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Is it wrong for Christians to attend movie theaters or watch TV?

by Larry Harriman

The topic of movies and television is an explosive issue in many fundamental baptist churches. In fact, this is a topic that transcends fundamental baptist churches and is even debated among other Christian denominations as well as unbelievers.

Movies and Television programs are a communications medium, much like books and music are. They all communicate the ideas,philosphies and stories of humanity. All these mediums can communicate ideas, philosophies and stories which are either in harmony with a Biblical world view or are opposed to a Biblical world view.

The difference between live theater, and books or music is that it is visual. Books and Music use words or sounds to communicate and they are more limited than live theater in how they communicate. Live theater can show in a few minutes visually what would take books and music many pages to do. Movies and television are simply the theatre put to film. The one major advance of movies and television in recent years is special effects. So movies and television have surpassed the live theater to become the ultimate medium to communicate in our time.

In this article we will look at the history of the churches view on the theater (and really the arts) as well as the scriptures that have been applied to theaters and television in this last century.

Ultimately, you must have faith that whatever activity you engage in is right before God because "everything that does not come from faith is sin"(Romans 14:23).

If after reading this article, you are still not sure if you can attend Movie Theaters or watch television in good conscience, then you should not. My goal in this article is two fold - the first goal is to equip those believers who feel they may watch attend some movies at movie theaters and watch some television shows with scriptural backing against their accusers. The second is to offer an opportunity for those who oppose Movie Theaters or Television to take a step back and look at why they take those positions, and if indeed those positions are based on solid scripture or just prejudice.

In the following sections, we will first consider several arguments against Christians attending Movie Theatres and watching TV. Then we will consider several arguments for Christians to watch Movies and TV. When examining the arguments against movies and television, I will often be quoting from an article by David Cloud, who argues the other side in typical fashion. The full article by David Cloud can be found at WHAT SHOULD I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT MOVIES?

While I list this argument first, in recent years this argument has not been used as predominantly by those who oppose Movie Theatres and TV. There is a reason for this, and that is that the church, for the most part all up until the 20th century was completely opposed to almost all forms of entertainment, not just the theatre.

In fact in the early church, a Christian asceticism(an abstinent life,renunciation of pleasure) took hold very early, within the church. Christians were encourage to seek martyrdom and celibacy was held in the highest regard. Some groups even encouraged married couples to makes vows not to engage in marital relations anymore.

Christians routinely were required to make vows of poverty, and to abstain from public office as well as any kind of military service. Actors when the were converted to Christianity were required to renounce their occupation and never return to it.

The theatre along with the circus, horse racing, wrestling and any sport imaginable were condemned by the Church. All games, not just card games, were consider to be wicked by many in the church. It was not just entertainment, but most secular literature as well, whether poetry or philosophy, all were equally condemned.

This Christian asceticism was present throughout the church all the way up to the end of the 19th century. However, we have much great art from the some earlier centuries, as well as literature and drama from men like Shakespeare and Bach. But we must understand the great works of these men were considered extremely "worldly" but many conservatives of their era.

Only in the 20th century did a glaring double standard appear within conservative Christian circles. Because Billy Sunday was a former athlete, and used sports illustrations in his sermons, professional sports now became acceptable among conservative Christians.

Also some fundamentalist educational institutions(like Bob Jones University) started to incorporate drama into their education, including the works of Shakespeare.

Eventually when theatre was condemned, it now came to mean almost exclusively the Motion picture industry and later it also included television. So in a way, you could consider the prohibitions against movies and TV to be the last remnants of asceticism that began in the early church.

When I read of the asceticism that arose in the early church these passages of scripture came to mind:

"1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. ..3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth."
1 Timothy 4:1 & 3-4

"20Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules:
21"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? 22These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence."
Colossians 2:20-23

"5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.
6Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying,
"Do not go beyond what is written."
Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 7For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?"
1 Corinthians 4:5-7

Many of the early fathers(like some conservative Christians today) were going "beyond what is written" and their rules were "based on human commands and teachings". Certainly some of these rules seem to "have an appearance of wisdom" but since they go beyond the commands of scripture they were destined to perish with time.

The theatre, circus and other such things were very popular in the Apostles time, yet they chose not to issue a blanket condemnation of these and other amusements. The early fathers took it upon themselves to help finish the Apostles work for them, not too dissimilar to what the Rabbis did with the Old Testament in adding all their rabbinical traditions.

Divisions come into the church from conservative Christians as well as from liberal Christians. The only difference is that liberal Christians deny truth that we have directly received from the Scriptures, while on the other side some conservative Christians add rules or doctrines that we have not directly received from the Scriptures, which is equally damaging to Christianity.

1. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me" (Psalm 101:3).

This verse single-handedly forbids the child of God to watch the vast majority of the movies and television programs that are made today. Consider just a few of the wicked things that you or your children will see:

* The breaking of all of God's commandments
* Open and flaunted immorality
* Casual drinking and drug usage
* Drunkenness portrayed as something funny and innocent
* Immodest and sexually alluring dress
* Sexually enticing dancing
* Violence and mayhem
* Casual dating (Parents, do you want your children to date after the fashion portrayed in most movies and television programs?)
* Mockery of the things of God
* Pagan religions depicted as truth
* Occultism, paganism, and New Age error (even in cartoons and in a large number of Disney movies)

- David Cloud   WHAT SHOULD I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT MOVIES?

The first thing that jumped out at me about this list of items from David Cloud is that many of them can be seen at a professional sports game today. I don't know where David Cloud stands on professional sports, but many fundamentalists that condemn movie theatres take their youth groups to professional sports outings. How many of these things will you see at a NBA game, or NFL game or NHL game?

But most fundamentalists who oppose theatres, at least the ones I have spoken with, believe lists like these should be applied more stringently to Hollywood entertainment, and allow for a less stringent application when it comes to watching sports on TV or attending sports in stadiums.

But lets address David Cloud's main argument here, that the Scripture is forbidding Christians to set anything wicked before their eyes.

The first thing to realize about this verse, is that it is not a command, it is a statement from King David about his own life. The next item to consider is what "set" means in this context. If set means to gaze upon and enjoy something evil, as he did when he gazed upon Basheba, I think we all as Christians would all agree that other passages of scripture forbid this for believers.

But David here is not speaking of simple exposure to evil, for evil is everywhere in the world and he was exposed to it daily as we are. I don't even think Mr. Cloud thinks it is wrong for a Christian to simply be exposed to evil.

I am sure in Mr. Cloud's travels that he has seen many sexual billboards on the highways. I am sure that in many gas stations he has entered he has been exposed to pornographic material on the shelves. So I am pretty sure Mr. Cloud is not arguing for simple exposure to the evil of the world, otherwise he would never leave his house.

Paul spoke of this in 1 Corinthians:

"9I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people 10not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
1 Corinthians 5:9-11

Mr. Cloud would argue(like many his camp I have spoken with) that there is necessary exposure to evil, and unnecessary. It is necessary when traveling or getting gas or going about the daily routine of one's life that one must expect to be exposed to evil, of some sort. But these folks who argue against shows and TV would say Movies and TV are unnecessary, and therefore we must apply more stringent rules to these activities.

This idea of more or less stringent rules based on what one considers necessary, and what another considers necessary can be highly problematic, and is not scriptural. We should apply what we believe to be right and wrong equally and the same to all situations in life. Consistency is important whenever we come to a particular standard.

For instance, lets say a Christian is at work with his unbelieving coworkers and they use profanity on occasion, will he quit his job because of this? I think the answer would usually be no. But what if these same coworkers were using foul language every other word and it was a constant problem? He may then speak to them about it, and if necessary go to the authorities at his work to address the problem and if the problem could not be resolved he may look for another job.

What if a Christian were at a professional sports game and the people around them occasionally used profanity? Would they move to different seats or leave the game? Probably not. But if it was every other word and consistent they may seek a different area to sit or they might leave the game.

What about if a Christian is at a Movie Theatre, if there is occasional cusswords here and there in the movie, should they leave the theatre? Many conservative Christians would say yes, but only when it comes to movies. There is a glaring inconsistency here.

Another issue is calling a movie wicked or show wicked, because something in that movie is wicked. It is one thing if a movie is dominated by wicked activities, it is quite another if there are a few things in a movie that are wrong, but overall the movie has most redeemable qualities.

One fundamentalist author, who recently emailed me on this subject, accused me of using "mental gymnastics" to justify movies. In reality I am simply trying to be consistent in my application of the Scriptures, and I will not issue a blanket condemnation of something the Bible does not. It was this author, that was in fact trying to use "mental gymnastics" to justify his attendance of professional sports games as well as having secular literature in his personal library and saying these things were different than attending movies.

So is it wrong for a Christian to be exposed to the sin of the world, whether it be at work, or a professional sports game, or a Circus, or a Movie theatre or on TV? No. The Bible never says this. David is simply saying he would not seek to feed upon or gaze at evil. Are there many movies that are simply filled with foul language and pornography? Yes, and we would agree with Mr. Cloud we should not watch these movies. But if a movie has some cussing or some things that are wrong, but overall the movie's story is good, can it be watched by a Christian? Absolutely.

"3. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them."
(Ephesians 5:3-7).

This is a perfect description of 99% of the Hollywood movies today, if not 100%. It also describes the sensual rock music that goes hand in hand with practically all of today's Hollywood movies. The child of God is not to participate in such things, even by proxy."
- David Cloud   WHAT SHOULD I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT MOVIES?

Ephesians 5:3-7 is actually one of the most popular passages I have heard preachers attempt to use to preach against Movies and TV.

Again, this passage is not talking about exposure to these sinful activities, it is talking about Christians doing these things themselves. Consider this key phrase from the passage - "let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints". This means literally that these things should not be thought of as things that Christians do - that is the whole point of this passage.

So lets take cussing in a movie for example. I have heard many preachers say if there is one cussword we should turn the movie off, after all, "let it not be once named among you", that means one cussword, the movie is off. But that is not what Paul is saying - he is saying people should not think for a moment, that cussing becomes saints. That saints cuss should not be thought by unbelievers - we should not cuss once. He is not saying we should never allow our ears to hear a cussword, else we would have leave the world, and he made clear that was not the case.

Also when we speak of jesting, it is speaking of that kind of jesting which is "not convenient", in other words, out of place. It is not wrong for Christians to laugh or have fun, but these must be done in the proper place at the proper time.

8. "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22).

Not only are we to abstain from evil itself but even from the appearance of evil. Attending the movie theater today has, at best, an appearance of evil, because the vast majority of the movies shown there are morally vile. The same is true for watching most Hollywood movies at home. If our friends see that we watch movies, they will be encouraged to watch them as well, and they probably will not be as "discriminating."
- David Cloud   WHAT SHOULD I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT MOVIES?

I wrote another article on separation where I went into great detail on how this passage is misunderstood in our English language from what it meant in the Greek and even in the old English. The section is at Shouldn't we avoid all 'appearance of evil?

The short answer, if you did not follow the link, is that the correct translation for our modern English of the Greek word behind "appearance" would be "kind" - we are to avoid doing every kind of evil, avoid doing something evil in every form it takes, that is what Paul is saying. He is not saying, if anyone might think something you are doing could be wrong, then don't do it because they might see you.

His argument that if our friends see us watching movies, we may lead them to watch worse movies is extremely faulty. That is like saying if I buy a gun and use it at the target range or for hunting, someone might see me buy that gun and be encouraged to go buy a gun and commit a murder with it. This reasoning falls flat on its face.

9. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. ... It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:19, 21).

Even if I could go to a movie theater and see a movie that was 100% wholesome by biblical standards and not see any movie trailers for wicked movies, I would still be giving a bad example to others. If I go to watch a G-rated movie, I might encourage others to go and watch an R-rated one and thus commit sin against God.
- David Cloud   WHAT SHOULD I TEACH MY CHILDREN ABOUT MOVIES?

I am surprised every time I see legalists like Mr. Cloud quote anything from Romans chapter 14. After all, if you read the whole chapter it really punches a hole in their idea that everyone must have the same standards. Consider Romans 14 with more context:

2One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. 3The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.

4Who are you to judge someone else's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. 5One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind.

6He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord. He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God...

19Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.
Romans 14:2-6 & 19-21

Paul says in the beginning of Romans 14, in regard to disputable matters, that one may be able to do something in good conscience toward God that another Christian may not be able to do. The stronger brother, who recognizes he freedom, must not look down on the weaker brother who does not have faith that he can do a certain activity. I have ran into many Christian brothers, who do attend movie theaters, but do not judge others who do as David Cloud does. The first set of Christians I would never say anything too, as long as they were not judging others who attend theaters.

Paul did not go through the first half of Romans 14 talking of two brothers taking a different stand on issues, only to remove the freedom of the stronger brother for the weaker brother's sake. Paul's admonition of not eating meat or doing anything that would cause the weaker brother to stumble has to do with doing it the presence of that brother. We can see a further explanation of this in I Corinthians 10:

25Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26for, 'The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it.'

27If some unbeliever invites you to a meal and you want to go, eat whatever is put before you without raising questions of conscience.
28But if anyone says to you, 'This has been offered in sacrifice,' then do not eat it, both for the sake of the man who told you and for conscience' sake 29the other man's conscience, I mean, not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience?
30If I take part in the meal with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of something I thank God for?
1 Corinthians 10:25-30

Only if someone in your presence expresses concern over a disputable action are you to refrain from doing it. That would mean if you are with a brother who has a problem with theaters, you should not invite him to one. But we do not have to look over our shoulders and worry that the same brother might see us enter a theatre. That is were Paul's admonition to the weaker brother not to judge the stronger comes in.

Up to this point, I have been addressing attacks on the practice of movie theater attendance and TV watching by Christians. In the next section I want to try and take a more positive look at movies and TV to show not just why Christians are not forbidden from these things, but that we should engage in these activities where the movie or TV show is not filled with or dominated by filth and would not violate our conscience.

20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

Paul speaks of how he is able to come to the cultural level of those whom he is witnessing to, without compromising his own beliefs.

Movies and television play a huge part in our culture. Christians who have no familiarity with TV or Movies will have much difficulty in evangelizing the lost. I had someone email me the other day, who pointed out the inconsistency in how we teach missionaries.

When missionaries are trained to go to other countries, they are trained to recognize the cultural customs of that society and if the custom does not violate scripture in and of itself, they should respect it so as not to alienate themselves from their perspective converts.

Yet many fundamentalist institutions or churches in the United States train their Pastors to take a counter culture mentality here in the United States - at least against art or movies, while sports can be used as an evangelistic tool because Billy Sunday made it ok.

Why can't we condemn the bad things in movies or art, while affirming those things which are in agreement with a Biblical world view?

I have also used movies or TV shows in illustrations when I am witnessing. Sometimes it can be a positive example of someone's self sacrifice, like in Saving Private Ryan. Other times an unbeliever may ask me if I have seen a certain movie, and I will say I have not and will not. Then when they ask me why not, I can explain to them the things in the movie that make it unredeemable for me from a Biblical world view. An unbeliever can learn a lot about the Biblical concept of holiness from such interactions.

Just think of it, when was the last time you heard a fundamentalist Pastor use an illustration from movie? Probably never. But when was the last time you heard a fundamentalist Pastor use a illustration from a professional sports game? You probably have heard such illustrations many times.

11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:11-13

In the ascetic culture of the early church vows of poverty were common. This was considered a mark of spirituality, in fact those who would not give up their worldly goods were often considered to not be true converts.

Paul here tells us that he is able to be content in any circumstances, having plenty or being in need. He says the secret of his contentment is that he can do everything through Christ who strengthens him. So if he is wanting, Christ will give him strength to get through the hard times.

But he also needs Christ's strength to get through the good times - why? Because in the good times he might be tempted to put the pleasurable things he has before Christ. There is nothing wrong with enjoying the time or things God gives us, but we should never put pleasures before God.

How does this relate to movies or TV? It means that there is nothing wrong with enjoying ourselves when God gives us the time or opportunity, and that includes watching TV or movies, as long as those movies are not dominated by filth and do not violate our conscience. Some of our legalistic brethren would have us believe there is always something better to do with our time than watch TV or a movie. There is nothing wrong with watching TV or movies in moderation, just as everything else we do in life should be done in moderation.

In fact TV or movies can be quite relaxing, and help us clear our minds from the hard days work. We can laugh, we can cry, we can have a good time, and we don't have to feel guilty for the time God gives us to relax.

"18 Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him for this is his lot. 19 Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work this is a gift of God. 20 He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart."
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20

This passage from Ecclesiastes continues the idea that Paul was trying to bring out in Philippians 4:11-13, in that it is a gift from God when we can enjoy the fruit of our labor. In fact, Solomon considers it a curse in other passages when a man cannot enjoy the fruit of his labor.

We can go to ball games, or theatres, or art museums and enjoy those things which are not wrong in and of themselves. With discernment, a Christian can enjoy things like movies and television shows in moderation.

First off, we must understand that we can be drawn to a movie or television show for good reasons or for bad reasons. Certainly there are some actions that are always wrong. But other actions can be wrong or right depending on our intention. The scriptures say that God judges our intentions and motives for the actions we take.

"All a man's ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the LORD."
Proverbs 16:2

"Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God."
1 Corinthians 4:5

Is my motive for seeing this show to cultivate a mind set that is pleasing to the Lord? Or is to feed my sinful desires? These are questions we must ask all the time, not just about movies and television shows.

For instance, the man who goes to a NFL football game must ask himself, am I going for the game or I am a going to see drunken females in the stands or to lust after the cheerleaders?

When we watch a show on TV, we must ask ourselves are there any redeemable qualities about this show? Even if there are redeemable qualities are those outweighed by filth in the show? In this case each believer must apply the scriptures, listen to the Holy Spirit and "be fully convinced in his own mind"(Romans 14:5) that he can watch this show.

But what value can a movie or television show have?

Does it make us want to act in an honorable way?
Does it make us want to fight for what is right?
Does it make us want to have compassion for our neighbor who is in need?
Does it make us want to be more faithful to our spouse?
Does this show make us want to better a husband or wife - more sensitive to each others needs? Does it make us want to make a difference in this world?
Does it make us thankful for what we have? Does this show encourage good imagination?

Sometimes movies or TV shows can also show us the consequences of wrong actions. Does this movie or TV program show the consequences of wrong actions? Does this moral of this show encourage us to make better decisions?

As Christians, we are drawn to movies because they make us experience our human emotions in many ways as we laugh and cry and root for the good guy to win over the bad guy. Contrary to what many fundamentalists might think, emotions are not wrong in and of themselves.

In fact in the following scriptures we see many human emotions shown in a positive light:

"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy."
Job 8:21

"a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,"
Ecclesiastes 3:4

" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not mourn.'"
Matthew 11:17

" 18 May your fountain be blessed, and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
19 A loving doe, a graceful deer— may her breasts satisfy you always, may you ever be captivated by her love."
Proverbs 5:18-19

In Matthew 11, Jesus compares himself and John the Baptist to those who play or sing happy or sad music, yet the audience is emotionless - they did not dance and they did not mourn.

What person does not cheer in his heart for the police man who catches a murder or robber? We love it! And there is nothing wrong with those emotions these stories evoke.

What about in the old cold war movies when we saw the American fighter pilot chasing down the Soviet fighter pilot? Or what about when we see the heroic actions of patriots depicted in Revolutionary war movies? We rejoice in the victory of good over evil.

What about courtroom dramas, where a prosecutor brings justice to a rapist? Or how about when Perry Mason used to prove his clients innocent against over zealous prosecutors?

Many stories are just different ways of retelling many things we see in the scriptures, it is the constant struggle of good verses evil and right verses wrong, and the exploration of the human condition.

What about the movies that make us cry? Those movies where people loose loved ones and must continue their lives without them. We weep with those who weep and mourn with those who mourn.

What about romance movies, now I realize that it is often difficult to find them that are not filled with sex scenes, but occasionally we can find good romantic comedies. We laugh at the ridiculous things people do when they are in love.

So while there may be many movies that have too much filth to be of any redeemable value, there still are many that we as Christians can watch, enjoy, and maybe even learn some things from. Many movies can provide us with good talking points to illustrate Biblical principles to our unsaved friends and coworkers and neighbors.

Is it wrong for a Christian to watch movies with excessive violence? The answer to that question depends on if it is violence with a purpose or is it just for the "gore" factor. Let face it we live in a violent world, and sometimes even the good guys have to get violent to stop the bad guys.

David got pretty violent with Goliath when he cut his head off and so did many other characters in the Old Testament. In the book of Revelation we see worldwide violence that makes the movies Independence Day and War of The Worlds look like child's play.

So again, Christians must use discernment in this area, but I think it would be unsupported from Scripture to say a Christian can not read or watch any stories with violence.

While I may have missed some arguments, I think I have addressed most of the major arguments against movies and television shows. Yes we need to be more discerning and vigilant but also understand that there is nothing new under sun believers have had to deal with these things for thousands of years.

Just as a side note, in the Roman shows people actually died, it was not special effects. Often the nudity and the vulgarity of Roman or Greek shows would make many Hollywood movies pale in comparison. Also they did not have the review systems we have today.

You may notice that I did not address the ratings such as G, PG,PG13, and R. The reason I did not is that I have found many times a R movie is more suitable than a PG 13 movie, often times because violent movies get a rating of R.

I think it is more accurate to look at the content of the movie in reviews such as the web sites below. Also most videos today, have a content box that tells you what things are in the movie. I think the only dependable rating is G(for kids) but even then I am sure some people could find some exceptions to that.

Christian Spotlight on Entertainment
Crosswalk Movie Reviews
Plugged In Online(from Focus on the Family)

Also I would also recommend reading another article I wrote on Biblical seperation - it makes a good companion article to this article - Biblical Separation.