Watching the Manchurian Candidate tonight has provoked thoughts as to what Christians should watch. After watching the movie, I went through Philippians 4:8 and reflected on not just the words but the meanings of the Greek words in that verse. The result is the following from the definitions of the words. I didn't make it up. God sets the bar really, really high. I just wonder - what in Hollywood now days conforms to that? Especially the meaning of the word pure (exciting reverence, chaste, modest, clean). I think I'll be doing some praying and studying over this issue. I don't want to fill my mind with that that is not honoring to the Lord.
“I will set before my eyes no vile thing.”
~ Psalm 101:3 NIV
Standards for entertainment (from the NASB Strong's edition)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB
Whatever is true . . . (Truth is the Greek word alethes)
Is it loving the truth? Speaking the truth? Truthful?
Whatever is honorable . . . (Honorable is the Greek word semnos)
Can it be venerated for character? Is it honorable, of people and deeds?
Whatever is right . . . (Right is the Greek word dikaios)
Is it righteous? Does it observe divine laws? Is it upright, righteous, virtuous? Does it uphold the commands of God? Is it innocent, faultless, guiltless? Is it approved of or acceptable of God?
Whatever is pure . . . (Pure is the Greek word hagnos)
Does it excite reverence? Is it venerable, sacred? Is it pure from carnality, chaste, and modest? Is it pure from every fault, immaculate? Is it clean?
Whatever is lovely . . . (Lovely is the Greek word prosphiles)
Is it acceptable? Pleasing?
Whatever is of good repute . . . (Good repute is the Greek word euphemos)
Does it sound well? Does it utter words of good omen – or speak auspiciously?
If there is any excellence . . . (Excellence is the Greek word arête)
Is there a virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action? Is there virtue and moral goodness? Is there moral excellence, such as modesty and purity?
Anything worthy of praise (Praise is the Greek word epainos)
Is it commendable or praiseworthy?
Dwell on these things . . . (Dwell is the greek word logizomai)
Reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over, take in account, make account of, reckon with, to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, deliberat, to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on, to suppose, deem, judge, to determine, purpose, decide.
~ Psalm 101:3 NIV
Standards for entertainment (from the NASB Strong's edition)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. Philippians 4:8 NASB
Whatever is true . . . (Truth is the Greek word alethes)
Is it loving the truth? Speaking the truth? Truthful?
Whatever is honorable . . . (Honorable is the Greek word semnos)
Can it be venerated for character? Is it honorable, of people and deeds?
Whatever is right . . . (Right is the Greek word dikaios)
Is it righteous? Does it observe divine laws? Is it upright, righteous, virtuous? Does it uphold the commands of God? Is it innocent, faultless, guiltless? Is it approved of or acceptable of God?
Whatever is pure . . . (Pure is the Greek word hagnos)
Does it excite reverence? Is it venerable, sacred? Is it pure from carnality, chaste, and modest? Is it pure from every fault, immaculate? Is it clean?
Whatever is lovely . . . (Lovely is the Greek word prosphiles)
Is it acceptable? Pleasing?
Whatever is of good repute . . . (Good repute is the Greek word euphemos)
Does it sound well? Does it utter words of good omen – or speak auspiciously?
If there is any excellence . . . (Excellence is the Greek word arête)
Is there a virtuous course of thought, feeling, and action? Is there virtue and moral goodness? Is there moral excellence, such as modesty and purity?
Anything worthy of praise (Praise is the Greek word epainos)
Is it commendable or praiseworthy?
Dwell on these things . . . (Dwell is the greek word logizomai)
Reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over, take in account, make account of, reckon with, to reckon inward, count up or weigh the reasons, deliberat, to consider, take into account, weigh, meditate on, to suppose, deem, judge, to determine, purpose, decide.
2 comments:
I think we are responsible to consume mass media with "God goggles" on. I mean that we are supposed to view everything through eyes of faith. It is also good to engage in critical thinking about what we watch. There are good movie reviews that incorporate theological reflection about most new movies. These may help you choose substantive movies and orient your viewing toward a few key themes.
There is also a big difference between a director whose intention is to lead people to accept immoral behavior and a good director who does an accurate portrayal of an immoral character who utters falsehoods.
I try to ask myself "What is the director trying to say to me" when I watch movies.
Another idea I picked up somewhere along the way is that I as a viewer am responsible for the way I respond to the movie. I am just as much a "maker of meaning" as the producer of the movie.
Remember also to notice the word "dwell"; these good things are our home, our resting place.
Just because we might see something during the day that offends us doesn't mean that we should throw up our hands and run away in horror, it simply means that we don't make that thing into something that's comfortable for us, something that's home, or our "dwelling" place.
If you read the verse the other way ("see no evil"), you'll spend your life obsessing over all of the different sins in the world and how you can avoid them. I would guess, no wait, scratch that, I know that this state of paranoia does not make for a good relationship, neither with God nor our fellow man.
Does any of this make sense? Do you think any of it is true? The only reason I have so many opinions on this subject is that I've been thinking about it a LOT recently. But, like I say, these are only opinions; I could be 100% wrong.
Anyway, I'm only a newcomer and have far over stepped my boundaries, sorry!
I'll try to be quite now!
(By the way, I like your blog name; “Till We Have Faces” is one of my favorite books! OK! I'm stopping now!)
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