Music, Movies, TV & Books: My Opinion & Yours Let's Share...

[K.W.J.D.]

Music
Any Music that a person can enjoy that does not corrupt their minds nor elude to anything against the Gospel Is Fine. The Bible Does NOT condemn ANY Genre of Music. So to anyone whom judges the content of what a person is listening to based on the Beat, Sound or Tune of a particular song, get over it. Your Doctrine is skewed toward Your Opinion, and what you have heard others say about what You should believe in. Your Opinion is not Pleasing unto the Lord, for you are forming inaccuracies to his Word and therefore causing confusion of what is TRULY Scriptural. Shame on You!

To those whom “Claim†to be a Christian yet still insist on listening to Explicit Music, you have No Excuse! There are way too many great artists’ out there, in ANY Genre that DO NOT have lyrics that are considered inappropriate. Remember, just because the radio plays it, or there are no curse words in the songs that you are listening to, doesn’t mean that the Lyrical Content is acceptable in the Eyes of the Lord.

If one Chooses to Listen to the HEAVIEST MUSIC every Known, and the Content is not to the detriment of a persons Soul, do not condemn. That type of music may be the exact type of music that rallies a Christian up, to defend the Word of God, His Faith, His Stewardship Etc,. Motivation is very beneficial to one whom chooses to be a Servant of the Lord, Day in and Day out.

Movies/Television

Movies-
Personally, I am not a Movie Guy. I would say that any Movie that is Rated PG or G would be fine. I would also say that a lot of these movies are cheesy and flat out not very good. Whether you REALLY want to go an see a Movie that Everyone else is raving about or the Movie Trailer that advertises the Upcoming Release is REALLY appealing to you, there is one question that a TRUE Christian should ask before you go and buy that ticket. “If I would buy an extra ticket for the Lord Jesus Christ, would he come and see this Movie with Me?â€
Television-Most of it is Hogwash. Even the Disney and Nick Teen Programs are already promoting kissing, dating, back talking to parents and even lustful desires. I know I sound like an old man here but this is flat out the truth! I’m also not real sure about some of the clothing attire that these Teen Idols are wearing. Television is an issue that I could go on and on about, but I won’t. Just monitor what television programs you and your children are watching closely. The problem that I have is that many parents assume just because it is on Nick or Disney they assume that it must be suitable for their child to watch. Sit down and watch a few episodes with them, then make your own decision.

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Books/Magazines
Many times a book CAN indeed be judged by its cover. If there is filth on the front, chances are it is worse inside. Like Television and Movies, books can often misconstrue ones thinking of reality. (Perfect Bodies, Perfect Marriages, etc.,) These Books often leave the reader thinking deeply about the content of the story and how it can be applied or accessible in the real world. How many books/movies/tv shows, cause people to, “wish†that their lives were just like a particular character in the book? Or how many books/movies/tv shows, cause people to, “wish†that their Love Life was just as passionate as the character’s in the book? These fascinations are bleeding into our marriages, parenthood, and spiritual well-being.

When the word “wish†is used I often wonder how a person prays? Are they simply taking their “wishes†and placing “Dear Lord†at the beginning and “Amen†at the end of their prayer? What also disturbs me about these forms of entertainment is the use of wizardry or witchcraft. Some kind of ungodly, supernatural powers seem to always be at the root of such perfect perceptions in these characters lives.

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Entertainment Conclusion
In Conclusion, FANTASIZING doesn’t only pertain in a sexual context. Any type of entertainment that causes one to fantasize about things that can lead to unreasonable circumstances or unprofitable burden, should be considered inappropriate. Living in a fantasy world often causes kids to have an unrealistic â€portrayal of whom†they think their parents should be. Likewise, parents obtain unrealistic “expectations†of themselves, their kids and/or their spouse. Isn’t the world complicated enough, without putting these unwarranted pressures on those whom we love, due to our fantastic persuasions of what reality really is? The Entertainment Industry focuses on the temporal world that we live in here on Earth, and fabricates it. As Solomon says in the Book of Ecclesiastics “all is vanityâ€. A Saint of the Lord knows that we are His Servants Called to Do His Work. To do this we must set aside our Fleshly cravings and not get caught up in these delusions. Whatever satisfaction that comes from our choice of entertainment will not carry on to Eternity, regardless of how amusing it is to our Carnal selves.
Remember...Our citizenship, belongs in Heaven….
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Father, I pray to you that this post will be of use to someone. I pray that through the fellowship of this forum we can learn to cling closer to you and realize that you Lord, are what we live for. In Jesus' Holy Name I Pray. Amen....

 

[JamesG]

K.W.J.D.


I noticed that your post became more and more conservative as you wrote. You started out pretty liberal on the music and ended up with a prayer. I’m sorry, but that amused me. Well, balance is harder to achieve than we often think. Nothing and no one is perfect in this world.

Would Jesus see a movie with us? Probably not. He would be too busy with other concerns. So far as we know, he never involved himself with entertainment. But then the record is far from complete by its own admission. Nevertheless, if Jesus did go to see a movie, he would have a good reason to do so; and I for one would go see the movie with him.

We can take the attitude that everything is ok and we can take it, or we can restrict ourselves to such an extent that we are no longer involved in the world, like the Amish. Achieving the balance between those two extremes is very difficult. Or we might be hypocrites, liking certain material and then choosing what others should like. I hate to mention the situation that I have already been involved with on this forum.

The one thing that we have to remember is that these things are intended to be entertainment and to make money. Most of it does not pander to the mind, but rather to the emotions. It is sheer escapism. Every once in a while an Avatar or a PBS special on the National Park System comes along that is extraordinary. When that happens we should appreciate it. We should enjoy what we have. Not everyone is so lucky.

““When the word “wish†is used I often wonder how a person prays? Are they simply taking their “wishes†and placing “Dear Lord†at the beginning and “Amen†at the end of their prayer?â€â€

More common than not, unfortunately. It’s a child’s prayer and it pretty much sums up the Spiritual maturity of most Christians today. But then, Christianity itself is not much of an example to follow.

““What also disturbs me about these forms of entertainment is the use of wizardry or witchcraft. Some kind of ungodly, supernatural powers seem to always be at the root of such perfect perceptions in these characters lives.â€â€

You mean like the stuff by Tolkien and Lewis, two great Christian writers? Or maybe Bewitched. I used to love Bewitched. It was so funny. OK OK I know what you mean. Harry Potter and Dracula and the forms of entertainment that include the same kinds of things in a more subtle way. Like I said its fantasy and intended to make money. Americans don’t all believe in the moral values of the Bible. In fact, not all Christians believe in the moral values of the Bible. We have to remember that always and discern accordingly.

If we can discern the difference ourselves, then we need to engage in education as to the difference between fantasy and reality. Especially with children who have a harder time discerning the difference themselves simply because they are more inexperienced.

JamesG

 

[K.W.J.D.]

James,

Very well said Brother.