What Kinds of Movies do you Enjoy Watching? What Kinds of Music do you Enjoy Listening To?

If you consider yourself a Christian and the following describes you, I want to share a word of caution with you: you enjoy watching movies which glorify fornication, adultery & lust; movies which contain nudity, profanity/cursing and blasphemy; movies which glorify perverted, wicked behavior; You enjoy listening to music in which the artist sings about and glorifies those same kinds of things. You watch those types of movies and listen to that type of music and have no conviction from the Spirit of God telling you loud and clear, "You have no business watching and listening to that filth!” You continue to entertain yourself with those things and there is no renunciation of them, no turning from them.

If that describes you, I will not say to you that you "may” not be truly saved or born again. Rather, I will say in love that you most certainly are not saved. I will say in love that you are in danger of dying in your sins and ending up in hell. Why am I so certain of that? Because I read in my Bible that when the Spirit of God truly comes to a soul He will convict that soul of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8); I read in my Bible that if anyone is in Christ he/she is a new creation in whom the old has passed and the new has come (2Cor.5:17).

The Spirit of God convicts the truly born again believer of sin to such a degree that it makes him/her uncomfortable to indulge in any known sin. True believers no longer find pleasure in those kinds of things in which they once found pleasure when they followed after the course of this world (Eph. 2:2). Rather, those kinds of things grieve those that are truly converted because they know that those things grieve God; they understand that those kinds of sins are what nailed Jesus to the cross. And as God hates those kinds of sins they too have a hatred for those things which they once loved. And there is a continual turning away from those kinds of sins in the life of every truly converted person.

So if you say you are a Christian yet you do not experience the conviction of the Spirit of God regarding those kinds of sins and you do not have a hatred for those kinds of sins, and you do not continually turn away from those kinds of sins, make no mistake about it, you have been deceived. I hope and pray that this may serve as a wake-up call to anyone who may need it and reads this.

It's amazing how much energy and discussion is dedicated to these issues. I suppose that if Christians were to stop watching all movies and stop listening to all music, then we won't have to worry incessantly about these decisions.

And if we were to all dress in burkas, covering our bodies from head to toe, then there would be no outward cause for lusting.

But none of these can make a person more holy, or less holy. You can have all these rules, but the heart remains just as depraved, wicked, and unloving. Your actions would still be heavily tainted by sin - until you encounter the love and grace of Jesus Christ, who gives you a new heart and makes you a new creation.

And as you lay hold of the reality of being a new creation in Christ, sin loses its power - because you are no longer under law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).

I've done the "rules" thing in the past - that's the strategy which is usually advocated from my church experience. It got me nowhere in Christian living - I was still hopelessly mired in sinful desires.

But since understanding the gospel reality that holiness is not attained by human striving, but by receiving from Jesus - truth be told, you can place an R-rated magazine before me and I would not lust after it. Being free from the power of sin - that's true freedom.

BTW I found Disney's "Frozen" to be a very thought-provoking movie. Unintentionally an excellent depiction of the gospel, better than many sermons.

Spoilers ahead...

Elsa (one of the protagonists) grows up under rules-based, legalistic living - but that never addresses the root cause of her 'condition' / 'nature'. Eventually, she breaks down and swerves to 'antinomianism' - her "Let It Go" moment.

That doesn't bring her true happiness or fulfillment either, nor does she succeed in taming her 'nature' - until she experiences her sister's sacrificial love.

"Only an act of true love can thaw a frozen heart" - Sounds cheesy but hey, it's Disney.

Overall, I found the movie to be a great illustration of how we can swing from antinomianism to legalism and back again. But the grace of Jesus brings us out of that legalism-antinomianism spectrum altogether - it's really a transcendent experience.

The main fault of the movie is that it ought to have penned a new set of lyrics to the "Let It Go" melody when Elsa finally achieves her resolution at the end. The "Let It Go" song was sung during her 'antinomian' phase - great melody with very unhealthy lyrics, and for that reason I would not recommend the cartoon to children.

"Facing the Giants" and any Kirk Cameron film are my favorite movies of all time. Casablanca or Citizen Kane? Blech.

"George Beverly Shea Sings Fanny Crosby" is my favorite album of all time.

Oracio, I have an honest question so we can have an honest discussion.

I don't really watch TV and I mostly listen to Christian or bluegrass music, but this is a subject I constantly wrestle with. There are some areas of my life: lying, cussing, jealousy, bitterness, etc that the Lord has marvelously and miraculously brought about deliverance in my life. Not that temptation doesn't strike but there is victory over the enemy when I engage in battle. There are other areas of my life in which I struggle and wrestle and fight-a lot of times not well. How do I balance this? I learned a long time ago that I should not be watching sinful movies and listening to wicked music and I stopped; but not at the moment of salvation. Do you see what I am asking. How do I balance this?

My favorite movies are generally Bond movies
with Sean Connery, most all Hitchcock movies, almost all Cary Grant movies or Jimmy Stewart movies.

I like jazz guitar music. A lot. Doyle Dykes. U-Nam. George Benson.
I also like the Eagles and George Jones and Merle Haggard and Hank Williams, Sr. I like "smooth music" or "yacht rock" mellow pop from the mid 1970s to 1983ish.

havok20x wrote:

Oracio, I have an honest question so we can have an honest discussion.

I don't really watch TV and I mostly listen to Christian or bluegrass music, but this is a subject I constantly wrestle with. There are some areas of my life: lying, cussing, jealousy, bitterness, etc that the Lord has marvelously and miraculously brought about deliverance in my life. Not that temptation doesn't strike but there is victory over the enemy when I engage in battle. There are other areas of my life in which I struggle and wrestle and fight-a lot of times not well. How do I balance this? I learned a long time ago that I should not be watching sinful movies and listening to wicked music and I stopped; but not at the moment of salvation. Do you see what I am asking. How do I balance this?

Brother, it sounds like the Spirit of God has been at work in your heart and life mightily in many areas. Your testimony sounds like a genuine conversion testimony to me. Correct me if I’m wrong but I think your question boils down to, "how and why is it that I have gained many victories in many areas of sin (especially many blatant sins) but I still struggle in certain other areas of sin in my heart and life? Why can’t I get the same victories in those other areas as well at times?”

Well brother, the truth is that there will always be a battle against sin in our hearts and lives as long as we are in these bodies. We will not be completely perfect or sinless this side of heaven. But if there is indeed a fight against sin going on (as opposed to a giving in to sin without a fight), and if we can see the victories that God brings us through in the process of sanctification, we have good reason to believe that He who began a good work in us will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:6).

My main concern in the OP is for those who cannot testify that there is that real battle going on against sin in their hearts and lives; those who are quick to justify their sinful behavior when warned about it; instead of having a humble and repentant heart about their sin, instead of seeking to confess and forsake their sins. Those are the kinds of professing Christians whose souls I fear for.

That being said, I do want to address this part of your post because we may have a disagreement here:

I learned a long time ago that I should not be watching sinful movies and listening to wicked music and I stopped; but not at the moment of salvation. Do you see what I am asking. How do I balance this?

And they also begin to be convicted of not-so-blatant or obvious sins such as a short temper, worry, etc., and the battle continues.

I think "The Passion of the Christ" is my favorite movie. I cried like a baby when I watched it. Powerful movie, highly recommended if you haven't watched it.

So my favorite movie is Cars. I love kid movies.

But I like reading a lot too, which is every bit as good (or better) than a movie for me, because I have a good imagination. The Leatherstocking Tales are my favorite.

My favorite music is Bluegrass. I play banjo and guitar and fiddle, so I always enjoy some good bluegrass! Also I just love getting together with people and playing. Loads of fun!

Havok-

Explain this one- I pretty much can't stand country music but I really like bluegrass.

I listen to a lot of ambient music and I recently found a band that uses banjo which to me is really cool:

http://youtu.be/nJFEWBS1JVE

Here is a quick listing of some of my favorite movies and why I shouldn't like them:

Braveheart- oops Mel is a catholic

It’s a Wonderful Life- oops people don’t become angels

Casablanca- oops Bogey smoked and drank too much

Saving Private Ryan-oops too much violence

Signs- oops Mel again

Lawrence of Arabia- oops Lawrence may have been a homosexual

It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World- oops there’s that scene with a girl in a bikini and it’s all about greed

Jaws- oops Brody gets drunk

Ben-Hur””oops the Bible doesn’t say that Jesus gave some prisoner a drink of water

Mrs. Minniver””oops they were Anglicans

The Wizard of Oz- oops there’s witchcraft

North by Northwest- oops too much flirting

The Sound of Music- oops catholics again

Star Wars- oops all that Buddhism (??)

2001: A Space Odyssey- oops the Bible doesn’t say anything about extraterrestrials or wormholes

The Lord of the Rings- oops there’s wizardry and God is not mentioned once

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly- oops all that shootin’

Thunderball””oops it’s a sin to be that cool

TMK,

I love bluegrass, but not so much country. There are some country songs that I enjoy, but most of them are lousy.

They really are entirely two different genres. In my opinion, country is what happens when folk music becomes mainstream (then is it even folk anymore???). Bluegrass is what happens when people write about real life, whether anyone else cares about it or not.

Thanks for sharing this topic Oracio. I agree when one is truly regenerated the desire for the things of this world go away. Some are instantly, for me, it was drugs, alcohol (I drank to get drunk most of the time, even though wine was served at all meals including lunch), God cleaned up my mouth, and made me more conscientious of many things like lust and what I was seeing in movies, TV, etc.

In addition to watching things that promoted lust I was especially grieved when people would take Gods name in vain. Raised as a Catholic, that was one sin that was really driven home in our house and I do believe it went beyond a do and a don't.

Anyway I do like many of the films mentioned and will add a few more favorites. I like old films like:

The Ten Commandments
The Robe
King of Kings
Ben Hur (already mentioned by Todd)
Little Women (The first two versions, not fond of #3)
The Yearling
To Kill A Mockingbird
Miracle on 34th St.
All Scrooge aka A Christmas Carol Movies

The list goes on and would be to long to mention all, but they are pretty much old which my wife makes fun of me about.

Now here is a film called The Perfect Stranger, there are also sequels and a TV series that was aired on Christian Television. It's about Jesus coming to various individuals in the modern day. He will come posing as a drifter to come and speak to someone specific who is having some issues in life. As he gets to know them in conversation he begins telling them about themselves, very, very touching and will drive you to tears.

Here is the best link so you can see all about the movies and the TV series. I have them all in my library and use all my Christian films to share with friends and family. We will watch them together and then discuss after, midst the tears.

You will read this in the link below, but the part in the Perfect Stranger when this woman is out to dinner with Jesus she is in unbelief and believes he is crazy but as time progresses and he keeps sharing things in her personal life that no one could possibly know she begins to soften.

At the end of their dinner you can see in her countenance Jesus has touched her, her eyes really captivates the moment when she realizes it TRULY is Jesus (tears) when the waiter puts down the check, she grabs it to pay and when he reaches across the table to take the check the sleeves of his suit rolls up past his wrist to reveal the scars in his wrists. I am telling you now, have the tissues ready.

God used this movie to help prepare and soften my brothers heart two months before He took him home.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Perfect_Stranger_%28film%29

Some more Christian films:
The Race Card
Johnny
Jesus of Nazareth
The Woodcarver
The Last Ounce of Courage
The Encounter

Music for me is pretty much praise & worship. I drive a lot being in Business Development and travel between Michigan & Mississippi. I really enjoy the quite time the most.

Tim mentioned Doyle Dykes, Doyle is an amazingly gifted guitarist and I had the privilege of seeing him several times at one of my old churches I used to attend back in the 90's. His daughter who came and played with him was equally talented.

What really makes these individuals stand out above and beyond the blessed gifts that God gives them is their testimony and how God saved them, changed them, and gave them NEW desires. I also believe that they are being faithful stewards of these gifts in giving all glory and honor to Jesus.

In light of this topic about movies and music I believe these very things have happened to each of us to varying extents.

One of my elder mentors in the faith used to say this,
"When I got saved, I now hate the things I once loved, and love the things I once hated"

His point is, there must be a change from the inside (spirit)outward (flesh, actions, behavior, speech). Unfortunately many try to clean up the outward first. It does not work, I tried it for 9 years.

1 Corinthians 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Havoc,

I did want to mention and encourage you in the area you mentioned about balancing your struggles. As I mentioned in my earlier post in this thread when I got saved God took many things away immediately other things took time.

I was going to mention this in another thread but chose not to, but I believe the Lord wants it said. I will use myself as the example.

When I was lost, I was plagued with sin, sex, drugs, drunkennous, etc.. When I say I was plagued means I enjoyed my sin, I did not feel guilty or concerned at the very least.

The struggle came for me when I heard the truth. I heard the Gospel at the age of 17. It was then that my sin was no longer enjoyable, the Gospel was like a wet blanket that doused the flames of my sin.

I did not commit my life to Christ until I was 27. However that whole time sin had now become a struggle, even before I got saved. After salvation there were areas of my life that while I was still struggling I did not get the victory over right away.

A huge factor for me was being filled with the Holy Spirit 9 years after I was saved and that helped me in so many ways.

One major area in my life was/is my temper. God has been so patient with me for 27 years now and as Oracio stated earlier, God will complete the work He has begun in us. It's an absolute promise.

As long as there is still a struggle and a striving with whatever area you are battling I just want to say that is a VERY good thing.

I know what it is like to struggle with sin and when I slip, fail, fall I am truly miserable, UNTIL.

For me, even after being saved for 27+ years when I fall short in an area I am so hard on myself and I find it hard to go back to the Lord and simply confess, repent, and put my sin under the blood of Jesus at the cross and just move on.

The reason I say it is hard is because I should know better and I do not want to take the grace of God for granted. But guess what I am doing?

When I don't go to God immediately I am buying into the lies of the enemy and I am under a weight of condemnation and as much as I know the enemies tactics and HATE being condemned I allow myself to linger in the guilt.

You know what that is? Pride, plain and simple. My wife knows me like a book, just like my mother knew me. When I am down on myself my wife starts right away with the questions until she gets me in submission and I tell her what is going on.

Now I said I am using myself as the example and while these things are true for me they may not apply nor am I implying that is the same in your case.

I used to be a part of a group that believed we are supposed to attain perfection in this life and that is just not the case. The only perfection we will ever know on this side of glory is the IMPUTED perfection/righteousness of Jesus Christ and that is the Perfection I now trust in.

If any one could ever attain a state of perfection on their own in this life, Jesus died in vain, we would not need Him.

The other side of this coin is that all our sin, past, present, future are imputed to Him. The perfection/righteousness I trust in is His, and the sin He bears on my behalf is mine.

I have seen God take people right down to the 11:59 hour and complete the work before many, many eyes, an undeniable work He promised to complete.

I have learned a long time ago to not cast stones at Gods workmanship.

Are you familiar with 1John 3:1-10? This speaks of those who commit sin as a usual practice, meaning they abide, continue in, and camp out at sins door with no struggle or conviction whatsoever.

In context of all of 1John it is obvious we will struggle with sin until we see Him face to face, THEN and only then will we be like Him. So Christians will commit acts of sin, not as a usual practice, but when our defenses are down and when we do, we should feel miserable. The Holy Spirit who dwells with and in us will be grieved and I can assure you when He is grieved, you also will grieve, another good thing btw.

So as long as there is a struggling, striving, and grieving with or when we sin, do not hesitate to apply 1John 1:9 and Proverbs 28:13 for forgiveness, cleansing, and mercy.

Not because we are faithful but because HE is faithful.

I will be remembering you in my prayers.

Thanks, David.