Scary Movies and the Christian
Scary Movies and the Christian
Around Halloween I had some good conversations with different friends on the whole watching horror movies issue. In the days surrounding Halloween, as I channel surfed my TV by repeatedly pressing my already severely indented “channel-up” button (from the several quadrillions of times I have pressed it over the years), I couldn’t help but come across scary movie after scary movie being served up on my already over-priced, non-digital cable package. I know I’m not alone on this. Now I do have to admit that over the years I personally have enjoyed many a scary movie, everything from Jaws, Halloween and The Thing (the 80’s one with Kurt Russell) back when I was a teenager right through to more contemporary tales like Wes Craven’s Scream series, M. Knight Shyamalan’s The Village and a recent rental I got called Disturbia.
But as a Christian who should always be discerning about what aspects of the world around me I let into my heart and mind what should I think about all these scary movies that make their way into our TV’s, movie rental stores and theaters?
That being said I would like to pass on another good article on this issue that again relates to our recent discussions as a church on our value of discerning, missional cultural engagement. This one again is by Pastor Harleman of Mars Hill Church (pastor of film and theology) and looks more closely at the issue of the horror, gore and fear movie genre and the Christian life.
For the article click here
As a disclaimer I would like to say that there are actually some movies that I choose not to watch because I think they will be more harmful than helpful to my life as a Christian. I should also say this can often include really bad romantic comedies, etc. This is something that I have chosen to do because I, like Mars Hill and other culturally engaging churches, understand that movies are the modern preaching pulpits of our day. So the question is, how are we both discerning and engaging with this most important culture-forming media of our time in Jesus’ name (Colossians 3:17)?
The horror genre in movies, books and stories: Once again, you bring up an engaging topic. Personally, I am not very fond of the horror genre but I occasionally do enjoy watching a truly suspenseful, “bite-your-nails and scare-your-pants-off” movie. The related adrenalin rush and meal for thought can be very stimulating, albeit somewhat exhausting.
It is a topic many Christians will say they either love or hate it. Others may reject the genre outright because they see it as coming from the devil or, worst (as exemplified by the scores of non thinking, “walking living dead” around us, no punt intended) will have NO opinion on the subject whatsoever. The latter, although unbeknown to them, is by far the most toxic and dangerous attitude to have of all…….more on this when we chat next.
Everything we can feel, see, hear and experience was created by our transcendent God who lives outside the boundaries of time and space that limit us. This includes us, imperfect creatures but created in God’s image, as well as our ability to think and experience life. When God created the World, he loudly and clearly proclaimed it was good after everything He created. I do not think one can unilaterally exclude “scary movies” or the ‘horror genre” from this Godly qualification because it might be distasteful or otherwise unpalatable to some. It is the gift of free will that creates the possibility of sin and evil not the object (or subject) itself, e.g. it is not the gun, or even the bullet, that murders a person but the finger on the trigger instructed by the mind.
So, like with everything else in life, we Christians must carefully consider how we interact with horror, sex and gore wherever we find it, not simply avoid it. As Pastor James Harleman concludes in his article …….”the genre is not off-limits; like all areas of life, it should be engaged with godly discernment”.
Godspeed!
Comment by Alfonso Casasempere — November 28, 2007 @ 4:49 pm
Try these clean, Christian Scary movies. Dove family approved seal award winners too.
www.praythemovie.com
Comment by M Mitchell — September 6, 2008 @ 5:38 pm