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Goldminer Jan 24, 2010

I generally don't go to movies, but I allowed my family to convince me to go see Avatar, telling me it was just animation cartoons. Outside of the naked aliens, what really bothered me about this movie is the fact I found out Avatar is a name for the incarnate hindu god vishtu and the link that this movie makes between the earth and every living thing.

I found myself calling on the name Jesus during the movie.

What really bothers me is that some christians I know see nothing wrong with it. It is a grief to me. One was mentioning how much he liked it on facebook and I shared about vishtu and he removed my post and still uses the an avatar mini pic, and the guy is a pastor.

R

rainydaygirl Jan 24, 2010

I have not seen this movie personally, however I do have family that has seen it. To put it simply they hated it. They said it was so preachy and just over the top with mother earth worship. They were told like you that it was a harmless fun 3d movie about blue smurfs but they ended up leaving.

Sadly there are many Christians who are saying that this is a wonderful movie. Its really kind of sad to see how easily so many professing Christians are deceived. Time is short and we need to keep our eyes on the King!

sermonindex Jan 24, 2010

brother don't worry about it, but i would say keep warning people about it. I recently spoke out against the family guy to one of my christian friends who likes it and he had a problem with me having a problem with it, i was told that i am preaching the gospel wrong by him and he also said that Paul Washer is preaching wrong too because he is not preaching and focusing on the love of God and i got lectured on how i have no right to tell a brother about their sin and that i need to show more love and it hurt me because i thought i was doing the right thing. But i have reckoned to let it go for the sake of peace but i will be praying for him. It baffles me those are unwilling to see that their are things that are blasphemous and christians don't care.

sermonindex Jan 24, 2010

I never heard of Avatar until I was searching for Avatars for a forum. I've watched the Matrix, the X-men series and I wished that I hadn't. These movies glorify the flesh. And by some of the responses you's are telling me that Avatar is running the same theme. I wouldn't say all movies glorify the flesh, but most do, it's difficult to find a "good" show to watch.

I wouldn't be too discouraged about your friend bible4life. A lot of the time people will defend something that they have attached themselves to. When truth is spoken it's never easily received at first. Give it some time to penetrate the heart and mind and if he is truly a believer your words will resonate in his ears. An example of this is the two men on the way to Emmaus when Jesus appeared to them and walked with them. They were his disciples, they heard Him preach, heal the sick, watched and they even performed miracles and because their hearts were hardened, they didn't recognize Him and the words that Jesus spoke to them were dull to their hearing. However, God at the end of the conversation opened their eyes and their understanding.

It is grievous when one doesn't quite "get it" and that is okay, God would have us feel that way as it shows that we love the brethren. But God was merciful to those men whom Jesus was speaking to. Because they didn't understand or hear the word readily, that doesn't mean that they have been cast off. If we took an inventory of our lives, we would see areas that we have shut God off of. That is why David said, "See if there be any wicked way in me". I say it this way, "I KNOW there are wicked ways in me". Not every one is born strong, and there are those who are the weakest among us and they are the most strongest. Weak as far as this world is concerned and strong in the wisdom of God. It's far better to deal with a sinner than a hypocrite.

I am firmly convinced that when the wave of God's Spirit flows over the land, those that we think of as carnal Christians will embrace God's covering readily. The hypocrite and those that think that carnal Christians don't deserve God's mercy and grace, will not. But even to the hypocrite God is merciful.

T

twayneb Jan 24, 2010

There is a bondage to entertainment that I think is very real. It is just like bondage to any other part of our flesh, and we have a very hard time coming to grips with God's desire that we be in bondage to nothing.

A young married man in our congregation was very much involved in a role-playing video game. According to him he spent up to 4 hours a day playing this game. God really began to deal with him on the issue, one of a list of issues that God has dealt with in his life. He loves to play guitar and drums, and had a great desire to write worship music. One day as we were worshiping in our fellowship the Lord spoke to him very plainly. He said, If you spent the time with Me that you spend with that video game, you could be anointed to write songs to me like you have longed to do. He struggled with this, and eventually obeyed. He went into the game and deleted everything he had saved, and then cancelled his subscription. He did not know what do to with himself. It was as though he had cut off a limb and had to learn to live without it. He has shared with me that his marriage, which was very strained, is now on the mend. He is finally free from that addiction much like the freedom he experienced when he obeyed God and broke the nicotine habit forever. He is growing, and we all notice a great difference in Him. He was more comfortable being a fictitious character than he was spending time with real brothers and sisters in Christ, but that is changing.

I think that movie and entertainment addiction is real. It is something other than God that has our heart. It leads to all kinds of compromise in our hearts and minds. I have found myself praying that this desire for entertainment be broken in peoples lives. Nothing sinful about movies, just about the content in most of them and of being in bondage to them.

Travis

sermonindex Jan 24, 2010

amen

sermonindex Jan 24, 2010

He said, If you spent the time with Me that you spend with that video game, you could be anointed to write songs to me like you have longed to do. He struggled with this, and eventually obeyed

Amen!

That goes for about anything that is in the way of moving forward in God.

A

ADisciple Jan 24, 2010

There is a bondage to entertainment that I think is very real.

If we Christians would do the will of God concerning movies-- and just stop feeding on them completely-- we would severely shake Hollywood.

But alas, we love our idols don't we.

I recall reading years ago a message by I think it was Leonard Ravenhill-- comparing entertainment with the joy of the Lord.

And there IS no comparison is what he was driving at.

It's just that the price tag on the Joy of the Lord is pretty steep. We'd rather shell out a few bucks and be entertained instead. Maybe it's not the real thing, but at least it's easier.

In my own case I don't watch TV. Although I have watched a few videos over the years with the family, things like Ben Hur.

But I haven't been to a movie house since... I think it was 1972 or thereabouts.

Haven't seen any of the great Must Sees. Haven't seen Titanic. And no, haven't seen The Passion either.

D

dspks Jan 24, 2010

A good resource: http://www.crossroad.to/Quotes/spirituality/lighthousetrails/010/1-avatar.htm

sermonindex Jan 24, 2010

amen adisciple

T

twayneb Jan 25, 2010

Adisciple wrote:

Haven't seen any of the great Must Sees. Haven't seen Titanic. And no, haven't seen The Passion either.

Haven't seen Titanic either. Had no desire and I am sure I did not miss a thing. I did see the Passion. I sobbed and wept my way through is as did most. I agree with you and Ravenhill. I would much rather be in the presence of the Lord and experience His joy than be entertained. I know this may sound irreverent and I don't mean it that way, but fellowshipping with the Lord, immersed in His presence with fellow believers is the best entertainment there is.

I know you were not making the point that these things are inherently evil, but I think it is worth noting that the medium of video can be a very powerful tool. I remember the Lord speaking to me and teaching me a very powerful lesson through a veggietales movie that my wife and I saw at the dollar theater. I literally wept through the ending while most people around me munched popcorn and laughed. But I am extremely picky about what I allow myself to watch and we do not have a TV in the house, nor do I ever want one. 1972?? Wow, I was barely a year old.

It's just that the price tag on the Joy of the Lord is pretty steep. We'd rather shell out a few bucks and be entertained instead. Maybe it's not the real thing, but at least it's easier.

This is a very true and sobering statement. We need to learn to value the presence of the Lord more than we value breath, and certainly more than we value our desire for entertainment.

Travis

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Goldminer Jan 25, 2010

twayneb I agree with you on all you have shared.

The trouble I have is I am the only one really walking with the Lord in my family. I really hate TV, movies and most anything but the puter and reading. However God has given me a husband that wants me to go with him places. I refuse just about everything with regards to movies because I just can't watch them, but I was assured by family it was a good OK for a christian to go to movie, not. I have been living this way for 33 years now. I am the constant wet blanket to everybody, and I am Ok with that. But it would seem as a wife you can't say no to everything. He tries to make it OK for me, but I am so.... picky. I am very sensitive to the spirit of what is being projected. I can't stand todays comedy. It is all trash to me. I have grown weary a bit of walking this, but I will not give into discouragment. I hope you will all pray that someday I will be equally yoked and it won't be me that changes. We were both unsaved when we got married 38 years ago. It is tough. So if any of you fellow believers are considering marrying someone unsaved, don't. I love my husband with all my heart, but him being a follower of Christ would be so... wonderful.

I too watched the Passion and wept. I have the video but my husband will not watch it with me yet.

I appreciate you all.

God bless you and peace to you house.

G

Goldminer Jan 25, 2010

By the way dspks I sent the link you gave to my pastors and the person I mentioned that likes it.

thanks

G

ginnyrose Jan 25, 2010

There is a bondage to entertainment that I think is very real.

AMEN! And ditto to the other posts on this thread.

There are so many things out there that fight for our attention and once it gets it, it wants us to become obsessed with it, like an addiction. Even the most innocent thing can become an addiction.

My sister-in-law is addicted to her blackberry, Face-Book, internet and it is destroying her relationships with her husband and others...and it is all everybody else's fault, or so she says.

When I was a young woman I was addicted to crossword puzzles - I was obsessed with the ones that were in the Memphis "Commercial Appeal". God convicted me of it and now I can barely fill one out. And I was good at it! Ditto to the game Sudoku...And now I am beginning to wonder about the time I spend on FaceBook...

Loved everyones post on this thread, lots of food here to feed upon.

ginnyrose

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MaryJane Jan 25, 2010

Greetings Ginnyrose

...And now I am beginning to wonder about the time I spend on FaceBook...

_______________________________________________________

I can just really relate to what you shared.
Some of my family use facebook and twitter as well. I have thought about signing up so many times but I know that I can not. As you know from my many pm I love to write, because of this I know that using facebook or twitter would be a huge temptation for me to spend way more time then I should. I know that it is something that I really need to be mindful of and be in prayer about because for me it would be something I could become addicted to.

As for movies or tv I have really been able to bring this under the Lord with His strength. At one time I was very much addicted to a certain tv show. I was obsessed with it and could not miss a single episode but then the Lord showed me that I had to stop watching it completely and I did. I never looked back and I do not regret it or miss it. For me I am learning that the Lord does not want me to give my heart away to anything other then Him and as soon as something takes any kind of priority in my life or heart over time with Him then it has to go.

As for this movie, I have not seen it but some in my family have and they thought it awful.

God Bless
mj

sermonindex Jan 25, 2010

I did see the Passion. I sobbed and wept my way through is as did most.

I have the DVD for that movie and the "impact" movie that followed afterward. It's a movie that one just doesn't watch frivolously. This may sound strange, regardless of who made the film, I personally feel a reverence for it. It's not something that you can eat popcorn with.

G

Goldminer Jan 25, 2010

I have to agree snuf. I have found that when I have alone time with God occassionally I feel led to watch it and remember what love looks like.

God can even use secular society to speak to people and He did with this film. It breaks my heart and at times I really need my heart broken.

N

nasekom Jan 25, 2010

And now I am beginning to wonder about the time I spend on FaceBook...

the same with me ginnyrose.i don't watch movies.but i do use internet quite a good bit.and just yesterday i was thinking-am i spending too much time on the internet,especially the facebook...thanks for sharing sister...so i am not the only one :)

G

Goldminer Jan 25, 2010

I will say that with regards to facebook that you can use it as a ministering tool. I have friends who put scripture on there everyday and at times I feel led to share someting by what of encouragement or whatever God leads. But if you are spending huge amounts of time on things like farmville, or the rest, that is a differnt story. It is a time sucker used for just intertainment.

J

jlosinski Jan 25, 2010

There is a great resource for movies that contain blasphemy, it's by Ray Comfort- HollywoodandGod.com My wife and I check this list and if there is blasphemy in the movie, we won't watch it. That cuts out 99.9% of the movies at the theatre, and 99.9% of the shows on television. In fact, we haven't had television for a year or so, since there was precious little we could watch, even on the Animal Channel, there was blasphemy.

Make it simple guys- If a movie or tv show contains any form of blasphemy, even once, don't financially support it or watch it.