Avoiding Raunchy Movies Doesn't Make You Legalistic

[Qnts2]

Qnts,

 

You asked/said this..

Why do you have an urge to look at a depiction of God? What does it mean to you?

 

If God says do not take the Name of the Lord in vain, does it hurt to take His Name in vain? Many might argue that it doesn't hurt. But, it is against what God commanded. So if God said to not make an image, and we do, what does it hurt to have one and look at it?

 

The command against this is repeated in every covenant, multiple times through out scripture. Now, I was raised to view this as one of the strongest and most weighty  of the commands, because it is repeated so often in scripture. Not to get drunk or drink excessively is in scripture a few times, but not to make images is repeated over and over and over. Few Christians would say it is ok to drink alchohol excessively and I have heard many sermons against drinking, but then why do so many ignore this command which is repeated far more times in OT and NT?  Why do the churches which preach against drinking setup manger scenes on their church property, or have pictures/false images of Jesus in the building?    

I Personally think we need to remember the times in which these scriptures were recorded....there were many images being made by many  different religions, you need to keep things in there proper context(not in as YOU Qnts..this is generic).....

 

I've seen with my own 2 eyes people get 9 kinds of irriate over somebody wearing a cross around their neck......graven image..

Not to me,mine represent's the LOVE and Sacrifice poured out for me.

 

I'm going to tell you a true story,to illustrate my point here....

 

about a week before my dad passed away in 2008, he had been hospitalized for i thought was pneumonia (his cancer had returned, he knew that, just didn't tell us...)..any way it was the night of the superbowl, i was with him keepin him company....he needed to rest, his body was so tired..but he seemed afraid to fall asleep...his body was shaking..everytime he closed his eye's..he'd jerk awake..

 

one of the times that he did manage to doze off, his body was still trembling... i turned away.....

one the wall of his room was a cross with JESUS on it.....my eyes fell on this cross...and my thoughts began to center i was so worried about my dad that i hadn't been able to think.....part of me just wanted to run and i couldn't figure out why??... you see i had been praying for decades that when my dad's time came i didn't want to know when, were or how, my prayer was LORD just prepare me before hand.........and as far as i knew at that time he just had pneumonia ......

 

anyway my eyes landed on that cross...my thought's began to center as i silently prayed 'Father GOD please stop these tremor's, his body's so tired and he needs to rest in order to have the strength to fight this"......i turn my head back to my dad......his body was still..no more tremor's......

 

Now was i praying to a graven image...NO!..I was praying to GOD...that crucifix onthe wall was just a reminder THAT GOD WAS RIGHT THERE IN THAT ROOM...PEROID...

I stayed awhile longer, then decided to leave because I knew my dad wouldn't really rest as long as i was in the room...so i told him i needed to go and make supper for my family.....i hugged him, i could feel the tears starting to well up in my eye's..i didn't want him to see me cry.....so i got to the door and turnedback to throw him a kiss....he looked at me..said "I LOVE YOU BABY" I told him i loved him too...

Those were the last words that he was able to speak.....a few hours later they had to put a tube in his throat.....a week later we lost him.....i'll always be greatful to GOD for using that crucifix to remind me....THAT HE IS!!

 

Manger scenes are to HONOR CHRIST and what HE did for us all.....I see nothing wrong with that at all.......

 

EASTER we go to sunrise services and worship at the foot of a cross.....graven image..hardly...

 

It's giving HONOR TO CHRIST For WHAT HE DID FOR US All......showing our graditude......

 

i'm not worshipping those 2 hunk's of wood....I'm worshipping the one who hung on those 2 hunk's of wood for me..peroid.

 

wanna know what i get angry  about???

those folk's that wanna send us the miracle making blessed prayer cloth.....or the letter's that state that the HOLY SPIRIT gave them my address... seriously????.. really????..

then why is it adressed to occupant??

send a little money there's a tax on jESUS.....

that's what  get's my dander up.....hypocrites..liars thieves........babes in CHRIST that just don't know any better..the elderly being scammed.... these bottom feeders are hurting them.....set's my hair on fire!!!

 

so in conclusion... my honest opinion is simply this..if your additudes right.....these so called graven images.....molten idol's....are nothing more then reminders of GODS GREAT LOVE for us all.

Ok.

 

In my opinion, if God says not to make an image, it is not honoring Him to do what He says not to do. If I go to a bar, and every time I take a drink, I do it in honor of God, but God says don't get drunk, in my heart, I might think I am honoring Him, but I am not.  

 

I don't want to take away from your experience, but, pagans do not necessarily pray to the images. Many use the images to focus. The images represent their gods.  

 

A cross is not an image. An image is an image of something on earth or in heaven. A square is also not an image, or a triangle.

 

As far as Jesus, all we know is that He was not handsome, or beautiful. We can assume He looked Jewish. Most images or pictures of Him don't look Jewish. In most He looks more Roman or Scandanavian, with soft long blondish hair, watery blue eyes, with no real focus as if looking off in a distance. He is neither angry or laughing.  But has an other worldly look, as if He is not connected.

 

Chances are, Jesus was from the tribe of Judah, and people from the tribe of Judah are typically short, dark slightly curly hair, middle eastern coloured skin, etc. But, scripture does not give us a description that we can use to picture Jesus physical body. And no one carved or painted a picture of Him. (Of course, being Jewish, they wouldn't have done this). So God did not provide us with any real description to use to make an image.  

 

Again, this prohibition is also in the NT.

 

Acts 17:29

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.

 

I understand that these images have been a Christian tradition for years, and most Christians have been raised with images. But, it is one of those traditions which are not biblical in my opinion. Some traditions are not in scripture either for or against, but this one is in scripture, against it, not to do it.    

[Qnts2]

Just wanting to add some more thoughts. The original post was about raunchy movies, that not seeing them is not legalism.

 

I agree. Somethings are personal. What I consider raunchy is my view. And a movie is raunchy if it effects me in a negative unGodly way. 

 

Generally, I do not consider something as legalistic if it is personal conviction. But when a personal conviction is then made into a law which everyone must obey, then that is legalism. An attitude of I do things Gods way and if you do not do it like me, you are sinning.  

 

However, there are laws given by God, and the NT does say to judge and deal with this as a group. I think the only law given by God which is generally ignored is the one against making images.  Making images is does not include taking pictures with a camera. That is ok, although some groups discourage that as leading to vanity.

[coheir]

 

the rules, guide lines and laws I go by are all in the New Testament so the Deu verse does not apply.

 

For your consideration.

 

 

From the New Testament.

 

 

Matthew 5

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

 

18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

 

19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them,he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

 

 

Something to think about regarding the OT.   

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Thanks.   

 

I agree with v 18; I look at it like this

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would be rejected and many would stay under the old law; hense v 18

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would  need to institute the new law that was not as burdensome hense gal 3:24-25

[Guest man]

 

I agree with v 18; I look at it like this

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would be rejected and many would stay under the old law; hense v 18

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would  need to institute the new law that was not as burdensome hense gal 3:24-25

 

 

 

What exactly is this "new law"?

[Fez]

I agree with v 18; I look at it like this

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would be rejected and many would stay under the old law; hense v 18

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would  need to institute the new law that was not as burdensome hense gal 3:24-25

 

 

What exactly is this "new law"?

Yes I would like to get your take on this as well. My thoughts are that Christ came to fulfill the law, not bring a new one? Or is that what you mean?

[Qnts2]

 

 

the rules, guide lines and laws I go by are all in the New Testament so the Deu verse does not apply.

 

For your consideration.

 

 

From the New Testament.

 

 

Matthew 5

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

 

18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

 

19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them,he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 

20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

 

 

 

Something to think about regarding the OT.   

 

----------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Thanks.   

 

I agree with v 18; I look at it like this

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would be rejected and many would stay under the old law; hense v 18

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would  need to institute the new law that was not as burdensome hense gal 3:24-25

 

When Jesus came to earth, He came as a child of Israel, and the children of Israel had been given and were under the Mosaic covenant and law. Jesus was under the Mosaic law as a Jewish person.

 

The Jewish people who were at Mt. Sinai to receive the law said they would do all that God says for their entire lives, and the Mosaic law was given to their descendents for all generations for their entire lives. Violating a covenant/contract doesn't release you from the obligations of that covenant/contract, but instead you incur the penalty while still being obligated to the original agreement. The way I see it, Jesus kept the Mosaic law perfectly, and in His death burial and resurrection, made a way for the Jewish people to accept the New Covenant. Jesus kept the law perfectly, then paid the penalty, died and was resurrected. In Him, we also died (we've been crucified with Christ) and resurrected to a new life.

 

In verse 18, Jesus is talking to fellow Jewish people who were obligated to the Mosaic law, and not one jot or tittle was done away with. They are still obligated, even though they have failed.

 

Of course, even if non-Jews were not given the Mosaic covenant, there are laws which applied to all people, which of course were broken. Jesus fulfilled these laws also. Died and rose again.

 

But what about the OT?

 

2 Tim 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

 

All scripture includes the OT. While not all directly applies, it is still given by inspiration of God and has value. What becomes more difficult is taking what is written in the OT, and deciding what applies today. I know some people who say that the Mosaic law applies to believers, except for the sacrificial laws and the Levitical priesthood. I disagree strongly, as the laws are a shadow, and the law is also very specific who they applied to. Some say the only laws which apply to believers come from the NT. I'm not sure I agree. I know many of the laws in the OT are repeated in the NT, but are there some which are only in the OT which apply today?

[Qnts2]

 

 

I agree with v 18; I look at it like this

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would be rejected and many would stay under the old law; hense v 18

God new before he sent Jesus to earth he would  need to institute the new law that was not as burdensome hense gal 3:24-25

 

 

What exactly is this "new law"?

 

Yes I would like to get your take on this as well. My thoughts are that Christ came to fulfill the law, not bring a new one? Or is that what you mean?

 

I just asked the same question, but in a much longer way.

 

I think Jeremiah 31:31 is the starting place.

 

Jeremiah 31:31

³¹ Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:

³² Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:

³³ But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

[gdemoss]

Jesus was the express image of his person, which word has a basic meaning of 'of standing' or 'confidence' or 'substance', it speaks of strength or power but in this particular instance it points to the very fact that Jesus was God in the form of man, which would truly have little affect upon his appearance except that which we have seen in the scriptures that tells us he was not attractive.  I believe the former was done out of humility but my main point is that when it comes to an image in the likeness of a human that is made to represent God, it cannot if it is based upon a visual representation.  The physical attributes of Jesus are attributed to his being human not God.

[RustyAngeL]

I too have made the decision not to watch movies that show all the explicit sex or use the Lords name in vain.  I looked through my collection of DVD's and have gotten rid of several of them like 15 or more.  However I have seen some movies advertised on TV that are coming out in theaters and I have to ask how they come up with the rating of PG13 and not R.  So I pick and choose them very carefully.  I can't even remember when I went to a theater to watch a movie.  I believe it was Seabiscuit.  I just can't stand the filth that they want to show.  I have seen some movies advertised with demons and devils with so much violence it would make your skin crawl.  No as I said I pick my movies very carefully.  I think every Christian should ask themselves is this somewhere  they would want to be if Jesus were to come back at that moment.

[nebula]

I too have made the decision not to watch movies that show all the explicit sex or use the Lords name in vain.  I looked through my collection of DVD's and have gotten rid of several of them like 15 or more.  However I have seen some movies advertised on TV that are coming out in theaters and I have to ask how they come up with the rating of PG13 and not R.  So I pick and choose them very carefully.  I can't even remember when I went to a theater to watch a movie.  I believe it was Seabiscuit.  I just can't stand the filth that they want to show.  I have seen some movies advertised with demons and devils with so much violence it would make your skin crawl.  No as I said I pick my movies very carefully.  I think every Christian should ask themselves is this somewhere  they would want to be if Jesus were to come back at that moment.

 

I read the reviews from Plugged In and Christian Spotlight On the Movies before deciding on what films to potentially watch and to avoid. They do a good job at presenting what is "good" (wholesome, Biblical, etc.) about a movie and what is "bad" (vile, offensive, unbiblical, etc.).