Watching movies can be a fun, relaxing, and engaging pastime. As a Christian, you might sometimes feel conflicted about the content that is appropriate to watch. This guide will help you navigate through the world of films in a manner that upholds your Christian values.
Understanding the Importance of Discernment in Movie Selection
Evaluate the Content
As a Christian, discernment is a fundamental value in every facet of life, including movie watching. Take time to evaluate a movie’s content before you start watching. You can do this by reading reviews, checking the movie’s rating, or using various Christian-based movie review websites. This allows you to assess if the movie’s content aligns with your beliefs and values.
Be Critical about the Themes
Look out for the overarching themes and messages of the film. This requires critical thinking skills. A film may be rated as safe in terms of language and violence, but still promote themes that go against Christian values such as greed, deceit, or selfishness. On the other hand, a movie may deal with difficult topics but do so in a way that is ultimately affirming of Christian values like forgiveness, love, and sacrifice.
Developing a Christian Perspective in Movie Interpretation
Watch with a Purpose
Each time you decide to watch a movie, try to have a clear purpose beyond just entertainment. The purpose could be to learn something new, understand different cultures or experiences, or to appreciate the art of storytelling. Movies, like other forms of art, are a reflection of the society we live in, and they can be a tool for understanding and relating to others.
Seek Out Positive Messages
Most movies, even those not explicitly Christian, can still contain valuable lessons and themes that align with Christian teachings. Love, forgiveness, justice, courage, perseverance, and other virtues are common themes in many films. Emphasize these positive takeaways when watching a movie.
Engaging in Constructive Conversations about Movies
Share Your Insights
Movie watching doesn’t have to be a passive activity. After watching a movie, engage in discussions about it with friends or family. Share your insights, and ask others for their perspectives. This can be a great way to reinforce positive themes and challenge any negative ones.
Use Movies as Teaching Tools
Movies can serve as powerful teaching tools for imparting Christian values, especially to children and young adults. Use these narratives to initiate discussions about moral and ethical dilemmas, societal issues, and the implications of actions.
Prayerful Consideration and Reflection
Finally, consider incorporating prayer into your movie-watching routine. Before watching a film, you might pray for discernment and wisdom to understand the movie’s messages in light of your Christian faith. After the film, take time to reflect on what you’ve watched and how it impacts your understanding of your faith and your world view.
Remember that as a Christian, your engagement with culture, including movies, is an opportunity to grow in faith, wisdom, and love for others. This guide is not about restricting your entertainment options but about promoting a more thoughtful, intentional, and faith-aligned approach to watching movies.
Keep these guidelines in mind and you’ll find that watching movies the right way as a Christian can be a spiritually rewarding experience.
