What about movies in the church

[JVD]

I'm specifically asking about using movie clips for sermon illustrations. It has become common practice to use movie clips from popular movies as sermon illustrations. You can even find places on-line that help you do this.

Does anyone else have a problem with this?

I have finally gotten over an addiction to TV and we don't generally go to movies as a family. I guess we have gone to see two movies over the years. "Toy Story" and "A Dog Named Chip" (not even sure of the names). We do occasionally rent videos after we check them out fairly well.

I believe that using TV shows and movies as sermon illustrations is an endorsement of these industries. Although there are good movies and good TV shows, it is my belief that in general these industries have done a lot to tear down the faith of Christians.

Am I just being an old "fuddy duddy" if I object to using these types of illustrations?

[New_Wineskin]

Does anyone else have a problem with this?

I don't have a problem simply because those who do have a problem can always go to another group . There are plenty of groups that don't and won't go along those lines .



Am I just being an old "fuddy duddy" if I object to using these types of illustrations?
I am not sure . You can always ask your group to discontinue the practice . If you lay down your objection , an alternative could be considered .

[xenia]

Showing movie clips is definitely the "in" thing at some churches. It's so cool, you know.

I am against the idea. It's saying Hollywood movies are ok. I don't think most Hollywood movies are ok, and a church should not be encouraging its members to think they are ok, good and wholesome. Just showing them is an endorsement of Hollywood.

It also makes the assumption that the audience (congregation?) is ok with Hollywood movies. We all watch 'em, it's saying. Yet we are not to be of this world. Hollywood movies are of this world.

Best thing to do if you don't like this kind of thing is to move on to a different type of church.

[twistedsketch]

Yet, we're also to think of WHATEVER is good, right, honorable, noble, praiseworthy, etc. Some movies have parts that are valuble according to that verse (Phil 4:8). If a pastor gives the proper caveats, I don't see a problem.

[xenia]

Some movies have parts that are valuble

Trouble is, to decide what parts might be edifying, the preacher has to preview a lot of trash. This can't be a good thing, I wouldn't think.

[AveMaria]

I've heard of this being done, although I've never seen it. I think I would personally find it very distracting during the sermon or during worship, although I can see how it *might* be an interesting exercise in small fellowship groups, for discussion.


Out of curiosity, what sort of movie clips?

[Entertaining_Angels]

I am not sure how I feel about this one. Our pastor has shown clips from 'What About Bob', 'SpongeBob Squarepants' and some Tom Cruise movie that I'd never seen before and am not sure what it was.

One thing I've been convicted of in the last few years is the movies I watch. I really never watch anything above PG and even a number of PG movies I skip. My son does not watch Spongebob either. I think by showing these clips, folks feel like the church has endorsed these movies. Now, I've seen What About Bob and laughed and laughed but I really wouldn't watch it now unless it was a channel that bleeped out the language.

Sigh...I don't know. I guess I can live without it. I think churches do it just to be 'cool' and keep visitors and newbies interested.

[kspchemist]

Does anyone else have a problem with this?I do have a MAJOR problem with this. A week ago Sunday, I was in service and they showed a "patrotic video". There was nothing wrong with the video, but I didn't think that a church service was the place to show this video. My wife and I felt like we were in a movie theater. Churches should not allow video's of any type into their services.

Am I just being an old "fuddy duddy" if I object to using these types of illustrations?I hope you aren't an old "fuddy duddy". I'm in the same boat as you are, so that would make me an old "fuddy duddy". =)

[inHisgrip]

I think that as long as it is relavent to the topic at hand it is okay. At my church it is done on a rare occasion, but always ties in with the sermon, also the clips they show are only about 1-2minutes in length.
So, I don't mind, whatever it takes to get the point to this generation.
In Him

[kspchemist]

So, I don't mind, whatever it takes to get the point to this generation.Just to satisfy my own curiosity, but when you say whatever it takes, is there any limits on what actions are to be taken?

[twistedsketch]

Trouble is, to decide what parts might be edifying, the preacher has to preview a lot of trash. This can't be a good thing, I wouldn't think.

Nothing worse than what he'd already know about if he's dealing with broken people, I guarantee you.

I have a friend who is a pastor whose hobby is watching movies. He's quite avid about it.

[thecrucifiedlife]

I'm not sure about movies. In todays church culture it seems that the preacher or minister or whatever you want to call him has become an entertainer :hug: at the expense of the word of God. Paul said that he didn't come with wise or persuasive words but with the spirit's power. That seems to be missing in churches today. I know when I go to church sometimes I want to vomit at the lack of preaching and the use of to many stories. some preachers seem to want to inflate their ego :thumbsup: more than help the Christian next to them. I think you have to ask God, in a particular situation is it right to play a movie clip. The bigger issue is people not being fed and not becoming mature in Christ.

[xenia]

I have a friend who is a pastor whose hobby is watching movies. He's quite avid about it.

I am sorry to hear this.

[BradC314]

It's interesting to me that when Jesus was teaching, he told stories and used illustrations that were relevant to his audience. Why can't ministers do the same today? We live in a media-dominated society, and the church of tomorrow, our young people and children, respond to this kind of illustrative tool, so why not use it? In the 70's the Jesus Movement used music to reach a generation of people quite effectively. Why can't today's generation be reached using tools that are familiar to them?

Now, with that said, I think there are two cautions to point out to folks using this method. First and foremost is that there may be legal implications of using copyrighted material in front of an audience. Secondly, if a pastor uses a 10 or 15 second clip from a movie to make his sermon point, I think it must be implied that the pastor has seen the entire movie (otherwise, how'd he find the clip??). Depending on which movie or other media source is used, this implication may have a larger meaning than the pastor or teacher may intend.

[xenia]

In the 70's the Jesus Movement used music to reach a generation of people quite effectively.

This was the camel's nose under the tent. The decision to reach the world with the world's music has not born good fruit, IMO.

[mbams]

I think movies, like any media, are not inherently good or bad. It is how you use them that makes the difference.

Negative usage:
By using films that promote unbiblical principles (admittedly, the majority of them), for their 5 minute nugget of truth in a sermon, the pastor is implying that s/he condons the entire film. People can assume that since this film was shown in church, the pastor has viewed and approved of it. One could also justify watching the whole film because of the portion viewed in church. This is obviously a negative outcome, since we what we watch, listen to etc, has an impact on us.

Positive usage:
There are some films with incredible messages that teach biblical principles. By using portions of these films, one can find a way to relate to a good portion of our generation. This also provides the congregation with some good examples for encouraging or edifying films. People might therefore be more likely to rent these films rather than the garbage films out there. And in this way, people will learn to fill their lives with more positive biblical messages.

[xenia]

People can assume that since this film was shown in church, the pastor has viewed and approved of it.

Yep, that's what worries me.

By using portions of these films, one can find a way to relate to a good portion of our generation.

I think you are the type of person who can see the best in all people. :thumbsup:

But does this method of evangelizing really work? Do you see much depth in the fish reeled in by these worldly methods? These big churches that use these kinds of methods are packed with people, yet do you see much impact on our country? Are these newly-caught Christians learning to deny themselves, pick up their crosses and follow Jesus or are they learning to watch movies and attend "Christian" rock concerts? Are they learning to live a life of humility and repentence or are they learning to be entertained?

Worldly methods produce worldly Christians. I left Evangelical Christianity because of its worldliness.

-x.

[inHisgrip]

Just to satisfy my own curiosity, but when you say whatever it takes, is there any limits on what actions are to be taken?
I was simply refering to movie clips. In this day and age its so hard to reach lost people and I think we need to be meeting them where they are, so if that means showing a 3 minute movie clip and applying truth from it thats great. As christians, I think that we need to think outside the box. There are many ways to preach and teach.
I know of one church that actually meets in a bar.
And it is flourishing and reaching a community that would have otherwise never been met.
In Him
:amen:

[Dr. E W Bullinger]

Does anyone else have a problem with this?
Yes, I do!

[BradC314]

This was the camel's nose under the tent. The decision to reach the world with the world's music has not born good fruit, IMO.Wow, this 'camel's nose under the tent' gave birth to the Contemporary Christian Music genre that we enjoy today. I would say that there has been considerable good fruit born from this.

IMO

[PlayForJesus]

Well, I am a bit divided over this issue. I think that the TYPE of medium (in this case motion pictures) does not present a problem in a church. However the particular MOVIE being shown can and does.. Here is an example:

Our church had a sermon a couple of weeks ago that incorporated a few scenes from "Bruce Almighty". Well, I know that things had gotten a little rushed in the editing for the clips (I am friends with the video guy), and well, a *word* ::cough:: was missed and ended up in service. To me this shows a potentially HUGE problem with using movie clips, because all it takes is one *word* and it can cause people to miss the whole point of the message. (as sad as that is)

[xenia]

Wow, this 'camel's nose under the tent' gave birth to the Contemporary Christian Music genre that we enjoy today.

That SOME people enjoy today.

[xenia]

You know, I wonder if we are really disagreeing on the purpose of Sunday Morning Worship Service.

Some churces believe that Sunday Morning Service is a time for evangelizing the lost, a time for bringing in the people of the world for the purpose of telling them about the Good News of Jesus Christ. If that's the goal, then I would agree to the use of extraordinary methods, like movie clips, loud rock music, meeting in a bar, etc.

If, on the other hand, the purpose of Sunday Morning is to worship the Holy Trinity, then it had better not be worldly, it had better be God-centered.

For myself, I have chosen to attend a church that only does worship on Sunday and does no evangelization at that time. All the hymns are to God, all the prayers are to God, and the sermon assumes the people who are listening are already Christians. Evangelization happens at times other than Sunday morning. It seems to me that there HAS to be a time in the life of a church when God is glorified, period. For us, that's Sunday.

IMO, and it's just my opinion, many modern churches spend all their time and energy evangelizing the world. When does the Body of Christ meet by itself to worship God? Both things need to happen, but they shouldn't always happen at the same service.

Just my opinion!

-Xenia

[JVD]

Good point Xania...that probably is the very issue.

I don't want to leave my church over this issue, and I am not going to. I likely will also not say anything at this point unless things just get out of hand.

The most recent movie clip shown was about some guy who was trying to run his daughters life...forgot the name of the movie. Anyway...apparently it was an R rated movie, although the scene we saw was very good. I just have a problem with endorsing an R rated movie. Actually I have a problem with endorsing any movie in church.

[twistedsketch]

Good point Xania...that probably is the very issue.

I don't want to leave my church over this issue, and I am not going to. I likely will also not say anything at this point unless things just get out of hand.

The most recent movie clip shown was about some guy who was trying to run his daughters life...forgot the name of the movie. Anyway...apparently it was an R rated movie, although the scene we saw was very good. I just have a problem with endorsing an R rated movie. Actually I have a problem with endorsing any movie in church.
Even "The Passion" or "The Ten Commandments"? :D

[JVD]

Even "The Passion" or "The Ten Commandments"?

Heh...I would not endorse either of those. I haven't seen the first and would not endorse the latter. I'm sure there are good movies out there, but it isn't the churches place to put the stamp of approval on them.

[BarbB]

My New Jersey pastor took to this practice this summer. And to me those sermons were NOT his best. His best is when he gets excited for the Lord and moves around and sweats and says "now, family, this is important". :)

I'm like oregal - the Holy Spirit has me on a short leash and the last thing I want to do is see clips from films that I won't be seeing anyway. :(

[seeking.IAM]

Movies? I don't even like to see Powerpoint in church. I hate looking to the front of the church and seeing a projection screen. I visited a large church for the first time last week that has mostly contemporary services save one traditional service, which I attended. The church had a large screen hanging from the ceiling over the altar at the front of the church. Also, center front was a very tall cross. The screen covered the top half of the cross so you could only see the long leg below the cross member sticking out below the screen. It looked kinda silly since they don't use Powerpoint during the traditional service. So, they have rectified that during the traditional service by projecting an image of the top half of the cross onto the screen, making one complete cross if your mind adds the projected top half of the cross to the real bottom half of the cross.

Enough with screens, movies, and powerpoint already.

seeking.IAM

[PaladinGirl]

I don't have a problem simply because those who do have a problem can always go to another group . There are plenty of groups that don't and won't go along those lines .

I am not sure . You can always ask your group to discontinue the practice . If you lay down your objection , an alternative could be considered .
That's pretty much exactly the way I feel. :thumbsup: