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More Than Just a Movie

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Joshua Rhodes, Mar 28, 2008.

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  1. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    Anyone have a strong opinion (wait, let me put on my bulletproof vest! :laugh: ) on showing movies to children, youth or small group Bible studies and pulling topical themes out to prove Biblical ideas? My wife and I have started inviting men and women to our home to have "Dinner and a Movie" nights, and closing the evening with guided discussions.

    I have been approached about doing a series of movies over the summer on Friday nights at our church for families (children included). I found a wonderful resource that has movies, decoration ideas, fun games, and snacks for 20 films as well as the Biblical application for each one. I'm sure that there are those here who would not use a Hollywood film to do this, but I'm wondering who has strong opinions on this issue. Below are some examples of movies and the theme that is drawn out:

    101 Dalmatians: When a woman kidnaps puppies to create a fur coat, animals courageously cooperate to rescue the puppy prisoners. Your children will consider how they can be courageous using Joshua 1:6-9.

    Babe: Raised by sheepdogs, Babe (a pig) discovers that he's special. As your children experience this charming tale, they'll discover that, in Christ, they're special too!

    Beauty and the Beast: Bitter and trapped in a beast's body, a prince experiences the transforming power of love... just as your children can experience the transforming power of God's love! 1 John 4:7-8

    What do you think?
     
    #1 Joshua Rhodes, Mar 28, 2008
  2. tinytim

    tinytim <img src =/tim2.jpg>

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    I have done it from time to time..

    Finding Nemo... Illustrates the length a father will go to find his son...
    I have used the clip from where the bird flies into the window, and then explains to Nemo everything Marlin has fought through to get to Sydney.

    There is a book from Group publishing that I used to use that helps with this type of thing.

    I think it is good, because it teaches the people/children how to look for God in everyday situations... instead of just relegating him to Sunday morning in the church building.

    Here is a book... http://store.grouppublishing.com/OA...3683EBA8D19FD8DABF9CB6D513848FD4890BE02B88B35
     
    #2 tinytim, Mar 28, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Mar 28, 2008
  3. DHK

    DHK <b>Moderator</b>

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    We had an elderly lady that lived closed by, a sweet Christian lady. She often invited our children when they were younger (same thing--101 Dalmations, etc.). I thought it was a waste of time when our children could be spending better quality time at home with our own family. You only have them for so long. On the other hand a family movie, something to bring the family together on one night (if it will), is not a totally bad idea.
     
    #3 DHK, Mar 28, 2008
  4. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    Tim... Group is the publisher that has produced the book I referred to in post #1. Looks pretty good!

    DHK... That's the idea... is to have the whole family. I'm praying that some of our parents won't use it as a "babysitting service" but will really come and take part with their kids. That's the vision anyway.
     
    #4 Joshua Rhodes, Mar 28, 2008
  5. bobbyd

    bobbyd New Member

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    I've used movie clips to either introduce a sermon or as a teaching point in the past, so apparently i have no issues with it.
    A friend of mine in KY did a couple of months worth of AWANA group times using clips from The Lion King...and it was a really great teaching that caught the kids attention and brought them back to the Scriptures.
     
    #5 bobbyd, Mar 29, 2008
  6. SaggyWoman

    SaggyWoman Active Member

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    I think you can use them effectively.
     
    #6 SaggyWoman, Mar 29, 2008
  7. TaterTot

    TaterTot Guest

    I think its ok to use them to illustrate Biblical concepts, but I dont think its ok to use them and pull things that fit with the Bible, if that makes sense.

    Thats like finding a passage to fit a really good illustration, when it ought to go the other way.

    Just an opinion, so take it as such.
     
    #7 TaterTot, Mar 29, 2008
  8. North Carolina Tentmaker

    North Carolina Tentmaker New Member

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    I think this is a great idea. You have to be real careful which movies you use though. You have to go way and beyond movies you would watch with your own family. We have done this with older movies like Shenendoah and we did it last year with Facing the Giants.

    Just because a movie is animated or Disney does not mean it is ok for your church group. I had objections when we showed the Lion King because of the soundtrack. A church group of any size is going to include Christians with different standards.
     
    #8 North Carolina Tentmaker, Mar 29, 2008
  9. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    Good points TT and NCT!
     
    #9 Joshua Rhodes, Mar 30, 2008
  10. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    Ran this by our Children's Ministry leadership and they thought it was a great idea since we may not be doing a traditional vacation bible school this summer.
     
    #10 Joshua Rhodes, Apr 1, 2008
  11. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    The problem is that in all of the films mentioned thus far there are examples, incidents, actions, and language that is offensive.

    I could take my grandkids and stare at a rotting bag of garbage and make "spiritual" application. But the smell and the flies are just not worth it.
     
    #11 Dr. Bob, Apr 3, 2008
  12. LorenB

    LorenB Member
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    You hit the nail on the head, Dr. Bob!!!
     
    #12 LorenB, Apr 4, 2008
  13. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    What's offensive about 101 Dalmatians, Babe, or Beauty and the Beast?
     
    #13 Joshua Rhodes, Apr 4, 2008
  14. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Thank Disney. This movie is about to do for pet euthanasia what JeffreyDahmer did for Zip-Loc freezer bags. Imagine: Thousands of children across the country beg their stupid parents to buy them a dalmatian puppy for Christmas only to discover months later that dalmatians were bred to be carriage dogs, require a tremendous amount of attention and are generally a royal pain in the rear. Goodbye home sweet home. Hello pet cemetery.

    Disney, however, has never been one to let a pile of dead dogs stand in the way of potential profit. The nice thing about a making cute animal movie, after all, is that money can be saved by simply borrowing certain elements (such as "plot") from previous cute animal movie (like Babe). The first portion of the film is the inane adult love story that brings Roger (Jeff Daniels) and Anita (Joely Richardson) together, along with their two dogs, Pongo and Perdy. Then it's up to the animals to rescue the dalmatians once Cruella (Glenn Close) starts stealing them. It's here that the "Babe" effect takes hold. You can bet your left arm that one way or another the filmmakers are going to convey the message that animals are really just people trapped in furry bodies.

    Of course nobody is going to be able to train 101 dalmatian puppies to do anything but pee, which Disney discovered early in the production after 86 died under the unforgiving hand of long-time Disney trainer. Disney adjusted by simply letting the fifteen remaining pups run around and hired ILM to digitize the rest when they needed 101. The film also features the antics of some wild animals, which begs the question: How do you get wild animals to do cute things? You guessed it: Shoot them for meat and hire Jim Henson's Creature Shop to animate their pelts.

    [above from a Hollywood movie review site, not known for trying to defend children from the "evil" in a movie]

    Other comments on the distortion and wrong teaching of 101 =

    This is NOT a movie; it is one big anti-fur commercial produced by animal-rights terrorists.

    Greed is glorified.

    Even the gender of the dogs was digitally air-brushed away making them freaks of nature.
     
    #14 Dr. Bob, Apr 4, 2008
  15. North Carolina Tentmaker

    North Carolina Tentmaker New Member

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    As I pointed out before you want to be real careful which movies you use for this and you also want to communicate well to the church and parents of any youth involved what you are doing. If you are in a church of any size you are liable to have members who agree with Dr. Bob and Loren. They need to be informed ahead of time of what you are doing so that they may gracefully abstain from something that would offend them.
     
    #15 North Carolina Tentmaker, Apr 4, 2008
  16. standingfirminChrist

    standingfirminChrist New Member

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    Why use movies that don't glorify God to teach children or adults Godly principles at all?

    Most movies, such as the ones you have listed for the kids, are full of violence, mild expletives, and some even have subtil sexual tones in them.

    As to the adults, movies such as 13 going on 30 where women are talking about men 'jumping their bones,' or playing closet games like 'spin the rapist'...

    Do you think God is pleased when such as that is promoted by those who are His?

    Do you really think God is pleased at His Children sharing movies such as that with others?
     
    #16 standingfirminChrist, Apr 4, 2008
    Last edited: Apr 4, 2008
  17. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Why are you criticizing movies Joshua didn't mention?

    Where did he say anything about using "13 going on 30?"

    Talk about non-sequitur...
     
    #17 rbell, Apr 4, 2008
  18. standingfirminChrist

    standingfirminChrist New Member

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    Joshua mentioned his wife showing that movie in a previous thread about the movies in his house.

    I brought that up because it seems all that is being promoted is things that don't promote God and yet somehow people want to justify watching them by stating there are Godly principles in them.
     
    #18 standingfirminChrist, Apr 4, 2008
  19. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    We're using the cartoon for 101 Dalmatians, Dr. Bob. No animals were harmed in the drawing of this film. As for your other concerns, I understand where you're coming from.
     
    #19 Joshua Rhodes, Apr 4, 2008
  20. Joshua Rhodes

    Joshua Rhodes <img src=/jrhodes.jpg>

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    The guided Bible study that happened after the movie... now remember I wasn't there, I'm not a woman... was about how God allows us second chances. The women there evaluated how if they were allowed to go back and change something in their lives would they? Most said no, because through the discussion they realized that good or bad, the choices they had made had brought them to this point in their lives. There was discussion about trusting God for our future and not wanting to get ahead of His plans. Pretty Biblical principles I think.
     
    #20 Joshua Rhodes, Apr 4, 2008
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