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Going to the Theatre

Discussion in 'General Baptist Discussions' started by Pareeeee, Nov 27, 2010.

  1. Pareeeee

    Pareeeee New Member

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    Hello

    Wondered what everyone's beliefs on movies and movie theatres are.

    I and my husband go once or twice a year to the theatre to watch a movie. I don't have a problem with it myself, we go online and look up the particular movie first to see if there is any 'bad stuff' in it, and if there is, we just don't go. Simple as that.

    Some people believe that going to the theatre is evil and sinful, yet watch movies at home and go to the rental store to rent them. I don't see any difference between those two things, except in the theatre you get a bigger screen and more people to watch it with.

    Anyway, wanting to pick other's brains and see what you all think ;)
     
  2. matt wade

    matt wade Well-Known Member

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    Not a big fan of going to the movie theatre myself, but you are doing it right :). I follow the same policy for movies at my home. I also use Clearplay at the house, which cuts out all the garbage.
     
  3. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    I was in a camp meeting when a preacher nailed going to the theater. I was a preacher myself and felt "convicted" that a man of God had no business in such a hellish place. I went to the altar and begged God to forgive me for going to the theater and told him I would not go any more.

    I did not go for a few years and also got rid of my TV programming that meeting. We did not watch regular TV for a few years. We would buy an occasional G rated DVD, but no TV programming.

    Did I mention I was young and stupid? Most of us are at some point in our lives.

    As I grew in knowledge, I grew in liberty.

    Finally it occurred to me that the Word of God alone is my rule for faith and practice- not some foaming at the mouth preacher.

    Since the Word of God does not condemn such a thing then neither is my conscious condemned and neither do I condemn others.

    What a blessing knowledge and liberty have been to me, my family and my ministry!

    "Happy is the man that condemneth not himself in that thing that he alloweth" Romans 14:22
     
  4. freeatlast

    freeatlast New Member

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    To be honest I do not know of many today that see going to the movies as being sin. A few perhaps, but very few. The bible sets down guidelines for our lives and the problem is not the movie theaters, but what is being shown.
    If a movie is not dishonoring to the Lord it should be no problem at the theater or at home. However if the things in the movie are of a nature that are immoral, vulgar or blasphemous then I would say that a child of God should refrain from watching such things as they tend to corrupt. I seriously doubt that many would pay to see and hear or invite into their home someone who was going to dishonor their mother or wife so why not hold the same stanards for the Lord?
    Scripture tell us that we should not have any un-wholesome word come from us, we are not to speak of the things done by those of darkness, we are to do all we do in the name of the Lord and many other things. So based on just these things I would say if we are not to do them then we should not be watching entertainment as others do them.
    This does not forbid the attending. It only limits what we watch and are engaged in for entertainment.
     
    #4 freeatlast, Nov 27, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Nov 27, 2010
  5. drfuss

    drfuss New Member

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    Years ago, I went to churches that taught going to the movies was wrong. In those days, there was nothing immoral in the movies compared to even the good movies today.

    Then I married into the family of a preacher who taught going to the movies was wrong. However, the preacher's wife had to watch her soap operas every day. In those days, the soap operas were much worse that the movies; but no preacher declared it was wrong to watch soap operas. Of course, the preacher's wife could watch soap operas without anyone knowing.
     
  6. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    As Rev Mitchell would say - going to movies could lead to dancing! :smilewinkgrin:

    When I was young I was taught that Christians should stay away from movies because you never know what you would see (or as my mother-in-law would say - what you might see going on in balcony).
    Well, when I joined the army (before I got married) a buddy asked me to go to the post movie house. I told him I don't go to movies because you never know what will be on the screen. He answered that it was a "G" rated movie and there was nothing wrong with it. Well, my church did not teach me how to answer that (as the rating system has just recently be created). Bottom line, I did not go, because I did not want to be convicted like Luke (post # 3).

    Now days I have a very good reason for not going - way to expensive - not only the tickets but the junk food as well. Give it just a little time and the movie will make it to one of th cable stations (wait - we don't get cable either!) Oh, well

    Salty

    PS, one of my church members said that the Book of Hezekiah forbids movies - I forget the chapter and verse :smilewinkgrin:
     
  7. Dr. Bob

    Dr. Bob Administrator
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    Because of my "baggage" in upbringing, I would not feel comfortable in a movie theater. Have always attended Broadway or College plays/musicals without a thought, but never a Hollywood film.

    While some preaching of my youth was fanciful:
    • Money supports evil lifestyle
    • Evil activity in back row of movie houses
    • So dark that if the rapture came, Jesus would miss you
    . . . the one argument that did make sense was
    • Your testimony could be affected. YOU could be there to see a good movie, but others seeing you might then think ANY show is fine.

    Of course, this, too was just a guilt trip to make me toe-the-line of man-made rules as to what some guru thought was "spiritual".

    If a person wants to make a personal choice to go/not to go, that is totally fine with me. I'm big on Soul Liberty. I have had roles (mostly as an extra) in more than a dozen movies, but never saw myself on the Big Screen. Personal choice for me.
     
  8. Pareeeee

    Pareeeee New Member

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    I have heard that argument as well - the testimony being affected one. The thing that I wonder is, if one believes that their testimony is affected by going to (even a G rated) movie at the theatre, shouldn't they believe that their testimony is also affected when they go to the movie rental store, or even when they have a tv in your house?

    lol, being...difficult arent I.
     
  9. Luke2427

    Luke2427 Active Member

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    Yes, Dr. Bob. That was the most common argument that preachers used in my fundy days. When I left that silly movement and entered into a more liberty oriented movement where it literally would not hurt your testimony at all to be seen in the movies I was delivered from that silliness. All preachers around here in my movement go to the movies I suppose. My church goes if it is a movies like "Facing the Giants" or what ever.

    The testimony thing doesn't hold water, I don't think, except in legalistic type movements.

    It breaks down. When they see you in the mall, for instance, they don't know that you are not going to the Victoria's Secret store. When they see you in Applebees they don't know if you are going to order a drink. When they see you in the video store, they don't know that you are not going to rent porn. When they hear that you have the internet, they don't know that you don't look at porn. The list goes on and on and on. the argument just does not hold water, it seems to me.
     
  10. SRBooe

    SRBooe New Member

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    It seems to me that we all think different things when we watch a movie - in home or at a theater.

    I see most movies as being merely fiction - a story, not a sermon. Now, there are good moves with a moral message; but only because I choose to see it that way. Fireproof comes to mind here.

    Mostly, I really enjoy special effects. The movie Avatar is very enjoyable for me, but I can see how people might think that it is blasphemous - because they choose to see it that way.

    I don't enjoy prophanity or nudity in a movie, and that is almost impossible to avoid. It is impossible to avoid prophanity in my daily life too, not from me, but from those with whom I work. I can't quit going to work, though.

    It is our own heart and mind that sees the world. Another person can't see it for me.
     
  11. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    I've always wondered who stood in for Arnold Schwarzenegger on the difficult stunt scenes. Now I know... :eek: :D
     
  12. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    We rarely go to the movies for a few reasons: money, time and lack of quality film. But if there's a really good movie coming out, we'll definitely try to go but I can't think the last time that happened, you know? I think we WILL try to go see the newest Narnia movie as a family though but we'll wait for it to get to the cheap theater where on Tuesdays, it's just $4 a person.
     
  13. stilllearning

    stilllearning Active Member

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    Nobody’s brought it up yet, so I will........
    Romans 14:13-15
    V.13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in [his] brother’s way.
    V.14 I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that [there is] nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him [it is] unclean.
    V.15 But if thy brother be grieved with [thy] meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died.


    My wife and I go to the $1.00 theater(that is now $1.50), from 2 to 8 times a year, but we NEVER go in our town, but we travel to a city c.70 miles away.

    We do this, not because we are ashamed or think that we are doing wrong, but because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and for all we know, some of them might think that going to the movies is a sin, or may have been told by the Lord, not to go.

    And if they saw the pastor & his wife walking into one, it might embolden them, to go against what they think is wrong.

    We don’t want to put a stumbling block in front of them.
     
  14. Salty

    Salty 20,000 Posts Club
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    and if they happen to be in the same town some 70 miles away?

    Lets see 70 miles x 2 = 140 miles div by 20 (excellent gas millage) = 7 gal x $3 = $21 for gas, + wear and tear on your POV.
    Just saying....
     
  15. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Hubby and I were away on vacation at a place a few hours away from home. We were in a restaurant and low and behold, someone from our congregation stepped in the door. Ya just can't hide from them even 70 miles away.

    Instead, I think it best to address these things from the pulpit and teach your congregation not to judge others according to extra-biblical teachings. I think that would get much better mileage. ;)
     
  16. Old Union Brother

    Old Union Brother New Member

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    We were on vacation one time 600 miles from home and ran into one of our neighbors.
     
  17. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    OK, that's just silly, IMHO. Either go, or don't. But to travel 140 miles, round-trip, just to accomodate grace-stealers--not sure that we're accomplishing anything there.
     
  18. Alive in Christ

    Alive in Christ New Member

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    To me its very simple.

    It all depends on the movie. If its filthy, dont go. If its not filthy, and you think you would enjoy it...go, and enjoy the movie. :thumbs:
     
  19. rbell

    rbell Active Member

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    Yup.......
     
  20. annsni

    annsni Well-Known Member
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    Boy, you really have to go and take the argument out of it, huh??

    ;)

    Pretty common sense, IMO. :D
     
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