectionable material (Men, have your wives or a female friend check the content for you, as the descriptions themselves can be detailed).
4. Am I practicing the law of love?  Many times, when certain scenes take a sensual bent, men will look away or look at the floor.  The idea behind such actions is “if I am not defiled, then it’s okay”.  However, what about the actress?  In making the movie, she is acting immodestly and sinning against God.  That which was meant to be displayed only to her husband is now seen by millions!  Although we ourselves may not see it, with our money we indirectly pay directors and producers to exploit other people’s daughters.  We must ask ourselves, is this a loving thing to do for these actresses and actors?
5. Am I remembering that a movie is just a movie?  No amount of passing pleasure is worth compromising our holiness.  Missing the “Movie Event of the Summer” won’t kill you. 
6. Will this compromise your pursuit of holiness?    The holier we are, the greater intimacy with God we will enjoy.  The pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5:8) as we conform to the image of His likeness.  The objective of our Christian life is not to pass time on the way to heaven, but to run the race with endurance, knowing that “without holiness no one will see the Lord (Heb. 12:15 NIV).”

Dave Hintz

My Favorite Christmas Verse

When I ponder the celebration of the sacrifice of Christ, thoughts drift forward a few months to an April weekend where we commemorate His death and resurrection.  Yet, in my years of study, I came across an intriguing passage which highlights the significance of Christmas.  II Corinthians 8:9, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.”  In the context, Paul encourages the Corinthians to give liberally to a collection for the impoverished church of Jerusalem.  In the process of Paul’s pleading, he cites the grand example of sacrificial giving, the incarnation. 

A few years ago, the co-founder of Intel donated $600 million to the California Institute of Technology.  Such a sacrifice made many newspapers and magazines as it was the largest educational endowment in history.  Still, Gordon Moore only donated a fraction of his wealth.  Contrast such a sacrifice with Jesus who parted with all.

From eternity past Christ owned and enjoyed the infinite riches of heaven.  The second person of the Trinity, who possessed all authority, power, and majesty, forsook such privilege when he left his heavenly abode and became a fertilized egg.  He emptied himself, and made himself a lowly slave for our sake so that He might one day be murdered by the very people He came to save. 

But why did Jesus go through all of this trouble? One Christmas carol explains, “Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled.”  In other words, Christ came to bring peace to a world that was at war with God.  All of us have at some point in time have rejected the King of Kings as our king, and chose to live our own way apart from Him.

Whether you realize it or not, you have sinned and rebelled against your Creator and King—indeed, the Bible makes it very clear that “ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”.  With every white lie, angry thought, or selfish action we violate God’s perfect law and sin against Him.  Because He is perfect and just, God must punish these sins, and the Bible tells us that “the wages of sin is death.” 

However, because He loves you, God sent His only Son, Jesus, to be punished in your place.  Instead of you paying for your sin in Hell, Jesus, the only sinless man ever to live, endured hell on earth for you, being brutally murdered by His own people and enduring the wrath of God.  Three days later, God raised Him from the dead, demonstrating that Jesus’ death was sufficient and complete payment for sins.  As a result Jesus – the Prince of Peace – offers you peace with God.

This gift and many more are available to you if you believe in Christ, seek God’s forgiveness for your sins, and turn away from them in order to commit your life to following Christ.

So as you’re exchanging gifts this Christmas, consider the great gift which Jesus came to earth to give: peace with God, a second birth, and eternal life.

Dave Hintz

Image is Not Everything

This past week I have been reading an interesting book entitled “Amusing Ourselves to Death.”  Written twenty five years ago, Neil Postman gives prophetic insight into the impact of television on our society.  One such consequence is the over emphasis on image. 

In the days of the printed word, people would decide the merits of extending the war in Afghanistan by examining the pros and cons as given by the printed page.  But in this day and age public opinion will be decided by competing photos of coffins draped with American flags and the happy smiles of women liberated from the Taliban.  There is no reasoned discussion, so much as men and women moved by the power of images. 

Here’s another example let’s say I wanted to sell $100 basketball shoes.  In the age of the printed page, I would have to provide reasons why it is in the best interest of the consumer to pay such a considerable expense for shoes.  I would discuss the durability of the shoes as well as the safety features which would prevent ankle injuries.  But in the age of television, no reasoning is needed.  I just need to film the humorous escapades of the Lebron James and Kobe Bryant muppets.  No reason, no discourse, no argument. Buy these shoes because the muppets make you laugh! 

Image is everything.  Studies have shown that we elect the presidential candidate who is most pleasing to the eye.  A recent column in the Kansas City Star suggests that a certain coach’s obesity may lead to his dismissal.  The fans are reluctant to listen to his side of the story because they would rather not look at him roaming the sidelines.

As a pastor this concerns me.  This emphasis on image dulls our discernment and irrationally exalts external appeal.  We will believe who we want to believe because we like their manner, dress, style, voice, and looks.  This leaves us wide open to deception.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul battles for the soul of his church who seems to be taken by certain heretics.  Note their appeal.

2 Corinthians 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

These heretics mastered the art of appearing as good god fearing Christian men.  With happy smiles and soothing words they wiggled their way into the hearts of the hearers injecting their poison at close range.  This is nothing new as Paul points out in the next verse.

2 Corinthians 11:14 for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

Satan and his servants use the power of image to endear themselves to their audience and then twist and torture the gospel. 

In a television age, we are prone to believe the actor who says “I am not a doctor but I play one on TV.”  They don’t have to be a good doctor they just have to look like a good doctor.  

This is dangerous as Christians will believe someone if they look like they have good doctrine.  How often have you heard some says “I know that people who believe (insert heresy) are saved, because (insert heretic) is such a godly man!”  We no longer focus on the message, but the messenger.  And if the messenger pleases the senses, we will be prone to believe him no matter what he says.  Looking like you have good doctrine is not the same as actually having good doctrine.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so.

Dave Hintz