There’s No Silver in the Silver Screen
The silver screen, otherwise known as the movie screen. But is there silver in this screen? Let’s see what Scripture has to say:
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. -1 Corinthians 3:12-13
The Bible says that God will try every man’s work with fire, and those things that are done for eternity’s sake are the things that truly matter, and will be as silver or gold. So, is there silver in the silver screen?
A hypothetical situation
Let’s suppose that nearly every day, someone approaches you in the evening, and offers a proposal:
“How about I handcuff you, blindfold you, gag you, and put earplugs in your ears for exactly two hours; I’ll then set you down on the ground where you’ll be utterly helpless and useless for these two hours, after which point I’ll let you go.”
And on top of all that, this person wants to imprison you many times a week, and at the very times when all of your necessary obligations for the day have been taken care of—a time when you are free to make the biggest difference and bring about the largest advancements to the kingdom of God. What would you say?
©iStockphoto.com/dem10
Satan's deceit: we enjoy our bondage.
“Sure, I’d love to! That sounds like fun. I think I’ll even invite my friends to be handcuffed with me. Even though we won’t actually be seeing or talking to each other—since we’ll be blindfolded, gagged, and have earplugs in—but I think it would be a great thing for us to do together!”
A two-hour prison sentence
All this represents, at best, what movies do in a Christian’s life. This is excepting the fact that more often than not, movies are not completely neutral, and we do not leave the silver screen in the same condition that we came. This is all excepting the fact that we are being desensitized to violence—watching humans made in the image of God being murdered and bloodied as a form of entertainment. This is all excepting the fact that we are being exposed to and subconsciously influenced by all of the worldly and sensual ways of fornication. This is all excepting the fact that profane people are speaking profane words and stirring profane thoughts in our minds.
Regardless of all of the filth presented in movies that “we think we can handle,” movies are, at best, a two hour prison sentence: one that we willingly and joyfully serve at the expense of everlasting and eternal rewards in God’s kingdom.
All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. -1 Corinthians 10:23
All things edify not: that is to say, not everything that we do leads to any true value or building up in our lives. Each day we’re faced with decisions: one of those decisions is: should I serve a two-hour prison sentence, or should I seek to advance God’s kingdom? Two hours of prison, or two hours of prayer? Two hours of prison, or two hours of studying God’s word? Two hours of prison, or two hours learning a new skill that can be used for God’s glory?
Two hours of prison, or two hours of freedom?
See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. -Ephesians 5:15-16
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