Is watching movies or making jokes about sinful things really that bad?
Question:
What about people who like action movies and stuff like that, or producers who make violent movies. I mean, you can like action movies but that does not mean that you support violence.
There is a difference between making a joke about something and claiming that you actually would do it. You can live a good life, but to your friends, you claim to do something else -- now that is hypocrisy. But a joke could be meaningless.
I mean, it is impossible to get away from all of this. You see these types of jokes everywhere on TV, on some songs, even in magazines you see erotic literature.
It really depends on the content too. For example, I would never make a comment or a joke about my committing adultery. I personally hate adulterous acts and I know that it can really hurt someone and destroy families.
Answer:
It is good to hear from you again. Many of the issues you raised are ones we talked about before.
Let's start with your last point: You would not make a joke that implied you would (or did) commit adultery. The reason you gave is that you detest adultery so much. But there is an additional, unstated reason: you don't want yourself connected even remotely to the idea of adultery. I don't blame you, no Christian should want to have his reputation tainted by sin -- not just adultery, but by any sin. So by your own position, you show what Paul was saying in Ephesians 5:3, "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints." People make judgments about what we think about based on what comes out of our mouths. And it isn't an unjust judgment. Even in telling a joke, a person must be acquainted with the ideas expressed and had thought about them. "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man" (Mark 7:20-23).
Yes, the world is full of all sorts of evil. But there is a difference between living amongst evil and seeking out evil. The fact that it exists doesn't justify participation, whether directly or indirectly.
The Bible teaches that we are influenced by those we associate with. Pretending it is not so isn't productive, even the secular world has realized that there is a connection between things like the amount of violence on TV and violent behavior or the amount of sex on TV and acting out sexually. "Don't be deceived! 'Evil companionships corrupt good morals'" (I Corinthians 15:33). That is why Solomon observed, "Do not associate with a man given to anger; or go with a hot-tempered man, or you will learn his ways and find a snare for yourself" (Proverbs 22:24-25). People rub off on each other. The only slight difference is that we can influence others remotely these days through media.
Action movies, or even violence portrayed, is too vague to say whether it is a proper movie to watch or not. A war movie will have violence in it. Some movies make a strong distinction between good and evil and obviously say good is the only right position. For example, the Lord of the Rings movies contain a lot of action and violence, but it doesn't promote violence or evil. But there are numerous "slasher" movies that glorify evil. It is the later Christians should avoid.
