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Shall We See the Show?
There is a very popular illusion among modern Christians that an acquaintance with the theater and motion pictures is vital to a proper appreciation of cultural values and a necessary adjunct to our witness in the present day. Several generations ago, serious Christians of virtually every denomination regarded theater-going as a sign of acute moral decline. They saw the theater as a vehicle for the enactment of some of Satan's most deceptive allurements.
The theater glorifies human passions, placing them in the most spell-binding, sympathetic light, thus making fallen man seem like a hero, even in the midst of his moral squalor. Lust, violence, greed, and depravity of every type form the stock in trade of nearly all theatrical plots. Stories are presented which awaken powerful sympathy for debonair scoundrels who sin with elegance, ease, and cool indifference to moral values.
The ancient Greeks, who developed the dramatic art to a pitch of aesthetic perfection rivaled only by Shakespeare in a much later age, recognized the spiritual source of their inspiration. The patron deity of the theatrical arts was Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry. Greek playwrights recognized that while the senses were being intoxicated by spectacular plots, mesmerizing impersonations, and passionately beautiful language, the moral faculties of their audiences were as pliable as clay in the hands of skilled potters. The tastes of the people and their ultimate concepts of life were molded by these poets and actors, who in a sense became the "unacknowledged legislators of the world." So it is today. The theater seldom offers high art from the literary standpoint, but a very advanced technological order of the visual and auditory arts serve to benumb and imbrute the moral nature of those who behold these bewitching productions. Ungodly, spiritistic ideas, both subtle and crude are powerfully disseminated through this medium in our time. The cinema has become one of the handiest, most potent tools of antichrist's realm. Television has made it possible for nearly all in the Western world to erect in their homes a modern altar to Baal, which both speaks and projects images to give hell-bound direction to the masses who come to pay homage at the flickering shrine of the father of lies.
Many Christians, fast losing all qualities that would warrant their holy designation, are beguiled by the Serpent into thinking that the theater is a valuable means of obtaining informative views of the world they are called to evangelize. With equal validity we could plead for believers to become drunkards in order to more understandingly guide the alcoholic into a life of sobriety. Only those who are crucified unto the world and the world unto them are on vantage ground to pull anyone out of the swift, wild current that is rushing multitudes to ruin.
Yet many Christians today defend movie watching or take it as so acceptable a part of life as to not even need defending. Any contrary view is regarded as the pinnacle of prudery, a classic symptom of fossilized Victorian morality. The power of man's unregenerate mind to justify error and rationalize away truth is almost infinite. He receives this ingenuity from the enemy of his own soul. Yet none need be hopelessly ensnared by the lie of the first actor, the prince of dramaturgy, who captivated Eve's mind and senses with his cunning, colorful masquerade and persuasive script of specious reasoning. The wisdom of man and the philosophic repartee of Satan is foolishness with God.
"The world is a theater; the actors, its inhabitants, are preparing to act their part in the last great drama." (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 8, p. 27).
"Everyone has his individual tests and trials in the drama of life, but the very same trials seldom come twice. Each has his own experience, peculiar in its character and circumstances to accomplish a certain work. God has a work, a purpose, in the life of each of us. Every act, however small, has its place in our life experience. We must have the continual light and experience that come from God." (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 3, p. 541).
This true life drama in our brief lives has no time or allowable entrances for indulgence in worldly diversions and fictitious entertainments. Nor need we stumble into the insidious error that "Christian" drama is a legitimate spiritual aid, a true stimulus to sanctification. In such works spiritual themes may be addressed, but the story itself will almost always predominate in interest over the moral. A perverted appetite for fables and entertainment is thereby cultivated and soon the taste will lapse into a craving for ever more pungent and sensational material. The mind becomes inebriated with a love for the imaginary and eventually God will cease altogether to be in the reckoning of those who worship at the altar of entertainment.
The sure standard by which all the pursuits and productions of this world may be measured is the life of Christ. In His example and teaching there is no inconsistency. All may ask themselves individually, 'Does this program or play comport with the spirit and teaching of Jesus, Who is set forth an example, that I may follow His steps? In accordance with the standards of Phil. 4:8, is it true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, praise-worthy? Does it glorify God?' Whatever deviates from this sure and perfect standard is contrary to the principles of Heaven. Only those who have committed themselves to a life of strict integrity for Christ's sake will have the discernment to recognize God's clear counsel. Their prayer will be "Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity" (Psalms 119:37).
This is not a question of gaining the acceptance of other people. We must each give account of ourselves to God. There is no protection in running with a multitude to do evil. Many in that multitude wear the insignia of Christ, while spurning His cross as well as their own. In the pure light of eternal judgment there is no defense for fashionable sins, no matter how widely accepted those sins may be even in the Christian community. When we are finally asked by the voice of God to produce our cause and bring forth our strong reasons, the plea of popular custom will seem dismally weak.
If a snake slithers into the sanctuary of God, it is not thereby sanctified. So it is with the ways of the world, which have sinuously intruded into the church. No prolongation of their stay, no confident assurance of their welcome, can make them holy. They, like the snake, must be expelled rather than adopted with fraternal tenderness. But if men are too cowardly, corrupt, or confused to take the right action, God Himself will cleanse His temple. The only safe example is Christ. "I am the light of the world," He declared, "he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." John 8:12.
What then of movies, of theatrical entertainments in any form or on any recorded medium, what objections do we raise?
The Immorality of Their Themes. Seldom do film scripts or stage plays present high and holy themes, and even those which purportedly do, generally mix in profane and lascivious scenes to hold the interest of unspiritual watchers. In the theatrical arena we find portrayals of almost every way of life and belief except that of Christ, and even when Christ's life is treated it is seldom with reverence or true understanding.
"Many of the amusements popular in the world today, even with those who claim to be Christians, tend to the same end as did those of the heathen. There are indeed few among them that Satan does not turn to account in destroying souls. Through the drama he has worked for ages to excite passion and glorify vice." (Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 459).
Of few productions, perhaps of far fewer than one in a thousand, could it be said that the fitting superscription over every act and scene is 'Holiness Unto the Lord.' Even when crime and vice are not displayed in their most fascinating features, man's own mock goodness is exalted. He is made a stoic hero, an existential idealist who builds not on the foundation of Christ, but on the craggy yet crumbling base of his own fabricated virtues. Thus Christ is denied in one of the most brazen and arresting ways.
The Non-Reality of the Enacted Scenes. As realistic as they may often be, theatrical shows do not portray genuine life. The scenes depicted may be based on current or historical events which have actually occurred, but they are still fictitious re-enactments embellished with many devices designed to captivate the attention and engross the senses. The exciting and memorable images linger in the mind long after the show has ended, thus distracting attention from Christ and the interests of His kingdom. How often have we all heard people give animated descriptions to their friends of all that they have seen in a recent show. Their thoughts revolve like satellites around the fables that hold them in thrall. This fact is especially alarming in light of the prophecy which forecasts a time when people "will not endure sound doctrine, ...but shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." 2 Tim. 4:3,4.
Pretended Emotion of the Actors. Actors must school themselves to love and make a lie or they could not convincingly portray the variety of characters they are called on to impersonate. They are not in a position to keep the counsel, "Let love be without dissimulation." Rom. 12:9. Whether they are called to depict saints or scoundrels, because of their habitual feigning of character and emotions actors seldom have a deep reverence for God and His truth. Their mode of life is generally unstable and often sordid. To patronize their performances ill-comports with the Psalmist's declaration and vow:
"I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers." Psalms 26:4.
"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." Psalms 101:3.
Consumption of Time. What a sad dissipation of the blood-bought moments of our spiritual probation to be watching or listening to anything that does not tell unambiguously to the glory of God. We are not our own; we are bought with a price. Therefore, we are to glorify God in our bodies.
None have so much leisure time that they can afford to spend it in activities that do not nourish the soul or contribute to the well-being of others. A mature Christian does not need to be entertained, but he does long to serve his Master in the continuously unfolding real-life drama of people around him who need Christ's salvation. Motion pictures and live drama not only rob us of time, but also of the inclination to win souls. "
-- for of whom a man is overcome [including in his time and attention], of the same is he brought in bondage." 2 Peter 2:19.Even if the entertainments we choose are of the highest grade, depicting men and women engaging in the holiest and most profitable of activities, would not the frequent viewing of such representations serve largely to take the place of our own involvement in evangelism and real works of benevolence? We cannot go on errands of mercy while we are watching actors engage in make-believe scenes of noble doing. So far from acting being a stimulus, such entertainment proves to be a sentimental substitute for actual participation in the work of God.
Soon enough the longest-lived of us come to the end of our days; shall we not redeem the time in fruitful labor?
"Help the class you represent in plays. Come to the reality. Give your sympathy where it is heeded by actually lifting up the bowed down. Satan's ruling passion is to pervert the intellect and cause men to long for shows and theatrical performances. The experience and character of all who engage in this work will be in accordance with the food given to the mind."
"The Lord has given evidence of His love for the world. There was no falsity, no acting in what He did. He gave a living gift, capable of suffering humiliation, neglect, shame, reproach. This Christ did that He might rescue the fallen." (Ellen G. White, Manuscript Releases, vol. 2, pp. 246-247).
Their Deadening Effect on Spiritual Tastes. The mind accustoms itself to the ideas and stimuli on which it feeds. By beholding the world and its follies we become conformed by insensible degrees to its spirit.
"Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame." (1 Corinthians 15:33, 34).
Do we want our characters to become fashioned in any degree by the minds of movie-makers? Let us remember that a little leaven leavens the whole lump, just as a little poison pollutes the whole cup. Whatever does not enrich our fellowship with Jesus diminishes it. If it does not gather with Him, it scatters abroad. Abstinence from movie-watching removes a major impediment to the communication of Heaven's light.
"Among the most dangerous resorts for pleasure is the theater. Instead of being a school for morality and virtue, as it is often claimed, it is the very hotbed of immorality. Vicious habits and sinful propensities are strengthened and confirmed by these entertainments. Low songs, lewd gestures, expressions, and attitudes, deprave the imagination and debase the morals... There is no influence in our land so powerful to poison the imagination, to destroy religious impressions, and to blunt the relish for the tranquil pleasures and sober realities of life than theatrical amusements. The love for these scenes increases with every indulgence, as the desire for intoxicating drink strengthens with its use. The only safe course is to shun the theater, the circus and other questionable place of amusement." (Ellen G. White, Testimonies, vol. 4, pp. 652-653).
Contemporary entertainment mediums that today go beyond even modern TV and movies, offer a far more depraved sort of entertainment than the above counsel describes concerning theatricals in Ellen White's day.
Their Inculcation of Ideas That Are Contrary to Scripture. This process is usually blatant but is sometimes subtle. The message of modern entertainment is not the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14:7, "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come," but, in effect its very antithesis, 'Revere self and give glory to it, for the hour of its gratification has come; and worship him who does fleshly exploits to the dishonor of divine law and the abuse of all creation.' The majority of television and movie house fare thus presents a standing declaration of war against the gospel, a war which will end in the final and complete extinction of all the forces of determined apostasy. "Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up." Matthew 15:13.
I think it is only fair to mention that the objections stated here would not be applicable to instructional movies for professional or other practical purposes that have no fictional plot. Examples of this kind of material would be educational films on crafts, sciences, and nature. These would not be classifiable with the productions of fantasy and fiction.
The Misleading Influence of a Christian's Indulgence in This Form of Entertainment. Even if a Christian is extremely selective and sparing in the movies he watches, his influence on others is somewhat similar to that of the moderate drinker on the person inclined toward alcoholism. The restrained use of the one gives license to the unbridled indulgence of the other. Many weakminded, halfhearted professors of Christianity would say, 'Oh, I know some very godly people who occasionally watch movies, therefore I see no harm in this practice.'
But, "they do not discern that these entertainments are really Satan's banquet, prepared to keep souls from accepting the call to the marriage supper of the Lamb" and to "prevent them from receiving the white robe of character, which is the righteousness of Christ." (Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers, p. 85). Thus, tranquilized in conscience, they watch on, taking in show after show, without moderation or discernment.
Therefore, the safest, most socially redeeming course for the Christian who wishes to bear the seal of God on his forehead, is to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity; to give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine, to the exercise of his spiritual gifts for the benefit of mankind, to meditation on spiritual themes, and to give himself wholly to spiritual interests, that his profiting may appear to all. (1 Timothy 4:12, 15).
While all the world is addicted to sensual, turbulent amusements, God's faithful stop their ears from hearing of blood, and shut their eyes from seeing evil. Instead, they keep their minds in the love of Christ Jesus and their eyes shall see the King in His beauty. They shall behold the land that is very far off, even the Paradise of God, in which they have prepared to dwell. (Isaiah 33:15,17).
The deeds of all such are immortalized not on perishable celluloid, but in the chronicles of Heaven, to the everlasting glory of God and the benefit of all creation. Shall we not choose this destiny and turn away from the specious images of man's art, to contemplate the eternal wonders of things which are not physically seen but are vividly portrayed in God's Word and revealed to us by His Spirit?
Brian Jones, September, 1989.
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