The Clipboard: How to Analyse a Movie

Christians should disdain passive, couch potato’s strategy for watching a movie and instead adopt a pre-emptive, culture changer’s battle plan. I have listed some basic steps that you can take to develop your own battle plan for taking on films.

Preparation

Read a review of the movie before you watch the movie for several reasons, (a) Know what topics you will address and maybe gather some additional resources to support your case and (b) Make sure that you are not open the doors of your home to a spiritual Trojan horse. I have found Plugged In Online reviews to be systematic and do an adequate job of providing a heads-up.

During the Film

Wear the Play/Pause button out! Any opportunity to point out positive and negative elements in the film should be seized with gusto. Field and encourage questions from the audience to clarify issues. This is your opportunity to offer your own commentary that can involve biblical principles, filming techniques, and behind-the-scenes information.

After the Film

Discuss the movie as a whole, looking at the major themes and the ultimate message the directors and producers tried to communicate. Compare your analysis to any reviews you read before watching the movie. You could have your family compose their own review of the movie.

The Clipboard: Silver Screen Threat

When a Christian normally approaches a film to ascertain its ability to provide wholesome entertainment for the whole family, the typical investigation consists of reading the short descriptions of the film or seeing a trailer and the all important MPAA rating check. Thankfully, many families will go the extra mile and read a review performed by a Christian or family organization. However, it today’s culture Christian need to go farther than these steps if they truly desire to ensure that their children are not negatively impacted by the images that flash before their eyes. Not only do families need to do their homework before they watch a film, but also the homework during and after the film.

I am glad to note that most Christians are quite able to identify and debunk the filthiness of Hollywood. When worldviews involving socialism and evolution appear, we can immediately identify, explain, and instruct those around us in the way of truth. Many Christian organizations are able to provide excellent guides to avoiding movies that contain foul language, immorality, and unjustified violence. Not all organizations provide helpful counsel, sometimes even showing favor to movies that strike against God and the family. Many films contain ideas and implied assumpstions which will slowly erode the foundations of the Biblical family.

In some ways a G or PG rated film can be just as dangerous as a more mature film. Why? First, Christians have accepted the world’s standard for grading a film and just assume that the film is okay to watch and immediately lower their guard. Secondly, due to this absurd level of trust, we let their values trump ours if you just make rules that involve ratings to determine what is viewed in your home. The G or PG rating gives a false sense of security, lulling the Christian into a philosophical slumber. I do not advocate watching mature rated films just so that you are forced to be on your toes, but I am arguing that we need to always be on guard. Movies like Princess Diaries 2, analyzed at the 2009 San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival (SAICFF) arguably can be one of the most cleverly concealed and damaging movies for the family.

Next week I will post a short guide on how to analyze a film, providing you with a guide to forming your own battle plan to avoid passively viewing a film.

The Clipboard: Gossip

One way type of damaging communication is gossip. Gossip presents a great threat because of several reasons. First, it is difficult to control our tongues (James 3:5-8), secondly, it is easy to let information slip out, and, finally, people just like to give their opinion.

Why do we gossip?

• To boost our ego by showing others that we have the scoop
  
• To elevate ourselves by putting others down (Pharisee v. Tax Collector)
  
• A desire to bring dishonor or make fun of someone

What the Bible says...

He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (Proverbs 20:19)

...he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction. (Proverbs 13:3b)

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)

Application

As we go about our daily lives we need to think through our words carefully. My pastor provided several questions that you can use for self-examination.

1. Do we have all the facts?
2. Do I know what I am being tempted to gossip?
3. If I need to say something, am I talking to the right person?
4. As a listener will I make the decision to quit enabling the one who gossips?

I hope this information has been helpful, I would highly recommend examining the articles and messages that I have linked to in the Resource section of this post.

Resources

Westminster Confession on Gossip

The Plague of Talebearing within the Christian Community

You can download my Pastor's sermon on "Gossip" by choosing either mp3 or the Windows Media Stream here or you can download the sermon by right-clicking here and hitting "Save Link As..."

You may also want to purchase the Vision Forum's message Gossip: The Plague of the Church (CD Version, MP3 Version)

The Clipboard: The Words We Choose to Use

Regrettably, our culture has become littered with filthy language. The decline of vocal purity displays the impact that culture has on communication as the meaning and implication of words make a myriad of tongue twisting obstacles for speech. Today I would like to address a biblical approach to what words we chose to use, expanding on a point that Anthony mentioned last week. I would like to begin by noting an interesting definition of profanity:

Profanity thus includes filthy speech, false swearing and cursing, and also polite and courteous speech and action which is outside God and which does not recognize His sovereignty (R.J. Rushdoony, Institutes of Biblical Law, Vol. 1, Pg. 107)

We will now look at what Scripture says about foul language and euphemisms.

Scripture

The 3rd Commandment

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. (Exodus 20:7)

To take the name of the Lord in vain is to commit blasphemy and to profane the name of the Holy.

Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you, (Leviticus 22:32)

We should not swear by anything according to the words of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount.

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Matthew 5: 33-36)

Euphemisms

Regrettably, due to social pressure many people use euphinisms for profanity. These so-called minced oaths, Christian curses, or sentence enhancements do nothing except reveal the heart of the black tongued speaker.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. (Luke 6:45)

It is important to note that we will be held accountable for every word.

But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. (Matthew 12:36)

Summary

We can see that both minced oaths and outright profanity is to be avoided. I have listed some discussion points and questions that may spur some conversations.

• What motivates people to use profanity?
  
• What are some examples of worthless or idle chatter that is present in our culture?
  
• How can we encourage edifying speech?
  
• Do you or your family have certain standards for speaking?

The Clipboard: Basics of Christian Communication

A key element of Christianity is the communication of the God's Word, I would like to briefly address some of the basic goals that Christian need to have in regards to conveying precious treasure of wisdom that only Scripture offers.

Proclaim the Word

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:19-20)

We are charged by Christ to teach all nations, specifically to observe the commandments found in Scripture. We must use the Scripture as the foundation for what we say.

Always Ready to Give a Reason for the Hope Within

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. (1 Peter 3:15)

The Christian communicator must be prepared (always!) to be able to defend his faith. At the end of 1 Peter 3;15 we see that there is a exhortation to convey this hope with meekness and fear. I will address meekness later in this mini-series, but the principle of Godly fear when expounding upon Christianity is essential to our approach.

Fear of the Lord

It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble. (Luke 17:2 NASB)

When I am instructing others from and about the Scriptures, my one of my greatest prayers is that I do not cause my audience to "stumble." I cannot not stress enough the sobriety that every Christian should have when he approaches the podium. Do not take the mantle lightly!

As we have learned today, the Christian as he fulfills his commission to communicate the gospel, must always be ready to provide a defense of his faith always keeping in mind that he should approach his office with desire to submit to Christ and His Word. I look to forward to explaining many of these issues in more detail in the coming weeks.

What Kind of Christian are You?

What kind of Christian are you? A recent article by Christianity Today explained some research they gathered on the types of Christians that exist. According to this research they specified five types of Christians :

1. Active Christians
2. Professing Christians
3. Liturgical Christians
4. Private Christians
5. Cultural Christians

Their definition of “Christian” is large based upon a person saying that they are a “Christian” as opposed to know them by their fruit (Matthew 12:33)

The Biblical analysis of their description of Active Christians vs. Cultural Christians:

1. Believe salvation comes through Jesus Christ vs. Favor universality theology/Do not view Jesus as essential to salvation/Affirm many ways to God

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

2. Committed churchgoers vs. Little outward religious behavior or attitudes

Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

3. Bible readers vs. Little outward religious behavior or attitudes

But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. (Psalm 1:2)

4. Accept leadership positions vs. Little outward religious behavior or attitudes

This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (1 Timothy 3:1)

5. Invest in personal faith development through the church vs. Little outward religious behavior or attitudes

But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. (Hebrews 3:13)

6. Feel obligated to share faith; 79% do so. vs. Little outward religious behavior or attitudes

But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: (Galatians 1:15-16)

These characteristics describe 19% of 1,000 "self-identified Christians," essentially 190 people. All Christians should either be or on the road to becoming similar to the people in this side cut of America's Christians. While not an exhaustive list of the facets of a Christian life, we can learn some of the basic parts of approaching our daily walk.

You may read the full article here, I will note that I disagree with several statements in the commentary, but the whole article will provide useful information regarding the condition of the modern church.