Samuel Goldwyn, you know the movie maker, the “Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer” guy, once said, “I seriously object to seeing on the screen what belongs in the bedroom.” Well, that was a long time ago and it’s too bad that more people in Hollywood don’t have the same sentiments today.
The latest “heel good” movie from Hollywood has come out, just in time for Christmas 2008. Titled “Marley and Me”, after the book about “life and love with the world’s worst dog”, the movie is cast as a family movie, but according to reviews, Jennifer Aniston shows way, way, way too much flesh. The Hollywood pagans think it is completely normal for naked women to be showing off their stuff to strangers, even small children. Too bad. This makes the movie inappropriate for Christian viewing.
If you think I’m being “Legalistic”, I will give Gods’ Word the last word. And for those who remain unconvinced, I offer you some possible justifications for doing these activities (like viewing so-called ‘soft porn’ movies). But I caution you that God will be the final judge and He may not accept man’s justifications. So I kindly say ignore the import of these Scriptures at your own risk.
Last Word:
“Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals…” 1 Cor. 15:33 [Possible justification: “How can a movie theater possibly be thought of as ‘bad company’?]
“Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy” Rom. 13:13 [Possible justification: “The verse is talking about my behavior, not the behavior of the undressed woman on the video.”]
“I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Mt. 5:28 [Possible justification: “I wasn’t lusting. I was looking, but I wasn’t lusting. And when I was looking, I was only ‘enjoying’ the beauty that God created.”]
“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality (porneia, ‘porn’), impurity, sensuality,” Gal. 5:19 [Possible justification: “It is just being silly and legalistic because God didn’t say you can’t watch movies. What about looking at billboards, and television commercials, and music lyrics, and tattoos? Are you going to forbid all of these things too?”]
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;” 1 Thess. 4:3 [Possible justification: “It’s not ‘sexual immorality’ if I’m just watching other people commit it on a Hollywood movie set?”]
“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me.” Psalm 101:3 [Possible justification: “Who says that seeing an actress’s hiney is a ‘worthless’ thing? Maybe God thinks that ‘Spongebob’ is a ‘worthless thing’ too.]
“I have made a covenant with my eyes; How then could I gaze at a virgin?” (Job 31:1) [Possible justification: “Job didn’t say that it was wrong to lust for a woman who was no longer a virgin.”]
A Conquering Faith 
I think this is just another example of legalism in the church. God doesn’t care about these things. Jennifer Aniston is a good actress and the human body is beautiful. You make it sound dirty. Try keeping your opinions to yourself unless you want Christians to live in a cave.
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Oh boy! Dear Anonymous, I certainly don’t think God wants Christians to hide away and live in a cocoon or a cave. But God’s Word clearly teaches us that some things ought to be off limits for Christians. And watching naked woman on the “big screen” seems to come under that category of things. I heard someone say that things like this aren’t the same thing as “gratuitous” sexuality or porn. If it is “art”, it’s OK. All I can say is, “gratuitous” or not, I wouldn’t be hanging it in my house. Thanks.
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Good Points and an honest review on “the greatest family movie this year”—NOT!!! I felt so uncomfortable taking our 12 yr old son to see this, and our 10 yr old daughter was equally uncomfortable. While some folks wanted to give this movie the can because of Marley being put to sleep at the end—thats really what happens in a dogs life. I love dogs and have seen my beloved canine friends to the end–but the sexuality in this movie was what was appaling–NOT kid friendly AT ALL! Would you take Jesus to see it? I shudder at the thought
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Like the proverbial frog in the pot, many Christians have simply been content to sit in the pot while the entertainment industry has turned up the heat of immorality in their offerings over the past several decades. I am afraid that many Christians are simply no longer able or willing to see how the scriptures apply to the entertainment we participate in. This isn’t legalism, it’s a slow simmer to spiritual death.
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Well said.
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if you’re so concerned about it, close you eyes so you’ll not lust or read the book.
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Dear Anonymous, Do you defend the way that Hollywood is going because that’s how it sounds. Do you not discriminate over what your children – if you have them – see? Caring parents do. And it’s not just me that is concerned. God is concerned that people have become desensitized by our culture to the point that we are not ashamed. God is concerned that we not reach the point that we no longer blush at sin.
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