In the past month or so that the movie Black Swan has conquered theatres across America, I've been hearing repeated praise from friends and colleagues, urging me to also go watch this movie.
Basically the same line played by almost everyone is that it's "mind-bending" and "deep". Interestingly, those were the exact same opinions I've heard on Avatar and Inception- both movies that I've watched, albeit with a guarded mind and uncomfortable spirit throughout.
The first time I watched the trailer for the movie, I sat up in my darkened cinema seat and took notice because the director was the same Aronofsky who did Requiem For A Dream. Since Requiem For A Dream was so horribly dark and graphic, I've decided not to watch it anymore because its material is too disgusting to be considered entertaining (and as a born-again Christian, the entire movie is seriously a turn-off).
The short trailer for Black Swan, not surprisingly, reeked of the same dark themes of corruption, experimentation with evil and orgiastic practices.
Without going into occultic symbolism in the movie or religious discussions about how our worldviews are being subconsciously shaped one Avatar, Inception, Black Swan-like movie at a time, I just have a simple question.
Why would Christians who profess to follow Jesus Christ, be willing to subject themselves to watching R-rated movies?
Is it that we, in some twisted way, find pleasure in watching violent scenes, listening to a slew of curses and observing lost souls go the way of the world in self-destruction?
A really disturbing thing I read on the website Christianitytoday.com was the review for Black Swan. The review states:
"Black Swan is rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use. It's frightening and disturbing and not appropriate for children. An overall mood of darkness and flirtation with evil pervades the film, with plenty of disturbing scenes of violence and blood to show for it. Though there is not really any explicit nudity, the film also contains several sex scenes, including a lesbian sex scene between two of the main actresses. Drug use and a fair amount of explicit language also underscore that this is a film for adults only, not recommended for younger audiences or those in the mood for an innocent ballet movie." (Source)
Wow.
What kind of Christian adult would want to watch all that for entertainment?
The sad unfortunate fact is that this supposedly "Christian" website is not saying "This film is completely against what Jesus Christ taught us to live holy lives pleasing to the Lord, so DON'T WATCH IT AND BE FOOLED BY THE SUBTLE MACHINATIONS OF HOLLYWOOD!"
This review is essentially saying, watch it if you're an adult and can handle this stuff, not if you're "young" or "immature".
Luke 18:16-17 says "But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
God doesn't want a person who thinks that he/she can handle things on their own to come to Him. He wants people who acknowledge their weakness to come to Him like children. I just don't think Jesus will be nodding in approval at a person who says to Him "well God I think I'm old enough to handle watching sex scenes laden with heavy occultic feeling," Nor will He be impressed if you say "I'm smart enough to know what's good for me, and this movie isn't going to harm me because it's just a fictional movie".
1 Peter 1:15-16: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
What does it mean to be "holy in all you do"? As a person who used to think movies like Requiem For A Dream were entertaining for its "deeper meaning" behind the stomach-turning scenes, I will say that it means recognising what God regards as holy, and choosing to pursue that and to leave whatever God regards as unholy behind.
It is not easy to do this and will be completely impossible for a person who is not living in Christ, because only those who live in Christ will be able to recognise what is Christ-like and He will give them the strength to overcome the world.
1 Peter 5:8: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Often times I find myself praying against impatience with fellow Christians who do not see the serious spiritual consequences of the movies they watch, the books they read and the music they listen to.
When we deliberately ignore the reality of spiritual warfare being waged in everything we see, hear or do, we are letting our guard down. The alertness that is needed to identify the roaring lion will be slowly switched off without us noticing. When that happens, we may fall into a deep sleep like Eutychus (in my case a deep spiritual sleep) and eventually fall to our death.
What I am trying to say is, to those who are already in Christ, be careful that you do not fall asleep in your faith because it will have disastrous consequences for your relationship with God. A journey of a thousand miles in the wrong direction begins with a simple step.
That's why the apostle Paul keeps telling us to "be on your guard; stand firm in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13)
When all's said and done, I reckon a night at the movies is little sacrifice compared to the eternal life and hope that has been promised me through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
Basically the same line played by almost everyone is that it's "mind-bending" and "deep". Interestingly, those were the exact same opinions I've heard on Avatar and Inception- both movies that I've watched, albeit with a guarded mind and uncomfortable spirit throughout.
The first time I watched the trailer for the movie, I sat up in my darkened cinema seat and took notice because the director was the same Aronofsky who did Requiem For A Dream. Since Requiem For A Dream was so horribly dark and graphic, I've decided not to watch it anymore because its material is too disgusting to be considered entertaining (and as a born-again Christian, the entire movie is seriously a turn-off).
The short trailer for Black Swan, not surprisingly, reeked of the same dark themes of corruption, experimentation with evil and orgiastic practices.
Without going into occultic symbolism in the movie or religious discussions about how our worldviews are being subconsciously shaped one Avatar, Inception, Black Swan-like movie at a time, I just have a simple question.
Why would Christians who profess to follow Jesus Christ, be willing to subject themselves to watching R-rated movies?
Is it that we, in some twisted way, find pleasure in watching violent scenes, listening to a slew of curses and observing lost souls go the way of the world in self-destruction?
A really disturbing thing I read on the website Christianitytoday.com was the review for Black Swan. The review states:
"Black Swan is rated R for strong sexual content, disturbing violent images, language and some drug use. It's frightening and disturbing and not appropriate for children. An overall mood of darkness and flirtation with evil pervades the film, with plenty of disturbing scenes of violence and blood to show for it. Though there is not really any explicit nudity, the film also contains several sex scenes, including a lesbian sex scene between two of the main actresses. Drug use and a fair amount of explicit language also underscore that this is a film for adults only, not recommended for younger audiences or those in the mood for an innocent ballet movie." (Source)
Wow.
What kind of Christian adult would want to watch all that for entertainment?
The sad unfortunate fact is that this supposedly "Christian" website is not saying "This film is completely against what Jesus Christ taught us to live holy lives pleasing to the Lord, so DON'T WATCH IT AND BE FOOLED BY THE SUBTLE MACHINATIONS OF HOLLYWOOD!"
This review is essentially saying, watch it if you're an adult and can handle this stuff, not if you're "young" or "immature".
Luke 18:16-17 says "But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
God doesn't want a person who thinks that he/she can handle things on their own to come to Him. He wants people who acknowledge their weakness to come to Him like children. I just don't think Jesus will be nodding in approval at a person who says to Him "well God I think I'm old enough to handle watching sex scenes laden with heavy occultic feeling," Nor will He be impressed if you say "I'm smart enough to know what's good for me, and this movie isn't going to harm me because it's just a fictional movie".
1 Peter 1:15-16: "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
What does it mean to be "holy in all you do"? As a person who used to think movies like Requiem For A Dream were entertaining for its "deeper meaning" behind the stomach-turning scenes, I will say that it means recognising what God regards as holy, and choosing to pursue that and to leave whatever God regards as unholy behind.
It is not easy to do this and will be completely impossible for a person who is not living in Christ, because only those who live in Christ will be able to recognise what is Christ-like and He will give them the strength to overcome the world.
1 Peter 5:8: "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."
Often times I find myself praying against impatience with fellow Christians who do not see the serious spiritual consequences of the movies they watch, the books they read and the music they listen to.
When we deliberately ignore the reality of spiritual warfare being waged in everything we see, hear or do, we are letting our guard down. The alertness that is needed to identify the roaring lion will be slowly switched off without us noticing. When that happens, we may fall into a deep sleep like Eutychus (in my case a deep spiritual sleep) and eventually fall to our death.
What I am trying to say is, to those who are already in Christ, be careful that you do not fall asleep in your faith because it will have disastrous consequences for your relationship with God. A journey of a thousand miles in the wrong direction begins with a simple step.
That's why the apostle Paul keeps telling us to "be on your guard; stand firm in the faith" (1 Corinthians 16:13)
When all's said and done, I reckon a night at the movies is little sacrifice compared to the eternal life and hope that has been promised me through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!
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