Is frequent the theatre Sin?

Could be brother! Could be!

In HIS service;
Jim

 

I am a person who loves the movies, i love to see plays, i love to see musicals. How is it a sin???? I understand how some of it could be a sin when you start talking about pornography and such, but if you are going to say the theatre in general is a sin, then i ask is public radio a sin as well?

 

I have found that in my personal walk with Jesus, that if I come to a situation and there is ANY doubt then I don't do it. I don't try to see how CLOSE to the line of sin I can get and still not sin. Rather I try to stay AS FAR AWAY from the line as is humanly possible.
And I have found that that pleases my Lord.
In HIS service;
Jim

 

Which is worse, to go to the movies or to have an internet connection in your house?

I am suggesting that if it is sinful to go to the movies, then surfing the internet is more sinful. The movies have some form of classification and the films are viewed first and rated appropriatley, if people see an 18+ film it is by their own choosing.

Yet the internet is not filtered or subject to any form of classification what so ever. Spam emails can frequently transmit lurid images that would not be permitted in family films at the movie. Simply having an email box places you at the risk of far greater temptation than what could be offered at a Cinema.

 

This is another legalism issue. ANYTHING can be used for good or for evil. Let your conscience be your guide.

A Stradivarius is either a violin or a fiddle, depending upon who's holding the bow.

 

What if your conscience is seared from watching movies all your life? Thats what happens if your conscience is pricked by what you watch in a theater and you ignore it. You don't think we should be looking to the perfect will of God rather than feeling down inside our black hearts to decide what God wants from us?

Mat 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

That was the law of Moses.

Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

This is the law of Christ. Do you suppose that things are somehow less strict under the law of grace? This has nothing to do with legalism, which would be putting people back under the law for salvation. You should be saved by now. That doesn't make it OK to commit adultery. In fact you will give account for it at the judgment seat of Christ. Would you put yourself into a dark room with a strange woman? You might as well, if you think that Hollywood is trying to protect your eyes from lusting after strange women.

2Pe 2:19 While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

We are not at liberty to sin. You imply that the theater can be used for good, exactly which theater is participating in this good samaritan program? Just because you can use a film to deliver a message about God and the Gospel does not mean that all films are about God and the Gospel if you use them the right way. We are not called to glean spiritual truths from hollywood filth in the name of 'spoiling the Egyptians', although I hear that some pastors love to use current movies as illustration points in their five to ten minute sermons.

 

Amen James.
I would submit, that it is they whose conscience are bothering them who are crying the loudest in favor of "liberty".
Just an observation born out by lots of experience with "baby" christians. Babies cry alot.
Now before any of you reading this post cry foul on me, stop and think about it. I have not mentioned anyone by name. Therefore, if you cry and post, perhaps this hit a nerve and you need to take it up with Jesus.
In HIS service;
Jim

 

OK, I'll take the bait.

First, Let me make the same point that 20 people have made on this thread, and plenty others in regards to various areas of "personal holiness"
Going to the movies has no inherent sinful qualities, it is a physical location with projecting equipment that could be used to show anything from an Unusual film, to Porn. (They have great curly fries too BTW, I would admit to that being a sin most of the time )

The Biblical principles regarding entertainment really fall into two basic categories. On the negative side you have the admonition to "set no wicked thing before my eyes" that is pretty basic, and applies to the Theatre, VCR/DVD players, Cable, the Internet, Books, Magazines, Whatever visual medium you want to choose.

On the positive side you have the admonition most clearly voiced by Paul when he spoke of the way that we deal with our thought life in general. Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

So as I have said before, IF you watch content that is not wicked in nature, and IF the movies you do select have positive themes that encourage your thought life and do not turn you away from truth, than I don't see how anyone has a leg to stand on Biblically in denying the validity of those forms of entertainment, no matter what the delivering medium.

On the other hand, you who don't go to the theatre, in some cases probably watch more filth than those that do. I have experienced this one first hand, seeing the video collections of folks who wouldn't dare set foot in a cinema, but watched stuff I chose not to see in any format.

 

I would submit, that it is they whose conscience are bothering them who are crying the loudest in favor of reinstituting the Law to protect themselves from their own unrepentant hearts.
Just an observation born out by lots of experience with "mid-life" christians. Mid-life Christians cry alot thanking God that they aren't like this publican, while inside they are filled with dead men's bones.
Now before any of you reading this post cry foul on me, stop and think about it. I have not mentioned anyone by name. Therefore, if you cry and post, perhaps this hit a nerve and you need to take it up with Jesus.
In HIS service;

Dave

 

Then there are those who think ANY kind of entertainment is some kinda sin...

 

</font>[/QUOTE]how does one seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness in bed with their spouse.

how does one seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness at whataburgers feedin his face.

how does one seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness etc....etc....etc...

 

The marriage bed is undefiled. Gluttony will get you stripes. Your the one with seven kids. Be fruitful and multiply? Sounds like seeking the kingdom to me

 

And I would submit that it is they who are insecure in their faith who cry the loudest against liberty.

 

I would further submit that it is they who believe that their actions are a display of holiness and some how sacntify them, are the loudest to cry out against liberty.

 

4His-glory and Mike McK;
Show me your faith without works and I will show you mine BY my works. Seems I read that somewhere? Therefore, my actions ARE to be holy and sanctified. "Therefore come out from among them and be ye seperate." "Touch not the unclean thing" "Forsake not the assembling of yourselves...'etc, etc, etc. One is in a very unsafe spot if they think that our actions do not demonstrate the inner holiness of sanctification, which is nothing more than "working out your own salvation in fear and trembling." One is not insecure in their faith if they see these admonitions in Scripture and take them SERIOUSLY as they are intended.
I am certainly NOT against liberty. It is a baptist distinctive and is a Scriptural privilege of the saints. However;
Ga 5:13
¶ For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
AND;
Jas 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
AND;
1Pe 2:15
For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
1Pe 2:16
As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God.

Therefore the submission that; "I would further submit that it is they who believe that their actions are a display of holiness and some how sacntify them, are the loudest to cry out against liberty. " is untrue, unbiblical and very dangerous.

Just my take on things and I think the Scripture supports my position. Certainly it is the Holy Spirit who sanctifies us and our actions. That is a no brainer. But to say our actions are NOT a display of holiness and are NOT to be sanctified is utterly false.
"Php 2:12
¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Php 2:13
For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."
I submit, they who cry for liberty to justify their unbiblical philosophy of "anything goes" are NOT wise. For;
2Co 5:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2Co 5:11
Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

Do what you will. As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
In HIS service;
Jim

 

av1611jim,

If I am alowing Christ to work in my heart to sanctify me,I will indeed have faith with works. The point I was trying to make is that you can abstain all you want from certain things, but it does not make you holy, or display your faith. Case and point, many cults are very separated from worldly practices, but we would not say that they are living a holy life. Why? Because they have not Christ. It is Christ alone that can sanctify the believer, and the same grace that saves in the same grace that sanctifies. I can not live a holy life apart from Christ.

I am not saying that the practices that you partake of are necessarily wrong, but that one must realize that they themselves are not making you holy in your standing before God, and he that does not partake of them to the same degree as you do, if in Christ, is just as holy before God as you are.

 

4his-glory;
I really don't know what you are trying to say, except maybe to say just what I did, only in your own words.
In HIS service;
Jim

 

Well said, Dr. Bob.

 

Amen