Jesus and the Movies

Now I reckon this is the second post I have done about films. Basically I am a huge film fan. I can boast a collection of over 100 DVD’s all of which I would say are good films! I even went to the cinema on Monday to see ‘Public Enemies‘ which I thought was really good!

I have thought a lot about what a Christian’s perspective should be when watching a film, how should I be assessing the film and what world view the film is trying to put across. How should I deal with the violence or the sex. I think it is a really hard thing to do especially when films have heroes as they are always loved by all and generally get the girl!

I read something really good that John Piper said the other day, I quote:

‘I have a high tolerance for violence, high tolerance for bad language, and zero tolerance for nudity. There is a reason for these differences. The violence is make-believe. They don’t really mean those bad words. But that lady is really naked, and I am really watching. And somewhere she has a brokenhearted father.’

I had never really thought of it in this way before, that actually that woman is probably a wife or a mum or certainly a daughter. Everything else in a movie is fake but this is real.

I think that as Christians we do have to be careful and discerning over what films we watch, and that they aren’t detracting from our love for Christ. If a film is doing this then you shouldn’t really be watching it. It is an incredibly hard balance to get but one that I, and I hope you the reader as well, will strive to attain.

Rom-Com Reality

Recently I watched the film ‘Juno’ which i thought was really good as long as you look past quite a weird storyline! This film got me thinking about Rom-Coms in general and what kind of a world view they portray. It is great to be able to sit down and enjoy watching a film, but I think it is also good to assess what the film is trying to tell you, what the film is trying to tell you about life and what is good and pleasing in life.

I came to the conclusion that, in general, Romantic Comedies are always trying to promote the perfect relationship. Unfortunately I now have to admit I’m a bit of a Rom-Com fan so that I can give examples! Just take ‘Juno’, where she falls in love with Bleeker who she says in the film is the one who will love her forever (remember the scene chatting to her dad if you’ve seen it!) Or maybe ‘Notting Hill’ where the poor guy falls in love with the rich, most famous actress in the world and its all very emotional when he turns up at her press conference and confesses his undying love for her and all is well and happy. Or maybe ‘Love Actually’ where pretty much all the stories in that film end up happy and everyone has someone that they love and loves them. In reality pretty much all Rom-Coms end with ‘and they all lived happily ever after’.

Now there is nothing wrong with looking for romance and sparks to fly and all that kind of stuff, but for a Christian the essential thing to look for above anything else is do they share your love for Jesus? If the answer is yes then its a go! Someone once told me there are three questions you have to ask before thinking about dating someone, but I think its four. 1. Are they a Christian? 2. Are they the opposite sex? 3. Are they single? 4. Could you see yourself marrying them?

I think then in your relationship sparks will fly if there is love and there will be countless happy times which will outweigh most bad I would have hoped! But very rarely will you get the ‘happily ever after ending’ that romantic comedies tell you you will get. Nor will you always get the most amazingly good looking girl or guy who everyone would want to be with if they could. Paul also makes reference in 1 Corinthians 7 that there are many troubles and trials in married life. I’m not saying aim low or that marriage isn’t as good as it sounds. Marriage is a great and wonderful thing and is a picture of The Trinity (Eph 5:22-33). I’m saying wait for the high. If God wants you to get married He will bring the right person into your life at the right time, so just wait for them! Easier said than done I know but we just have to trust God’s sovereignty and His perfect timing in all things!

Keep enjoying the Rom-Coms, but don’t let them give you a false view of what is important in relationships and in life in general.