To be interested in films does not necessarily mean we have to watch them. It is possible to know about films without actually seeing them.
You can read reviews in the papers, including this one, look on websites, in film magazines, and books about movies. Knowing about a film in this way can help us to decide whether we, or our children, could watch it with a clear conscience. Five principles can be applied in making this decision. We must remember that impurity is internal, not external (Mark 7.14-23). We must be fully persuaded in our own minds about the propriety of our choice (Romans 14-15). We should be seeking to grow in maturity of faith in Christ as we learn to distinguish good from evil (Hebrews 5.14). We must admit that not everything is beneficial (1 Corinthians 6.12). And we must set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3.2). If we then conclude that it is not appropriate to see a certain film, we can still research its plot, themes and philosophies so we can talk about it with others.
Why bother?
But why bother to do this? Why should Christians be interested in films? Why should we invest/waste (depending on your point of view) time on researching films, and spend money on cinema tickets to watch films which will often include bad language, erotic sex scenes outside of a marriage context, cartoon or realistic violence, blasphemy and anti-Christian philosophies? Some Christians regard films as a no-go area, considering them harmful and ‘worldly’. On the other hand, Christians who do see films often do so without stopping to critically evaluate their content. To develop this ability, Christian websites which offer reviews and Bible studies on films can be helpful in starting the process in learning to evaluate films from a biblical perspective, e.g. www.damaris.org.uk
