Christians can make choices about films

As Christians we have a choice about films. We can try to totally avoid them, or we can watch only the ones we think are suitable for us. We can attack content we don't like, or we can view films and interact with them in a theological way. Jesus taught that we are "salt and light" in out culture, so we feel we should know what's going on in it, and film is big part of that. Films are a great common experience that a wide range of people share, and often we can talk about films with people when there is little else to say to them.

So, it is our position that films have merit and that we should be using them as a tool to think about our faith, and to help other people think about theirs. The merits of a film are not based on their MPAA Rating. There are many G rated films so dreadful you wouldn't wish them on anyone, and some R rated films that are so good you wish they would just cut the vile language or a sexually explicit scene or two so that all could benefit from the compelling stories they tell.

Where does that leave us? It is our view at JesusJournal.com that people should watch the films they want to see. If one gets too offensive, people ought to leave the room if they are viewing the film with others, or turn off the television if viewing it alone. Beyond that, it is important that we engage, from a Christian perspective, the films we view. We need to question what we see, both good and bad, from a biblical perspective. We need to evaluate why various elements are good or bad from a biblical view. This reinforces our Christian values and enables us to speak intelligently when films are discussed by others, both Christians and non-Christians. Films can be a catalyst for both evangelism and Christian growth.

Why we present films as we do

It is with these thoughts in mind that we offer these film resources. We provide a synopsis so you can know what the film is about, but we do not review them. That's for you to do. We do not normally warn you about content since devout Christians have varying tolerances of such things, and so we feel the MPAA rating offers enough information to make your decision to view. We do not rate films (3 stars, 5 stars) as this is a matter of taste and we have no desire to impose our taste on you. You'll know if you like a film or not.

What we have provided is a bit of trivia about each film because it draws people into the film. Most importantly, we supply discussion questions about the films. They are designed for you, your family, your Christian friends (and especially you and your non-Christian friends) to use the films as a launch-pad for a discussion of biblical values. It is our view that seeing a film is not enough -- we must think about what we see, and gain life-lessons through discussion. Films are more than entertainment. They are a gateway to understanding for all of us, and they can be a tool for reaching people for Jesus Christ.