'Just a Little Bad' in Movies Can Be Harmful
Christians not only need to be intentional in confronting today's R-rated culture but also discerning enough to realize that even a little bit of bad can do a great deal of harm, especially to our children.
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Deceased Christian songwriter Keith Green once wrote and performed a song entitled "They Don't Believe in Me Anymore." In this number, the narrator to whom credence was no longer given was Satan. The lyrics went on to describe how Christians were making the devil's job easy due to their lack of recognition of his harmful, threatening activity in the world. Throughout the song, the Evil Foe expounds on how stealth and cunning were no longer devices needed as Christians had become so absorbed into the world that they would pretty much invite him into their homes and lives. Effort was only needed in teaching the children of God to compromise. That seems to be what the entertainment industry wants from Christians — compromise.
By way of illustration, consider the following paraphrased story entitled, "Dad's Brownies" (author unknown):
The family rule was no PG-13 or R-rated movies, yet the three teenage children wanted desperately to see the newest release which was a hit with their peers. In an effort to convince their father to let them see this blockbuster, they set up a list of pros and cons. They researched and found that there were only three bad words, no explicit sex (though some implied), and the only violence was a building exploding which could be seen on TV. These teens noted that all their friends had seen it; that the movie had a great plotline; that Hollywood's finest actors were in it; that people at church said it wasn't "very bad;" and that it would probably win many awards.
Their father asked to have time to think about it, and the following day, he had his reply. Calling in his teens, the father said that they could go to the movie if they would eat a brownie from the plate that he had set on the coffee table; yet he warned them that like the movie the brownies had pros and cons. The pros were that they were made with the finest chocolate and other good ingredients. They had the added special effect of yummy walnuts in them. The brownies were moist and fresh with wonderful chocolate frosting on top. He had made these fantastic brownies using an award-winning recipe. And best of all, the brownies had been made lovingly by the hand of their own father.
The brownies only had one con. The father had included a little bit of a special ingredient. The brownies also contained just a little bit of dog poop. But he had mixed the dough well he assured them, so they probably would not even be able to taste the dog poop, and he had baked it at 350 degrees so any bacteria or germs from the dog poop had probably been destroyed.
Therefore, if any of his children could stand to eat the brownies which included just a "little bit of crap" and not be effected by it, then he knew they would also be able to see the movie with "just a little bit of smut" and not be affected.
This is the standard Hollywood is trying to pass on to Christians as the best deal they can expect — movies containing "just a little bit of crap." If you are thinking that maybe this IS all the faithful can hope for from the media, consider some other proportional examples:
- Nine days in a row you get your favorite hamburger just the way you like it, but on the 10th day a fly is in it and a few stray onions, neither of which were ordered. Would you not complain or ask for your money back?
- Nine comments about immigration are innocuous, but one statement is filled with animosity and racism. Do you think the teacher, parents, and administration is going to let the one hate-filled comment slide?
Now, think about this: Would the secular world adhere to or accept the reciprocal?
- In public schools, 90 percent of the day is spent on regular schoolwork while 10 percent is spent studying God's Word and praying. Do you honestly think this would fly?
So diligent, purposeful, and resolved must a Christian's walk be in this world, that there can be no room for moral compromise. Satan is real and actively pushing his agenda through mass media; and he rules it a win if you accept even less than 10 percent of what he's throwing your way.
Consider this final fact: Rat poison is made up of 99.95 percent healthy, yummy rat food and only a fraction of a percent actual poison. Despite the skewed ratio, the result is lethal.
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