Inception

     If you’re anything like me, you’re a fan of all types of movies. From action flicks to chick flicks to sci-fi, I can enjoy almost any genre of movie. But recently I’ve been finding this very unpleasant trend among some of the most popular movies in Hollywood: Unanticipated and unnecessary violence, language, and sexual content. Usually these “scenes” are very inconsequential to the plot and add absolutely nothing to the quality of the movie. So why is Hollywood so adamant in adding these types of scenes to almost every “worth-seeing” movie? Would I be a conspiracy theorist to say that it is a conspiracy?

     In 2006, Hollywood sued Clearplay, a website that offered edited versions of DVDs without any violence, sex, nudity, or foul language, because the movies are copyrighted and altering them undermined it’s “creative genius." Now, the Director’s Guild of America (DGA) is suing Clearplay over their DVD player, which provides the same services as their edited DVDs, claiming that this technology “does not respect the finished film product" nor the director’s vision for the movie. Now let’s be real. How many people, or more specifically, how many Christians are actually investing in clean edited DVDs? Not many. Too many “Christians” prefer to see the sex and the violence and the cursing. So based on that info alone, it’s pretty evident that Clearplay and all other edited service out there weren't putting any real dents in Hollywood’s pockets. So why was Hollywood so determined to take out these small businesses? Well, maybe it’s because they (these small Christian businesses) offer your spirit man a choice and a chance.

     See, Hollywood knows how the flesh works. All they need to do is reel you in with a good plot and interesting twists. Then, at some random point in the movie, they throw in a trivial sexual content, and while you may feel unchanged and unaffected initially, they know they have you right where they want to. With every sex scene you watch and every profanity filled line you hear, you are feeding your flesh which is growing stronger as your spirit man is growing weaker. The more you watch these movies the less you get that unsettling feeling in your spirit. Here’s a thing about the devil: he doesn't hit you full throttle. What he usually does is he eases in slowly. So slowly, in fact, that you don’t even realize that he’s entering in until it’s too late, if  you realize it at all. You may think that because you aren't actually doing any of the things that are in these movies that it’s okay to watch them. You may feel like these images and sounds aren’t affecting you, but they are on a subconscious level. You must realize that most actions start with thoughts. Remember Satan is the prince of this world and all that comes out of the world -- the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, the pride of life.  Am I saying you to should stop watching all movies unless they come from a Christian organization? No. I’m just admonishing you to guard your heart by filtering what you let into your mind. 

 

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In the same way that Paul admonished Timothy:  Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. [2 Tim 1:14]