Finding God @ the Cinimas
We are a culture numbed by the effects of Entertainment
We have an insatiable appetite to binge watch Netflix
We spend an excessive amount of free time glued to the screen
Has our creativity increased or decreased?
Has our friendships deepened or shallowed?
Are we quickly bored by the norm?
Are we over stimulated by the swiftness of entertainment?
Are we aware of strategies withing the entertainment industry?
Commercialization, Advertisements, the Economy of Greed?
When does too much of a good thing rob us of the Best thing?
What are the side effects of entertainment overload?
Where does being in the world but not being of the world weigh in?
Justifying our media outlets, defending our time management?
Are there redemptive qualities in the movies, tv shows, commercials?
How to find God in the Entertainment we submit to?
How to find Ourselves in the Entertainment we submit to?
How to find our "neighbor" in the Entertainment we submit to?
How to find Balance in the Entertainment we submit to?
How to Reserve Judgement in the Entertainment Industry...
Are there entertainment lines in the sand that we should all submit to?
Where are the grey areas - or perforated lines in the sand?
Are the rating systems of IMDB, or Plugged IN enough?
How do you determine if you, your friends, your family are going to watch?
One Teenagers Take
One Adult Take
Disclaimer: this is not a defense for any of the above film stories
rather, it is a further dialogue of the pros and cons...
How should we steward these epic stories in light of
maturing student thru a biblical perspective
or should we boycott such narratives from the imagination.
are there legitimate dangers or sins that we are causing a generation to stumble,
or are we proactively navigating the entertainment
with redemptive values?
Do we give others the freedom to press in,
Do we give others the freedom to pull out?
We are not to be naive, are there religious or ocultic things at play here as well?
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Here is a great exercise in mixed circles:
As individuals make a list movies, TV shows, Music, Podcasts, Video Casts,
Apps, Social Media venues - but make 3 divisions
White Area - Green light on all this media - No Reservations
Gray Area - Caution Light on all this media - Some Reservations
Red Area - Stop Light on all this media - Crossing the Line
[Now compare them to each other]
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At what stage/age are you mature enough to handle the L/V/S
Are you concerned about Influencing someone less mature?
Are you concerned that in light of your general participation (ie. watching)
- may start to erase the line - as if you Condone all actions with in the film
[Leaning Liberal]
Equally, are you concerned that in light of your general boycott,
that it may begin to build a wall [Leaning Legalistic]
As if you Condemn all actions within the film
or third party... should we assume that people - Condone or Condemn
Boycott or Participate
Left or Right
Leaning Legalistic or Liberal?
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Lets Talk About...
Language
Violence
Sexuality
Other: via IMDB or Plugged In
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Do Boycotts Work
Does Censorship Work
{Beeping out Language}
{Blurring out Nudity}
{Cutting away from the Gore}
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Are these a Major or Minor Quandary ?
Friends / Family / Parents
How do you decide?
How do your parents decide?
How did your grandparents decide?
How about your own kids (one day)?
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What are some biblical concepts / principles / commands
what actual verses (with context) may apply?
Here are a few Major Biblical Perspectives
1) God's Disdain for all things that counterfeit His Authentic Work
(including, rebellion, sorcery, false creators or sustainors)
2) Parental Authority - undermining what our God given Guardians
believe we are mature enough to handle
3) Civil Protection & Censorship - including IMDB & Ratings on S/V/L
all societies operate with some moral standard...
4) Our Conscience & Spirit are to be sensitive to doing the right thing
even when no one else knows that we are watching or participating
in entertainment that is questionable - in the Grey Area / Yellow Light
5) Be in the World but not of the World... this takes some maturation
to which we observe Redeemable Qualities in the entertainment we submit to
being in the world but not of the world...
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Here are a Number of verses to consider...
Matt. 5:11 not what goes in that makes a person clean or unclean but what comes out of the mouth
1 Sam. 15:23 God Hates witchcraft it is the sin of rebellion
Deut. 18:10-12 Let no one be found who practices sorcery, divination, witchcraft, spells, ...these are detestable (why) for one confuses Light and Darkness, second it fabricates or counterfeits - God's use of Dreams, Oracles, Prophecy, Miracles, thirdly there is a quick spiral from interest, to fascination, to preoccupation, to obsession.
(Lev 19:26, Lev 20:6, Gal 5:19-21, 2 Chron 33:6, Rev 21:8, Ex 22:18, Is 8:19,
1Chron 10:13-14 {Saul mediums Samuel}, Acts 8:9-14, Acts 19:19 {book burning},
2 Kings 23:24, to name a few passages recording God's Disdain)
Whatever Test of Phil. 4:8 - these are the things are mind should be on...
2Thes 2:9 Anti-Christ comes with power - fabricating signs and wonders
Eph. 5:11 Expose the unfruitful works of darkness
Rev 9:21 those not repentant of their sorcery
Col 2:8 do not be taken captive by the hollow & deceptive philosophies (fantasies) of this world...dependent on human tradition and the basic principles (including scientific illusions) of this world rather than on Christ
Self Governing - He has given us His Holy Spirit as a governor to help control/discern what media we can handle and not handle according to our weaknesses and strengths
Acts 2:38, 1 Tim 1:14, Jn 16:13 {spirit guides us to all truth},
Rom. 1:12;9:1 {may guide us by our conscience
Further Danger - How does it affect our heart Prov 4:23
How does it affect others (1Cor 8:13, Rom 14:13-23)
If it stirs us to anger, lust, greed, hate (Matt 5:22,28)
Practicing our Freedom yet with Limitations
1 Cor 10:23 we have freedom - everything is permissible but not all beneficial
1 Cor 10:31 whatever we say or do (watch) is to be done to the Glory of God!
Phil 4:8 If [big "If"] you can watch/listen to media with gray areas (yellow caution light) & still be in agreement with the commands & reflecting the redemptive nature of God then it is hard to see a definitive wrong in it...
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Great Questions - Great Responses
Looking forward to the Q n R