Poll #2 - R-rated movies
So what do you think? Should you recommend R-rated movies to your brothers? There’s some that have gotten quite a bit of notice in men’s circles. Movies like Braveheart, Gladiator, We Were Soldiers, etc.
If you haven’t voted yet, go to www.disciplemen.com to cast your vote. (If you’re reading this post after October 9, it’s probably a different poll by now…so go vote on that one!)
Post your comments. We want to know what you think! Please, keep it civil, but keep it honest. 
September 30, 2006 at 12:47 pm
Proverbs 4:23 -27 is clear. I challenge all to look this up and ask the Lord to teach you what these versus mean to us as men in modern culture.
October 1, 2006 at 2:00 am
Although most R rated movies are not something I would share with any of my brothers, there are some exceptions as long as the men are mature enough to handle the violence or language that may be included. For example, the Passion of the Christ was rated R. Other movies, such as Gladiator, may have lessons learned, or a message that is very positive, violence not-withstanding. I believe that a ministry leader must have a discerning heart to know what is acceptable, and what is not.
October 2, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Randy makes a good point… Here is Proverbs 4:23-27
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level [b] paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
A few verses earlier, it talks about drinking “the wine of violence.” Interesting, huh?
On the other hand, some of the most violent literature you can read is in the Old Testament. So Bob’s point about the message being communicated has some scriptural reference as well.
Keep the comments coming!
October 2, 2006 at 10:58 pm
If you are truly brothers you know what to recommend and what not to recommend. Recommendations to friends is somewhat different. You probably should not recommend R rated movies to acquaintances.
October 5, 2006 at 9:11 pm
Be careful not to use the world’s rating system to judge morality, especially from a place like Hollywood!
Perhaps a good question to ask is:
How holy do you want to be?
1 Cor. 6:12 says “All things are permissible, but not everything is beneficial.” Gal. 5:13 says that we have the freedom to choose, and I believe that the question is not so much a matter of right or wrong, but “how holy do you want to be?” Personally, I would rather err on the side of being too puritan, for “the measure you use, the same will be measured to you.” (Matt. 7:2).
So, feel free to watch whatever you want, but remember that God calls us to a life of holiness and perfection (1 Pet. 1:16 and Matt. 5:48), and we will be rewarded (or punished) for all that we do.
October 13, 2006 at 3:26 pm
I’ve got several comments, two directly about this topic and one related.
First, I find that the violence is not the worst thing encountered in movies. It is the non-stop sexuality, sometimes done very subtly, that is the problem. Although we may not register it consciously, I believe that the sexuality pervasive in movies (as well as on TV and most printed advertising) is very dangerous and damaging.
While the Bible may describe some very violent acts, it does not show the violence in graphic detail, and does not enhance the images or results of the violence. Indeed, for most of the violent acts desribed in the Bible, I think a lot of detail is left out, for us to fill in if need be, to understand the might and power of the Lord.
One final note, while I greatly appreciate Randy directing us to Proverbs, I wonder at his use of the word “challenge”. A quick keyword search of five translations of the Bible shows about 8 places where “challenge” is used, and none of them are positive. Randy, wouldn’t you rather exhort us all to seek the Lord’s teaching and wisdom?
have a great day, Brian
October 19, 2006 at 11:39 am
This could be compared to not eating meat in front of your brother, if it will cause him to stumble. There are too many other sources to entertain etc than to flirt with R rated movies. We need to spend time supporting things that are wholesome and above reproach. Instead a lot of christians like to see how close they can get to the things of the “world” . this is dnagerous and leads men away from a Holy pure life. i dont care how “good” the movie is etc. We need to honor God in every area of our life and this includes what we choose as enteratinment. We are to be example to our brothers, families and the world. What example are we sending our children when we try to justify these movies etc. Kids need absolutes not gray areas. Stand firm.
Romans 12:1
October 19, 2006 at 9:27 pm
Brian,
Well said. My choice of using challenge is wrong. My heart is right, just wrong wording. The word implore or beseech would do better. Thank you for keeping me on my toes.
Look up my friends!Remember that Mat 24:12states: And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. Garbage in, garbage out.
Randy Fall
October 23, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I have a hard time with the ratings system to begin with, since it was created by non-Christians and even G rated movies lately have had content I wouldn’t dare let my kids watch. So, simply using the ratings is next to impossible.
I do a lot of work with John Eldredge’s “Wild at Heart” material. We use “Braveheart” and other movies that have been rated either R or PG-13 for content, language and/or violence. We don’t watch the whole thing, but use portions for effect to show biblical examples of behavior and life. If you don’t watch R rated movies, you may miss things like this.
When I look at a movie, my decisions are purely on content. You usually can tell what’s in a movie just by watching the 30 second commercial or seeing the poster at the cineplex. For instance, I want to see “Flags of Our Fathers”, the new movie about Iwo Jima. Knowing WWII history like I do, I am aware of what I’ll get going in…lots of war violence. If I think anything different, I’m blind or dumb. Maybe both. If I go to a movie with the latest Hollywood starlette, do I think there’s a chance she’ll either turn up naked, or barely clothed? Bet on it.
I personally go to, maybe, one movie a year in the theater, though I’ll watch DVD’s or movies on TV or cable. Most are not worth a Christian’s time. But some content is important, to shape a Christian worldview. That can happen in an R rated movie. So we shouldn’t be so quick to just write them off. Remember, “Passion of the Christ” was rated R. Seems sad to miss an important movie that many non-Christians saw and were moved by, giving us an opportunity to share His love, just because of a letter slapped on the marquee.
October 24, 2006 at 1:33 am
I like Randy’s approach. It would not hurt any one person if they never watched another movie the rest of their life! What if we totally submerged ourselves in studying the scriptures…memorizing the scriptures, becoming “sold out” to nothing but God! I wonder how many movies Smith Wigglesworth watched? Just one person with outrageous testimonies not so long ago.
November 21, 2006 at 3:42 am
Interesting topic. What does rated “R” really mean. Currently I am going through the Bethel Series and the Old Testement certainly has rated R material. However, there are lessons to be learned. We are to be in the world and not of it. We can’t hide from everything - just watch the news each day. To use the term “every” rated R movie is a little tough. To be careful in using movies with a message to be learned is something different. I guess you really have to know the heart of the person you are suggesting a rated R movie too. I would say each situation is different and requires discernment.
January 9, 2007 at 9:06 pm
I am new to this site. I like it.
Seems like a lot of points are valid here on the subject of rated “R” movies. I am not clergy. However, I am a fellow brother in Christ. Praise God for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. He has been weeding stuff like rated “R” movies out of my life for a while now. I take them with a grain of salt. I consider the message, then consider viewing.
I used to be desensitized to much of the violence and sexual images in movies. However, He has been convicting me of what I am watching for the sake of my children. I have realized most of the stuff was not “permissible,” nor was it “beneficial” for me or my family.
I think if it is not appropriate for childern, then it begs the question, “Is it appropriate at all?”
January 10, 2007 at 6:58 pm
I believe that certain R-rated movies like Braveheart have redeeming value. One should always know the entire content & context of a movie before recommending it to a friend. One should be extremely selective in recommending R-rated movies because the “envelope is being pushed” further & further.
THANKS for all you do for Men’s Ministry.
Please look at our upcoming Maximum Man Conference in Jackson, TN. Feb9 & 10th
Ron McSwain
September 20, 2007 at 3:51 pm
290154687607
listing brought me to check out many blogs
November 11, 2007 at 7:21 pm
What is violence or immoral behavior? I can say for myself, but should I make that call for a brother? -Can I know where a brother is at with pornography? (Will Playboy push him over the edge, or would it take Hustler?)
-Can he handle violence against men, but not women? Violence can be psychologically damaging.
Ratings are skewed and not always accurate, (and not just about sex.) Think long and hard before you give your endorsement of a movie, and do it one-on-one, not a broadcasted statement to entire group.
Jamin Mayer (above 01/09/07) has the right idea:”…if it is not approriate for children…then is approriate at all?”
November 12, 2007 at 6:52 pm
In The ‘Old Testament’, violence was part of the law. In the New Testament, turn the other cheek is Jesus’ commandment. It is us who are required to walk on God’s road, not our own. Matt 26:52 (NIV), Jesus was arrested at the garden of Gethsemane and a disciple cut off the ear of a high priest’s nephew. Jesus stated “Put your sword back in its place, Jesus said to him, ‘for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.’” Somewhere, the violence being taken in by the eyes, the body will be filled with darkness. Luke 11:34 (NIV), “The eyes are the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is fill with light, but when they (your eyes) are bad, your body also is full of darkness.” If we as christian men continue to fill our eyes with R rated movies, our body will soon be full of darkness. If our body is full of darkness, we separate ourselves from the Lord. If we are separated from the Lord, death would be upon us. However, I do not consider The Passion Of Christ in the same box as all other R rated movies that do not try to replay events from the bible. The movie code rates The Passion Of Christ as ‘R’. If any of us could expierence the whole event from start to finish, what our eyes would behold would have been unbearable to watch. The only thing I can say about any kind of violence, that it helps me to understand more what my Lord Jesus Christ went through for me to have the opportunity to have eternal life with Him. Praise the Lord for the violence on Jesus. I have stop viewing ‘R’ rated movies myself. I do not want the enemy to have a crack in that door. Priase God for all comments, I just made the choice I know I needed to do so I can grow closer to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Bob Street
February 4, 2008 at 6:39 am
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