I am a movie fan; and like many of you tonight, I am one of millions who are watching the Oscars on ABC-TV. There was some coarsed notes in the program so unnecessary when saluting the artistry of men and women - all the gifts and talents come from God above. One of the reasons why Christians have to be careful about what they watch on television and in the movies is because of the disrespect Hollywood shows to The Lord and to His Son, Jesus Christ and the work of the Cross and the vile and wickedness propelled in film and television desecrates the humanity that God created to be a reflection of Him. This is why those in the media have to be careful about the images they choose to portray - does it remind us of the wonder of God in making this world and the gift of life He gives us, or does it make us sick, depraved and away from the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ?
Even some of the commercials in between the Oscar's show was a bit much - I have personally made a decision to ban most of television because of its carnality, lust and wickedness - demonic and not the type of images that keep my mind on the Lord. However, there were some moving moments in that I saw three movies that were celebrated: Lincoln, Les Miserables and The Life of Pi. All of these movies brought about a dignity to humanity except for a few scenes and in particularly, the disrespect to God's name in Lincoln which was totally intolerable, there was something to grab from these films in seeing how God can send a message through sinful man about who He is; how He works in history and throughout humanity to redeem us.
Lincoln tells the story of a man chosen by God who was not a confessed Christian, was chosen to keep our nation whole and to set my people free. It was his calling. Les Miserables, a story by french author, Victor Hugo, tells the story of one man's brutal imprisonment and the grace and mercy of a preacher who gives him a chance to be redeemed by God - "I give your soul back to God". That one act of mercy from a Christian to a man without hope was a witness of the mercy of God who cares about broken and disenfranchised people. God who embodies mercy is shown in this story on film over and over again as we see the life of a former convict who shares the mercy God gave him to others. And then we have The Life of Pi which testifies of the Son, Jesus and of a young lad of India while surrounded by false religion finds Jesus and through finding Jesus, survives tradegy and learns about himself in the process.
Yes, Hollywood has a responsibility to choose to do films that are noble, that feeds us with images of God's redemptive power through humanity. Besides the glitz and glamour of the red carpet, gowns and music, Hollywood film-making can be a tool to lift people up out of despair, to share hope to remind us of how great God is and how He wants to live in every man.
I cannot say I will stop watching movies (yet), but some of the films of the year may be memorable on this basis. I also believe that more accountability is expected. Hollywood has an opportunity to deliver movies of nobility minus the uncleanness and sin. Good movies with content that inspire us to look up to God through Jesus Christ will live on and instill values that change culture and ultimantely, our world.
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