Christianity and movies

[melyndie]

While I was eating dinner, I was flipping through Time magazine and came across the following article about Christians and movies and how the first interacts with the second. Some churches go as far as to integrate movies into their messages, drawing large crowds. Other Christians segregate their beliefs from their entertainment choices,

Comments

Welcome to my world of the moving picture.

[617]

I find movies far more useful in talking to people at work about God than those at Church. Sometimes I think we're all too ready to jump up and down complaining about 'bad' movies being made which defeats the purpose and makes the movies more popular (that's happened here). More sway can be made with my friends at work simply by saying that I didn't like it much and giving a straighforward reason for it other than 'it's bad!'. Often people here will complain about a good, moral movie being cheesy and out of touch with real life. I tend to take a leaf out of their book and turn it on it's head. Saying I found a movie portrayed the father as unrealistic and unloving (for example) creates more thought in someone else than 'it's bad'.

When it comes to sermons I think there's plenty of examples in real life, rather than movies, that can be used to illustrate Biblical principles. Actually that should be turned on its head: Biblical principles can easily be applied to real life.

Re: Welcome to my world of the moving picture.

[melyndie]

I find movies far more useful in talking to people at work about God than those at Church.

Very true! I would definitely agree with you. There are many occasions where a discussion of movies can turn into a discussion of God (or, at least, like you said, make it clear to people that you do have morals). It can be a common ground or meeting point with nonchristians.

The church, however, is not a place for evangelizing with secular movies. That is not to say that a pastor may never mention a movie, but movies should not be the foundation for a sermon. The Bible should.

When it comes to sermons I think there's plenty of examples in real life, rather than movies, that can be used to illustrate Biblical principles. Actually that should be turned on its head: Biblical principles can easily be applied to real life.

Yes! Very well said!

[gretchenlouise]

Wow...that was really good... Thanks for pointing it out... Sad commentary, I'm afraid. :(

[melyndie]

Yeah, it is sad. Thanks for posting the link in your own LJ!