The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Religious Movies

Some time ago A. W. Tozer wrote this article concerning religious movies. I've always considered religious movies to be insidious in nature but never really understood why until I recently read this article. There is indeed a ton of insight and Scriptural truth in this article by Tozer.

http://www.biblebb.com/files/tozermovie.htm


and:


IMO, this also includes the latest fad movie "The Passion of the Christ" which is nothing more than a gigantic (very expensive) yet blasphemous RCC image and idolatrous crucifix.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

Denny I'll go along you and Tozer. Every time I have seen a movie (even religious) that comes highly recommended by Christians it usually contains sin that God hates. On top of that I'm amazed when they go into a big spue on their Christian liberty and the weaker brother. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/bash.gif" alt="" /> On another discussion board there was a large thread on how funny the Jerry Seinfeldt show was which was a show full of sin. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/Banghead.gif" alt="" />

God bless His Church

Denny,

First let me say that I do agree that "religion and entertainment" are opposed. And, let me add that I most assuredly agree that spiritual truth is best communicated via the spoken and/or written word. But having said that, methinks that there are movies which can and do communicate thought-provoking truths to the audience. Just to name a few: "The Ten Commandments", "The Robe", "Ben Hur", "Chariots of Fire", Francis Schaeffer's "How Shall We Then Live?" or "What Ever Happened to the Human Race?".

Now, I am NOT saying that any of these movies are to been taken in any shape or form as a replacement for the Gospel or sound teaching. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/nope.gif" alt="" /> But all of the above mentioned movies do provoke one to think beyond one's everyday experiences in regard to biblical themes/truths. Personally, I have nothing good to say about 99% of all the "religious movies" produced. And without question, the recent offerings are nothing short of blasphemous, especially those which have a mere man, a pagan man at that, portraying the Lord Jesus Christ. But I'm not about to throw out the baby with the bath water on this issue by relegating ALL "religious movies" to the dung heap. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That's my

In His grace,

Denny,

I wouldn't consider all movies to be a form of amusement. Motion pictures are just another medium which can be used for good or evil.

You can have movies that are documentaries or true stories that focus on the history of the church which would have a religious topic but hardly be considered amusing. How about a movie that tells the story of a great Christian like Martin Luther. I thought the 2003 version was a pretty good flick. I've been told by someone who has recently gone to see the movie Amazing Grace that it is quite good. This movie tells the true story of two great Christians; William Wilberforce and John Newton.

What do you think about movies of this type?


Wes

I believe that there is a huge difference between movies that portray historical and biographical events, and movies that portray events of Scripture, - especially those that image our Lord (such as The Pasion of the Christ). These movies nearly always detour from the Scripture to portray the script from the mind of the Director or the actors. Some of these movies are so bad that they might as well be fictionalized cartoons.

I also saw the Luther movie you mentioned. It was OK but I wonder why no one has made a decent movie about John Calvin? I think the reason is obvious that there would not be enough paying customers to even pay production costs of a movie about one of the greatest Christian teachers in history.

I don't think it's generally a humble spiritual sense that drives the hype and emotional production of these Holy Wood movies but something of a much more worldly nature.

It was, after all, the selling of sinful indulgences that led to the construction of the deceit of St. Peters Basilica.

Denny

Romans 3:22-24

The Holiest privilege that God gives to Christians is prayer to Him.

So imagine this, some Mealy-mouthed, limp wristed, Christ rejecting, blaspheming movie director saying, OK now Melvin you pretend you are praying to God and you over there on the hill, you pretend you are being converted and do it good because we are going to make alot of money on this one.

William <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/ugh.gif" alt="" />

Very descriptive, William. In reality, it's probably much worse than what you have described. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In His grace,