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Current Events -
Books, TV and Movies
18/07/2006
Do you think that there are some Christians who are at risk if they go and see the movie The DaVinci Code because of what Satan tries to do – to get us to doubt God and to doubt God’s Word – that it would be best for them not to see that movie? Or do you really think that people could be intellectual enough to go in, take it as entertainment and then leave it at that?
I think that’s a great question. I personally believe that we shouldn’t be
entertained by things that try to undermine the Bible. Now, I don’t believe that
The DaVinci Code has the power to undermine the Bible because the Bible has
lasted 2000 years and made it through much worse opposition than The DaVinci
Code presents.
However, even though I believe that the Bible will always prevail over these
kinds of mockings and these kinds of money scams, which is what The DaVinci Code
is, just to make money. I believe the Bible will always prevail over those
things. But I don’t believe that I will support those kinds of things. Even
though I know that the Bible is stronger and even though I know that my faith
could withstand watching that movie and not be affected by it, I think that
there are a lot people who are young Christians who could be affected negatively
and start to question “did Jesus really tell us everything that we know in the
Bible?” and “is the Bible authentic?” And the questions that are raised in The
DaVinci Code are not worth subjecting little lambs to.
So, I don’t believe that people should go to it who are well-minded and
strong-minded and well-intended Christians. But I don’t think that it would be a
sin if somebody goes to the movie. I just think that it would be unwise to give
our money to people who are supporting something that is contrary to the Word of
God.
We have to speak intelligently to the world and to what the world is watching
and to what the world is viewing. There are ways to accomplish that without
having to go to the movie. I feel like I’ve presented a good explanation on our
website at changinglives.org to address this issue with The DaVinci Code so
somebody can respond intelligently to their friends and relatives.
But I don’t think that most people are going to The DaVinci Code to pursue
theological answers. They’re going for entertainment. And I don’t really think
it’s going to be that big of an issue when it comes to “hey, did you see The
DaVinci Code? Yeah. What’d you think about God? What do you think about the
Bible now?” I don’t know that that’s the effect that movies have on culture. I
think movies have less significant of an effect on people than that. I don’t
believe it’s theologically deep enough to really inspire a lot of talk about it.
Although if it opens somebody’s heart up to the gospel, let’s take advantage of
it. Let’s have the right answers. Let’s know how to kindly and compassionately
speak to those answers.
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Current Events -
Books, TV and Movies
16/03/2006
How should parents address Harry Potter?
I think that we need to address it with compassion and love for our children
and we need to let our children know, particularly when they’re younger and when
you are in total control of what they watch and what they go to, I think that we
need to tell them, “This is not something that I feel comfortable taking you to
because of the witchcraft and because of the fact that it doesn’t promote good
over evil. It doesn’t promote anything that we can really draw parallels to in
the gospel.” And some movies do draw parallels to the gospel. I have not found
that Harry Potter can do that. However, I don’t know enough about those movies
to condemn it. When they’re 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 years old, I’m in total
control of what movies they see.
When they get to when they’re 16, 17, 18 and 19 years old, obviously, they can
make up for any movies that I didn’t let them watch. They can go to whatever
movies they want to go to within reason. When your kids are under your charge
and your stewardship, the parents should simply say, “I don’t feel comfortable
with you watching this movie or taking you to this movie because it doesn’t
guard and protect your heart from things that I think are unhealthy for you
spiritually and emotionally.” That would be the way that I would explain that to
a child.
Unfortunately, I don’t have enough experience with the Harry Potter movies to
speak fully intelligently about it, but I know enough Christian people who have
studied it and researched it and have found it to be very detrimental and would
not encourage parents to let their kids go to those Harry Potter movies. What I
would encourage you to do is to look up some websites – I know that John Hagee
has some extensive research that he’s done about the Harry Potter movies. You
can go to www.jhm.org and search in their catalog for materials relating to
this. He’s just one person that I’ve heard and seen on TV that has shown an
intelligent, studious effort at really understanding those movies and giving
good answers for parents to protect their children from it.
It’s important for you to get good information about it. I can say to my kids,
“because in my heart, I don’t feel it’s right” and they’ll accept that. But
sometimes you need more information than that when you’re dealing with older
children. If you look up christianmovies.com or google and go to “Christian
Movies” or “Christian Critics of Movies” or something like that, then they’ll
give you a breakdown of some real intelligent answers as to why you should or
should not go to Harry Potter movies.
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