S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Movies are a powerful medium, and they have a profound impact on culture. And the sad truth is that many movies these days, including those outside the scary "horror" genre, are either completely a...

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July 01 2013 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Shanna Duck "Let a search be made in the royal archives..." Ezra 5:17 NIV

It's always hard to make a huge generalization like this, but in general I'd say that 99% of modern horror movies glorify one of the following: murder, senseless violence, demonic activity, or occultism. All of these are things that God dislikes and are clearly evil. 

That being said, there is also a contrasting modern undercurrent in some Christian circles, however, that wants life to be made of pink spun-sugar and considers it un-Christian to even suggest otherwise. Some people even misunderstand the "spirit of fear" mentioned in 2 Tim 1:7 (KJV) to mean that we should never watch or read something that makes us "afraid."

Honestly, this would mean you could never really read the Bible. The Bible, while it contains stories suitable for children, is REALLY a book for grown-ups. God purposefully did NOT sugar-coat it. If you're ever in the mood for a real "horror" story, all you have to do is start reading in the Old Testament. There is rape, murder, cannibalism, child-sacrifice, dismemberment, torture, famine, and more. The difference, however, is that while the Old Testament simply RECORDS these activities as lessons in how not to live, it does NOT glorify them or make them a source of entertainment as do our modern horror movies. 

God does NOT want the mature Christian to be naive about the depths to which unsaved human nature will descend.. When we overly romanticize or gloss-over events such as the Crucifixion or deny the real sufferings and horror that sin can cause, we are short-changing ourselves and sometimes even denying ourselves a real source of comfort. I am reminded of Corrie Ten Boom's sister, Betsey, who was strengthened during a humiliating prison experience by remembering the fact that Jesus had probably hung naked on the cross. Her situation was grim, and she was encouraged by the fact that she was privileged to suffer as Christ had suffered. This is real, authentic Christianity, not the milk-and-sugar Christianized doctrines often served up today for mass appeal. 

The difficult part, as with all of theology, is to walk the fine line between obsessing over the dark things of Scripture and completely denying that they exist. We constantly have to strive to find a balanced view. 

And, yes, It would certainly be possible for there to be a "horror" movie that would be completely Christian or at least moral and educational in its message. Unfortunately most of the ones today probably don't fit that bill. (Don't feel bad, there's probably a lot of "romantic comedies" that aren't really edifying for Christians, either.)

January 06 2014 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report

Lori Chute

This is just my perception: Whenever you open your door allowing such a thing into your home it may take up a resting place there. If one would not participate in a satanic ritual then one must not bring that into their home by watching such in their home.

*** 2 John 7-11 reads: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward. Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds."

*****Demons can actually draw power (and legal right) from nearby cursed objects, such as idols, occult items, satanic rings, and even demonic photos. It is vital to rid a home or land from such items before dedicating it to the Lord and driving out the unclean spirits. The Bible lets us know clearly that physical items can indeed carry spiritual value:

Deuteronomy 7:26, "Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing."

February 11 2017 • 1 response • Vote Up • Share • Report