TEXT: I John 2:15-17 = Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Philippians 4:8 = Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

INTRODUCTION:  In the last 15-20 years we have seen a major shift of morals and values in the average fundamental Baptist church.  Things that were at one time commonly seen and preached as Biblically wrong are more and more accepted – both in the congregation and in the pulpit!!

The New Evangelicals have invaded our Fundamental churches with their false views of “legalism” and “liberty”.

As we have said before, the church today is where the world was 20 years ago --- and we are on a slippery slope downward!  The reasons =    

1. Deterioration in “Christian” homes

2. Deterioration in the pulpit!

3. Deterioration in enforcement of standards in Christian leaders.

In this church we try to preach, teach, and explain Biblical standards of separation!  We try to take I John 2:15-17 seriously.  You may not do what is taught; but you can’t say you haven’t been taught.

HOWEVER… for all the leaders of the church… we expect you to maintain high standards of Biblical separation!  You are a leader!  You are an example.  We expect more from you than the average church member!

Why have standards in the 1^st place?

1. God requires high standards for church leaders because they are examples for the congregation.
2. God requires high standards for church leaders because they represent the church in the eyes of people in the community.  The church as a whole will be judged by the lives of its workers.
3. God requires high standards for church leaders because of the powerful influence they have on the students. The students who sit under the influence of these teachers are impressed more with their teacher's lives than with their words.  The students will be more inclined to follow the example of their teacher (whom they know well) than the preaching of the pastor. If their teachers are worldly, the students will be doubly encouraged to go in that direction and they will be even more worldly than their teachers.
4. God requires high standards for church leaders because high standards for leaders helps raise and maintain high standards for the entire church.
5. God requires high standards for church leaders because high standards challenge Christians to higher living; instead of lower living.
6. God requires high standards for church leaders because high standards challenge new members and also provide teaching opportunities to instruct them in holiness.
7. God requires high standards for church leaders because it will encourage and support families who are also striving to maintain high standards. It is a tremendous frustration for a family to have high standards if workers in their church do not have the same standards. It reinforces their position.
8. God requires high standards in order to obey I Thes. 5:22 = “Abstain from ALL appearance of evil”
9. God requires high standards for church leaders in order to help steer our young people away from the world!  If you are in the typical church today (including many independent Baptist or fundamentalist ones) your kids are surrounded by young people who are deeply compromised with the world, whose chief goal in life is to have fun, who think a shallow devotional and a quick prayer sanctifies every sort of carnal behavior and redeems the complete waste of countless precious hours in this fleeting life. They are just as sports crazy as the world, just as fashion conscious, just as ignorant of sacrificial Christian living and service.
10. God requires high standards for church leaders in order to keep us separated from the world and preserve our church for future generations!

HIGH STANDARDS EXPOSE THE HEART ATTITUDE.

1. Those who love the Lord are sensitive in regard to anything and everything that would affect their testimony for Him and their fellowship with Him.
2. Those who love the Lord are also submissive to authority. The Bible says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you" (Heb. 13:17). Those who love the Lord are not stubborn toward their pastors. They have an obedient spirit.
3. Those who love the Lord are also careful about how others are influenced through their behavior. We have liberty in Christ, but we don't have the liberty to sin.

SO… what about the movies?? Is it alright for a Christian to attend the theater? Is it a place where a Christian mom or dad should take their family? Is it a place where Jesus would go – if He were alive on earth today? Is it alright to go to the movies as long as we only attend “good” movies?

OPENING ILLUSTRATION: We hear a lot of argument about good movies – and people will try to tell me that “G-rated” movies are good for the kids; BUT CONSIDER THIS: Are there any G-rated movies in any public theater that are teaching Biblical values?  NO

EXAMPLE: of black, tan, white, and off-white pieces of paper. When you hold these papers up against one another your eyes can begin to play tricks on you. For example, against the backdrop of the black paper, tan does not look so dark and the off-white can appear to be pure white. However, when you hold the tan and off-white pieces right next to the pure, bright white paper you can easily see which paper is truly white.

What can we learn from this illustration? Sometimes people will say that certain practices (such as the theater) are “not-so-bad”. Of course, what they are doing is comparing the “off-white” to the really dark page. What we need to do is evaluate all of our entertainment practices against the purity of Jesus Christ.

We know these movies are NOT teaching “Biblical values”, so why do we go? We feel they are harmless entertainment!! BUT… are they really harmless?

When you hear the word "Hollywood", what images pop into your mind? Famous faces? Pompous people? A widely publicized sign overlooking Hollywood? Fast living - drugs, violence, sex? Spiritual darkness?

Does anything remotely “Biblical” or “spiritual” come to your mind when the word “Hollywood” is mentioned? If not, why are we exposing our families to the influence of Hollywood?

What is the goal of Hollywood??????

(Baptist Press / AgapePress) - Christians aren't the only ones who preach. Hollywood does it too, and with great effect. This was no where more clearly seen than in two men who won Oscars at the Academy Awards on March 5, 2006. George Clooney and Ang Lee both made a point of saying that movies can and should advocate for causes that the rest of the country may not support.

In the acceptance speech after winning the Oscar for best actor, Clooney celebrated the disconnect between his own liberal views and the views of mainstream America. "We are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood every once in a while," he said. "I think it's probably a good thing…”

 In Ang Lee's long list of "thank you’s," he expressed gratitude to the homosexual characters in Brokeback Mountain.

"First of all, I want to thank two people who don't even exist," he said. "... Their names are Ennis and Jack. And they taught all of us who made Brokeback Mountain so much about not just all the gay men and women whose love is denied by society, but just as important, the greatness of love itself."

In so many words, Ang Lee is very clear that he intends for this story to teach viewers. He aims to teach all of us about the "cruelty" of society's stigmatizing homosexuality. As far as Ang Lee is concerned, mainstream America still clings to outdated sexual mores and ideas about gender, and he means to change that with movies like Brokeback Mountain.

Make no mistake; Hollywood doesn’t mean merely to reflect culture in their movies, but to shape it.

A top network executive speaking under condition of anonymity said this. "We give people what they want, and I don't see any new shows about going to church," "Americans like their sex hot, their violence cartoonish, and both consequence-free."

Dennis Franz, star of "NYPD Blue, said this: "These fringe-right bomb-throwers have got to get the message that regular Americans love half-naked sluts and rapid gunfire…"

Hollywood has ALWAYS been a promoter of immorality, violence, and unbelief!!  From the very beginning of moving films, Hollywood has promoted immorality!!  Throughout the 1920’s and 1930’s, the majority of films were racy and “edgy”.  There were “suggestions” / “rules” about what was considered to be wrong – BUT there was no organized way to enforce the rules.

The landmark Miracle Supreme Court decision of the early 50s declared that films were protected as 'free speech' by the First Amendment to the Constitution, and most censorship was ruled unconstitutional. In a remarkable 9-0 decision, the Supreme Court decided that the New York Board of Regents could not ban Roberto Rossellini’s short film The Miracle (1952, It.) (AKA Il Miracolo) under regulations barring 'sacrilegious' films. (This decision overruled the 1915 Supreme Court decision in Mutual Film Corp. v. the Industrial Commission of Ohio that since moviemaking was a business, films didn't qualify for the same First Amendment rights as other forms of expression.)

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS:

1. Hollywood does not have the best interest in mind for your family!
2. Hollywood does not have the best interest in mind for your sons and daughters!
3. Hollywood does not have the best interest in mind for your own marriage.
4. Hollywood does not have the best interest in mind for your family’s values!
5. Hollywood does not have the best interest in mind for our country’s morals and values!

The entire medium of entertainment (theaters, games, television)… is being used to destroy our nation more than anything ever invented by man.

Night after night, millions of Americans sit glued in front of their television sets while the sewer of the world of entertainment is dumped into their home via TV. Even more, every weekend, multi-millions of people pour into theaters across the country and pay to get themselves and their families brainwashed and corrupted!

This garbage is no longer offensive to most people, but it is deadly to their moral and spiritual health.

What kind of filth is Hollywood pouring into our homes and hearts???

• Adultery, fornication, drinking, taking dope, smoking, and every sordid sin is now portrayed on the screen in a favorable way.
• Endless numbers of programs have shown prostitutes as heroines and pimps as heroes.
• Homosexuals are made heroes or portrayed in such a way as to drum up sympathy for them.
• Murder and stealing are often portrayed in a favorable light.
• Guns, knives, and other weapons are used illegally,
• Break-ins and assault are demonstrated for inquiring young minds to learn the techniques.
• The detectives and policemen who seemingly, in the programs, seek to catch the crooks, are themselves usually portrayed as committing adultery or fornication.
• Even films about animals are filled with evolution and animal-rights propaganda
• ALL the kids on the G-rated films are disobedient and disrespectful – and they turn out to be the heroes!
• NOT one God-fearing person on the Hollywood screen is going to be portrayed in a favorable light!!
• The comics and the cartoons are filled with violence, cruelty, and outright sadism.
• But preacher, the SPORTS are good!! Yes, tell us about the sports. Multitudes of professing Christians sit at home on Sunday and watch Christian (?) athletes play ball, when all of them should be in the house of God. All of America is hooked on the ball games and the season never ends. They bounce it for part of the year, they kick it for part of the year, and they hit it with a stick for the rest of the year. For 365 days, no holiday, patriotic day, or holy day is sacred anymore. Brutality, poor sportsmanship, fighting, and vile language are all a part of the game. And more than likely, the whole program will come your way sponsored and paid for by some rot-gut brewery that is out to instill the habit of drink in the minds of you and your children.

TELEVISION IS BAD ENOUGH

• Television has destroyed family life.
  • There is no time for the family to read the Bible and pray together.
  • There is no time for meaningful conversation and it has destroyed communication between parents, and between parents and children. I
• Television is the great time waster, and it helps to keep people from reading helpful books and materials.
• Television has become the baby-sitter in the average home and is used to keep the children quiet and entertained.
  • Those who ought to know say that by the time a child reaches the age of 17 they have, on the average, watched 17,000 hours of television.
  • All who have so done will be affected in a bad way, some will be deeply scarred, and many will be completely destroyed by this monster.
  • If a child went to Sunday School every time for 17 years, that would only be about 737 hours. It would be our guess that the average child will spend much less than 400 hours in Sunday School in 17 years.

EXAMPLE OF HOW ENTERTAINMENT INFLUENCES KIDS: According to the LAJ (4-2-81) a young actress by the name of Jodie Foster played the part of a 12-year-old prostitute in the movie "Taxi Driver." In that film, Travis Bickle writes a letter to the prostitute just before leaving home with the intention of shooting a political candidate. He doesn't succeed.

In real life, John W. Hinckley, Jr. wrote a love letter to actress Jodie Foster who played the 12-year-old prostitute in the film. That letter was found in his hotel room and was dated the same day he shot President Reagan and three other people. In the letter Hinckley said, "There is a definite possibility that I will be killed in my attempt to get Reagan." After expressing his love to her, he said in closing, "Jody, I'm asking you to please look into your heart and at least give me the chance with this historic deed to gain your respect and love." Yet, Hinckley had never met her personally.

Where did he get the idea for what he did? He got it from the movie, of course. And frankly, we fear that this is only the tiny tip of the iceberg. One Texas Tech law student who grew up with Hinckley in Dallas said, "He didn't like to play baseball. All he did was sit inside in the air-conditioning watching TV."

HISTORY OF THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS: Dramatics and theatrics are a very ancient practice, long preceding the crucifixion of Christ.

THE THEATER WAS IN BUSINESS DURING JESUS’ DAY:

About 2 B.C., Herod Antipas initiated a huge reconstruction project in Sepphoris, a town just 3.7 miles away from Nazareth. It was to be the seat of government for Galilee and Perea, and the construction would continue for more than three decades.

Sepphoris is mentioned nowhere in the Bible, but it was of major importance in Judaism of that time. Archaeologists have uncovered many things here, not the least interesting of which is a theater with a seating capacity of 4,000, patterned after the theater of Marcellus in Rome.

Theaters were an integral part of the Mediterranean landscape especially after Alexander the Great. Greeks brought their culture with them. There were theaters in Samaria, Jerusalem, Scythopolis, Caesarea Maritima, and in Sepphoris, among other places.

NOW… (There were theaters all around Jesus during His life) …Did Jesus attend the theater?

1.      In the only glimpse of Christ’s boyhood life, we find Him in Jerusalem (where there was a theater) and instead see Him in the Temple!

2.      Christ did use a word that was related to the theater. The word “hypocrite” was the word which referred to actors. Christ NEVER used this word in a favorable manner!!

3.      Neither Christ, nor Paul, nor Peter addressed this issue directly (BUT… they never addressed slavery either); BUT… many of their converts and early church leaders did:

WHAT THE EARLY CHURCH TAUGHT ABOUT THE THEATER:

Lesson from John Chrysostom (349-407)  He ministered in Antioch in the early church. 

·         After a tumultuous horse race held on Good Friday, attended by many Christians, he delivered a sermon “Against the Games and the Theatres.''

·         In his sermons, he denounced abortion, prostitution, gluttony, the theater, and swearing.

·         He sometimes became discouraged: "My work is like that of a man who is trying to clean a piece of ground into which a muddy stream is constantly flowing." BUT…He continued preaching against the great public sins.

·         In a sermon against the theater, for example, he said, "Long after the theater is closed and everyone is gone away, those images [of "shameful women" actresses] still float before your soul, their words, their conduct, their glances, their walk, their positions, their excitation, their unchaste limbs … And there within you she kindles the Babylonian furnace in which the peace of your home, the purity of your heart, the happiness of your marriage will be burnt up!"

For Chrysostom and nearly all his contemporaries the theatre is the temple of the Evil One, and all who frequent the theatre thereby acknowledge him as their master.

At an even earlier date some of the very early Christian councils had dealt with the subject. (BEFORE Catholicism had evolved)

·         At Elvira in Spain, about A.D. 302, it was decided that actors might be baptized, but only on condition of their giving up that way of life.

·         At Arles in 314 theatrici and agitatores (actors and charioteers in the games) were declared excommunicate.

·         Somewhat later the Synod of Laodicea directed that the clergy who were present at wedding festivities or banquets ought not to remain for the plays that might be performed afterwards.

·         At Hippo in 393 it was forbidden that the sons of bishops or of ecclesiastics should be present at plays or give them. With regard to actors it was decided that, if they wished to become Christians, their baptism need not be postponed indefinitely.

Theophilus, pastor of Antioch, who lived in the second century, said this:  "It is not lawful for US (Christians) to be present at the prizes of your gladiators, lest, by this means, we should be accessory to the murders there committed. Neither dare we take the liberty of attending on your other shows, lest our senses should be polluted and offended with indecency and profaneness. We dare not see any representations of lewdness. They are unwarrantable entertainments; and so much the worse, because the mercenary players set them off, with all the charms and advantages of speaking. God forbid that CHRISTIANS, who are remarkable for modesty and reserve, who are bound to enforce self-discipline, and who are trained up in virtue, God forbid, I say, that we should dishonor our THOUGHTS, much less our PRACTICE, with such wickedness as this.”

Tertullian [140-230 A.D.], The Shows, chs. 21, 17)
"The father who carefully protects and guards his …daughter's ears from every polluting word takes her to the theater himself, exposing her to all its vile language and attitudes." He asked rhetorically, "How can it be right to look at the things that are wrong to do? How can those things which defile a man when they go out of his mouth not defile him when going in through his eyes and ears?" (Matt. 15:17­20).

Lactantius [260-330 A.D.], Institutes, Bk. 6, Ch. 20, paraphrased
"I am inclined to think that the corrupting influence of the stage is even worse [than the influence of the arena]. The subjects of comedies are the deflowering of virgins or the loves of prostitutes.... Similarly, the tragedies parade before the eyes [of the audience] the murder of parents and acts of incest committed by wicked kings.... Is the art of the mimes any better? They teach adultery by acting it out. How do we expect our young people to respond when they see that these things are practiced without shame and that everyone eagerly watches."

LISTEN: For 1800 years, faithful preachers have been preaching against the theater!!  I have copies of two great messages against the theater:

Samuel Miller (1812)

Billy Sunday (“Theater, Cards, and Dance”) (1930s)

NOW… let me ask you this: Have the movies and theaters changed? Have they cleaned themselves up? If it was wrong for 1800 years, it did not become right when Walt Disney came around in the 1950s!!

WHAT IS THE ISSUE?  The issue is the theater / the movies. The issue (ALSO) is the Video Rental Store. The issue ALSO is DVDs, VCRs, and TV. The issue is Video Games, Computer Games, and the Internet. Is media entertainment (in any form) good for my Christian life? Does it help me spiritually, emotionally, and mentally? Does it make me a better Christian?  Does it help my family? Should I not rule out any form of media entertainment that is not spiritual and helpful?

3 Major Principles for ALL entertainment:

1. DOES IT VIOLATE GOD’S WORD?
   
   This first test should eliminate nearly every snare in which Christians enslave themselves. All too often, we excuse the sin content and allow our lust for pleasure to override our desire to please God by being holy. We would know peace, God’s blessing, and increased victory over the flesh if we would simply cease from anything that glorifies, promotes, or uncritically portrays sin.
   
   You’ve heard the excuses and have used them yourself, “Well, it’s just imaginary…well, it’s just a little bit of foul language…well, we fast forwarded through the fornication part…well, those imaginary enemies deserve to be blown to shreds …”

No story-line, no matter how interesting, emotionally engaging, or visually satisfying should so capture our hearts that we indulge in sin to find out what happens. When God is against it, let’s not excuse it.

     2.    HOW IMMERSIVE IS IT?

Does your hobby, relaxation, or activity so consume you that you don’t think about realities? Just because my flesh likes it, just because it’s “fun,” does that make it OK? No! Even if the content weren’t sinful, I just won’t play a game that is going to keep me immersed for hours at a time.

If the form of escape you are pursuing is so immersive you are not fellowshipping with God while you’re doing it, stay away from it. Psalm 10:4 describes the wicked as, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” Let’s not get trapped imitating this sinful behavior by keeping God afar off in our thoughts.

3.   HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE?

Doesn’t God’s Word command us to be “redeeming the time”??!

There’s nothing wrong with a change from the ordinary, with relaxation or recreation. Jesus told His disciples to come apart and rest awhile. But, relaxing ought not be our primary goal. Do we need to spend two or three hours a night relaxing?

Our minds and bodies need proper amounts of rest and recreation; however, we are NOT resting properly when our minds are occupied with the media. Sitting in front of the television is NOT what Jesus had in mind when He commanded the disciples to come apart and rest for awhile.

Also, we have distorted the concept of what is proper “recreation”.  Recreation is NOT mindless entertainment. The design of recreation is NOT to kill time, but to refresh the mind, body, and spirit.  Unfortunately, our concept of recreation is to “crash” and waste precious time!! Proper recreation should involve stimulating and interactive activities and hobbies.

Are we training our children to live for pleasure? Our churches would be revolutionized if everyone joyfully served God a few hours a week and spent their free-time pursuing that which will equip them to be more useful to themselves, their family, and their Savior. Your family would be changed if you would invest your creativity into combining Christian service with joyful family time.

I suggest you spend more time each day or week reading the Scriptures than you spend watching TV, reading novels, or playing games. To do otherwise, seems to insult God. Although written to Old Testament Israel, this verse is still true of God’s intentions toward His people, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:” (Exodus 34:14).

Here are some alternatives to mindless entertainment when confronted with “free time”

Bible Meditation and Memory
Prayer
Witness – Why not take a walk and drop some tracts? Go out and find a person to share the gospel with.
Preparation – Why not invest time in making yourself more useful for God and family? Practice a musical instrument, develop a useful skill.

Hobbies

Exercise
Service – Why not do something for others? Send a card, wash the dishes, walk the dog.
Rest

Reading – Good books and biographies

Family Time & Family Games

TWENTY SCRIPTURE PASSAGES THAT FORBID WATCHING THE VAST MAJORITY OF HOLLYWOOD MOVIES AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS:

Christian liberty is not the liberty to disobey the Bible. If the child of God can watch some program or movie without disobeying the Scriptures and with a clear conscience before God, that is between him and the Lord. But the following Scriptures have a direct application to this issue and are a loud warning to those who have ears to hear.

1. "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me" (Psalm 101:3).

This verse single-handedly forbids the child of God to watch the vast majority of the movies and television programs that are made today. Consider just a few of the wicked things that you or your children will see:

* The breaking of all of God's commandments
* Open and flaunted immorality
* Casual drinking and drug usage
* Drunkenness portrayed as something funny and innocent
* Immodest and sexually alluring dress
* Sexually enticing dancing
* Violence and mayhem
* Casual dating (Parents, do you want your children to date after the fashion portrayed in most movies and television programs?)
* Mockery of the things of God
* Pagan religions depicted as truth
* Occultism, paganism, and New Age error (even in cartoons and in a large number of Disney movies)

2. "I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?" (Job 31:1)

The Lord Jesus Christ warned, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:28).

These verses are solemn warnings to men and boys NOT to watch Hollywood movies, whether in the theater or at home. In public, most men will not stare at a woman very long because he doesn't want to be seen doing that, but when he is watching a movie, he can stare as long as he desires at an indecently clad female, even if his wife is sitting by his side. Twenty years ago I asked a pastor friend, "Why do you think so many pastors are falling to sexual sins?" I have never forgotten his simple reply: "Television."

3. "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them." (Ephesians 5:3-7).

This is a perfect description of 99% of the Hollywood movies today, if not 100%. It also describes the sensual rock music that goes hand in hand with practically all of today's Hollywood movies. The child of God is not to participate in such things, even by proxy.

4. "But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth" (Colossians 3:8).

Not only is it dangerous to watch evil things but it is equally dangerous to hear evil things. Television programs and movies are literally filled with ungodly speech, with the things specifically and solemnly forbidden in Colossians. The ear is a gate to the heart and determines how we live. The Proverbs warns, "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life" (Prov. 4:23). The very first thing that is mentioned in that connection is "Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Prov. 4:24)!

Movies and television programs are filled with the things forbidden in Colossians 3:8: "Foul language, including curses, offensive epithets, scatological language, sexually suggestive or indecent language, and censored language increased by 94.8 percent during the Family Hour between 1998 and 2002” (Calvary Contender, Dec. 2003).

5. "And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). "Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened" (Romans 1:21). "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Cor. 10:5).

The Bible warns the believer to cast down every evil imagination, because the imagination is the battle ground for the soul. Proverbs 23:7 says, "For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..." Romans tells us that the imagination plays a great role in the downward spiral that results in homosexuality and other moral perversions. It is impossible to have spiritual victory if one allows the imagination to dwell upon evil things. It is not difficult in this connection to see the danger of television programs and movies. They fill the imagination with vivid images that linger and that return even if not purposefully entertained. They feed the fleshly nature, but it is never satisfied and it only desires more sensuality, more excitement, more, more, and is thus led ever deeper into moral perversion.

6. "And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).

This passage teaches the child of God to choose the most excellent things in life, not those things that are borderline and questionable. It teaches him to be without offence before God. The believer should ask himself, "Would I be embarrassed for the Lord Jesus to come and find me doing this thing?" The child of God has two natures, the old and the new, and the one he feeds and pampers is the one that will dominate his life.

It would seem that any saved person who has a strong desire to please the Lord would willingly stay as far away from “the edge” of the world as possible – for fear of displeasing the Lord; instead of claiming that he/she has liberty and freedom to indulge in things that are questionable.

7. "And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

This verse warns the child of God not to participate in anything that is questionable. If you cannot say for sure that something is God's perfect will, if it creates nagging doubts, you should avoid it.

8. "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (1 Thess. 5:22).

Not only are we to abstain from evil itself but even from the appearance of evil. Attending the movie theater today has, at best, an appearance of evil, because the vast majority of the movies shown there are morally vile. The same is true for watching most Hollywood movies at home. If our friends, students, and children see that we watch movies, they will be encouraged to watch them as well, and they probably will not be as "discriminating."

9. "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. ... It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:19, 21).

Even if I could go to a movie theater and see a movie that was 100% wholesome by Biblical standards and not see any movie trailers for wicked movies, I would still be giving a bad example to others. If I go to watch a G-rated movie, I might encourage others to go – and they may be emboldened to watch other movies.

10. "Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron" (1 Timothy 4:2).

The conscience is a tender thing. It can easily be hardened by unrepentant exposure to evil. This is why television programs and movies have gotten ever more wicked with each passing decade.

Getting Use To The Dark — CAMBRIDGE, Mass, October 11, 2005 (LSN ) “A Harvard study has concluded that the sexual content of modern movies has become far more explicit than even 13 years ago to the degree that a movie rated PG-13 today would have garnered an R-rating in 1992.” This is no surprise to those who are not asleep. (1 Cor. 15:34) Loving the enticements of the world is the sure plight for any who forget the directives of God.

EXAMPLE: A few years ago USA Today contained an article titled "PG-13 can lull folks with false security." It is a warning about the filthiness of PG-13 movies by a secular newspaper! The article contains the following important statement: "PG-13 was designed, I believe, to apply the friendly PG symbol to movies that have no business even being considered for viewing by most young teenagers and preteens. The age of assignment for the rating is deceptive, and it lulls parents into a false sense of security" (Joe Zanger, editor of PG-14, USA Today, Nov. 22, 1999, p. 2D).

The article also notes that there is often no difference between PG-13 and R-rated movies, and even when there is a difference, it is only minor. Both types of movies routinely contain nudity, immorality, gratuitous and graphic violence, and foul language. From the standpoint of a Christian who wants to obey the Lord's call to holiness, there is no real difference. Immodesty is immodesty. Cursing is cursing. Blasphemy is blasphemy. Extramarital sex is extramarital sex. If one movie contains a little less of these things than another movie, that does not make either movie acceptable before God.

If one of today's PG-13 movies had been shown on television 40 years ago, it would have been condemned broadly even by many unbelievers. The same is true for rock music. Eminem or Marilyn Manson would not have been allowed on the Ed Sullivan Show in the 1950s, but there has been a steady searing of the conscience by exposure to the ever increasing moral vileness of the entertainment industry.

When Christians allow themselves to watch programs and movies that they know are wrong, their conscience becomes seared so that eventually they can watch things without so much as a twinge of conscience that once would have shocked them deeply.

You cannot honestly say that going to the movies and watching TV has made us MORE discerning and sensitive to the things that displease God!!  We CANNOT claim that today’s church is more powerful and spiritual than in days past – when there was far less influence by the media.

11. "For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him" (Genesis 18:19).

God commended Abraham because he would command his children to keep the way of the Lord. Every parent needs to take this to heart.

There is an axiom that what parents allow in moderation, the children follow to excess. If parents are even a little careless about watching Hollywood movies, the children will most likely move much farther into areas of moral temptation.

12. I Corinthians 10:31 = Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

This also applies to what we watch and hear!!!  Can we give glory to God for what we are watching?

13. 1 Peter 1:15, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.”

14. In Ephesians 5:15-16, the Scriptures exhort us to "walk circumspectly... redeeming the time, because the days are evil."

15. I John 2:15-17 = Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

16. Philippians 4:8 = Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

17. Isaiah 5:20, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil." Hollywood does that!  Is this not true? For example, the family man is almost always portrayed as a phony hypocrite, while the fornicator is portrayed as the reasonable, noble man.

18. Romans 12:2 = And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  This passage teaches that our minds need to be continually renewed in the things of God so that we can be transformed into His image

19. James 1:27 declares that we are to keep ourselves "unspotted from the world."

20. Our Lord taught us to pray "lead us not into temptation" (Mt. 6:13). Are we going to pray this and then walk into a movie theatre or Blockbuster video?

What is wrong with the movies?

1. It is wrong because it violates the Scriptures!  We CANNOT obey the Scriptures and still go to the movies!
2. It is wrong because it leads others astray.  We are setting a bad example.  It leads younger Christians and our children to believe that the theater is a good place for the family!
3. It is wrong because it tears down standards of separation that have been in place for more than 1800 years!
4. It is wrong because it is a horrible waste of God’s time and God’s money.
5. It is wrong because it is worldly!  Even if one movie might be good and wholesome, the whole system is worldly!!  The devil lures us with that one innocent-seeming movie!!
6. It is wrong because of what it promotes.
   1. Murder
   2. Lawlessness
   3. Disobedience to parents
   4. Witchcraft
   5. Personification of animals
   6. violence
   7. Immorality (adultery and fornication)
   8. Drinking
   9. Smoking
   10. Materialism
   11. Immodesty
   12. Homosexuality
   13. Nudity

EXAMPLE of a so-called “Christian” movie critic:

Personally, as I scan most movie reviews in Christian publications, I am frustrated at how quickly they discredit films merely because they include nudity … or bad language, or violence, or any occurrence that may well reflect the truth of the world around us (Peter T. Chattaway, published in various Vancouver newspapers, Books & Culture and Christianity Today, and an associate editor at BC Christian News)

14. Profanity

Profanity on Television. "Profanity on television is getting worse, finds a study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs. The center looked at 284 episodes of prime-time series between 1998 and 1999, as well as 50 TV movies and 50 films. The overall average for networks was 11 profanities per hour. Profanity occurred once every two minutes on premium cable and every three minutes on the big screen."

7. It is wrong because of the connection between the producers and pornography

8. It is wrong because of what we are financing

What does Hollywood advocate and support? Every sort of evil, filth, and debauchery that one can imagine. They advocate and support baby-murder; disarming the American people; every form of immorality and perversion - fornication, adultery, sodomy, you name it; socialism; every presupposition which stands in complete opposition to the presuppositions of Holy Scripture; and they mock and blaspheme our Savior and King. So I ask you, why would you want to give them your money? Don’t they spit in our faces? Don’t they spit in the face of our Lord?

I submit to you that if we attend theatre or rent movies, we are aiding and abetting the enemy. We are committing an act of treason against our King and against His Kingdom.

9. It is wrong because of what it is NOT teaching
   1. Biblical values
   2. Biblical roles in the home
   3. Biblical attitudes
   4. Biblical dress standards and modesty!

10. It is wrong because it is a slippery slope downwards!!

Like the frog in the gradually heated pot, God's people who are careless about separating from Hollywood's filthy fare become desensitized by it.

EXAMPLE: A missionary friend was eating a meal with a pastor and his wife a few years ago when the topic of the movie Titanic (rated PG-13) came up. When the missionary expressed his opinion that the movie is ungodly, the pastor's wife said that they had seen it and had enjoyed it. The missionary asked what they thought of the nudity in the movie, and the pastor's wife said it was "tastefully done." This illustrates how worldly many fundamental Baptist churches have become. If pastors and their wives are enjoying movies featuring extramarital affairs, what are the other members of the church watching?!?!

DISNEY MOVIES

What about Disney and the “good” G-rated movies?

CHANGES AT DISNEY: Things changed in the mid 70's and 80's after Michael Eisner assumed the reins at Disney.  The studio had been floundering under Ron Miller, Disney's son-in-law, who took over after Walt died.

Eisner brought Miramax films under the Disney wing, which gave the company an outlet for more profitable R and even X rated films such as Kids and Priest.

Disney’s subsidiaries have different names. This isolates the latter from the Disney name, and gave them the freedom to explore mature themes without impacting on the "family oriented" Disney reputation. It also allowed the total corporation to expand financially. Disney owns or controls the following:

• Walt Disney Pictures
• Touchstone Pictures
• Hollywood Pictures
• Caravan Pictures
• Miramax Films
• Buena Vista Television
• Touchstone Television
• Walt Disney Television
• ABC Television Network
• ESPN
• Lifetime
• A&E Network
• Various television and radio stations across America
• Walt Disney World
• Disneyland
• Tokyo Disneyland
• Euro-Disney
• Hyperion Press
• The Mighty Anaheim Ducks

THE DISNEY BOYCOTT:

In 1995, AFA, the Southern Baptists, The Catholic League, the Assemblies of God, and several other groups called for a boycott against Disney.  It lasted for 9 years.  It started for the following 3 reasons:

1.)    the 1995 film, Priest, put out by Miramax Films

·         Newsweek said: "Priest shouldn't be missed."

·         Rolling Stone magazine termed it "One of the best films of the year."

·         The New York Observer called it "Electrifying"

·         The Detroit Free Press gave it a 4 star rating.

The movie centered around a 14 year old teenage girl who is regularly being sexually attacked by her father. She tells a young priest of her problem, but he is unable to act on her situation because of the secrecy of the confessional. Side-plots include the homosexuality of the young priest, and the committed relationship between an older priest and his female housekeeper. The movie was well received by the critics.

     2.)  Hyperion Press (owned by Disney) published the book "Growing up Gay".

     3.) Disney started permitting Gay and Lesbian Days to be held at Disney World annually. They were in particular concerned that "families purchasing tickets for the park were not warned [in advance] of the "Gay Day."

FOR THESE 3 MAIN REASONS…. There was a 9 year boycott against Disney. DID DISNEY CHANGE? (NO) 

In June, 2005 a nine-year boycott against the Walt Disney Corporation was called off by the American Family Association (AFA) and by the Southern Baptist Convention.

Tim Wildmon of the AFA said, “We feel after nine years of boycotting Disney we have made our point” and “it is harder than ever before to find evidence of new missteps by Disney.”

NOTE: In March, 2005, Disney sold off Miramax Films – so this probably seemed like a good time to end the boycott.

THE REAL PROBLEM WITH DISNEY:

Nothing of real substance has changed at Disney when measured Biblically. The problem with Disney is not only its promotion of the homosexual agenda or the increasing immorality of its movies.

The heart of the problem for a Bible believer is Disney’s New Age Gospel and this was a large part of its fare long before it got involved with the edgier type of movies through its partners Miramax and Touchstone.

Walt Disney was an atheist and his cartoons prepared generations of children to think that witches are innocent fun and that there is such a thing as “white magic” and “good sorcery.”

Disney did not attend church and there are no churches on Main Street in Disneyland or Disney World. Yet Christian parents have allowed Disney’s cartoons and movies to influence their children. Pinsky notes that “few entertainment productions continue to have as profound an impact on young children as [Disney’s] animated features” and “millions of children around the world know from Disney much of what they do about the practical application of right and wrong.”

The author of a new book entitled “The Gospel According to Disney” observes that Walt Disney preached a religious message through his cartoon characters, a message that “faith is an essential element--faith in yourself and, even more, faith in something greater than yourself, even if it is some vague, nonsectarian higher power” (Mark Pinsky, “Finding faith in the house of the mouse,” The Washington Post, Aug. 14, p. B7).

DID YOU KNOW???  When Disneyland opened in California in 1954, Time magazine featured Walt Disney on its cover and called him “the poet of the new American humanism.”

This same book, “The Gospel according to Disney”, by Mark Pinsky….. summarizes ALL Disney movies:  “…the Disney gospel," which he describes as "a consistent set of moral and human values in these movies, largely based on Western, Judeo-Christian faith and principles. … Good is always rewarded; evil is always punished. Faith is an essential element—faith in yourself, and even more, faith in something greater than yourself, some higher power."

That higher power, according to "the Disney gospel," isn't God, but most often providential magic. Note this example: In 1940… when Geppetto wants his puppet to become a real boy in Pinocchio, he adopts a prayerful pose beside his bed, but he's appealing to a "wishing star," and it's a Blue Fairy that grants his request. The Blue Fairy advises him, “Let your conscience be your guide”.

Cinderella has a Fairy Godmother to help her get to the ball, and when evil forces put Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to sleep, both are awakened by a prince's magical kiss.

Pinsky says Walt Disney's decision to avoid traditional religion in his animated films "was in part a commercial one, designed to keep the product saleable in a worldwide market." When the characters in his stories needed some outside intervention to get them out of a difficult situation, "magic, Disney apparently decided, would be a far more universal device to do this than any one religion."

A 156- page 1996 book entitled Disney and the Bible by Perucci Ferraiuolo [Horizon Books, 3825 Hartzdale Dr. Camp Hill, PA 17011, phone 717/761-70441], says of Disney: "Biblically based family values are attacked; Occultism, Satanism, Eastern religions and New Age philosophy are promoted…”

Disney’s animated classics are filled with pagan images and things strongly denounced by the Scriptures, such as witches and demons, sorcerers and spells, genies and goblins. Like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, the Disney cartoons present the damnable concept that there is good and bad magic. Disney often depicts witches and sorcerers as likeable heroes.

Recent examples of Disney movies that preach a New Age Gospel are The Black Cauldron (with its overtly occultic symbols) the Lion King (with its more subtle, Hindu-influenced "circle of life" philosophy)

NOTE: The concept of a “circle of life” is referring to reincarnation.

Pocahontas Movie = "What is my path?" she asks the wise old spirit of Grandmother Willow, a magical tree in the forest. "How am I ever going to find it?" "Listen..." says her enchanted counselor. "All around you are spirits, child. They live in the earth, the water, the sky. If you listen, they will guide you." The Indian maiden believes. Why shouldn't she? Not only does the tree spirit's advice fit the context of Disney's fictionalized history, it also fits today's cultural shift toward a global spirituality, a seductive blend of all the world's religions.

THEN… there’s the seemingly innocent 1994 movie, Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale.

Squanto begins with its American Indian hero offering a pagan sacrifice and revering a hawk, which throughout the movie remains his spiritual protector and guide. The main message of the movie is this: The Indians worship the same Creator God as the Christians and in fact have more to teach the Christians about morality than the Christians them. In the end, the pagan Indian teaches the Pilgrims to live in peace and to be compassionate. The movie concludes with what is assumed to be the first “Thanksgiving” in America, with the Christians and the pagan Indians worshipping the same God together, the pagans saying “amen” to the Christian’s prayer and the Christians saying “amen” to the pagan’s. In the midst of the “thanksgiving” feast, Squanto stands and tells the enraptured crowd: “In the world there are many people, with all kinds of customs and beliefs, speaking many languages, but there is only one moon, one sun, one mother earth. And there is only one tribe. Let’s live together in peace!”

This movie preaches a humanistic, new age lie, that all men are children of the same God, who is the Father of all; no one is lost and no one therefore needs redemption through the blood of Jesus Christ. Men only need to act upon the goodness that is within them and follow their hearts and there will be peace on earth.

Is this what you want your children to grow up believing?

FACTS ABOUT THE DISNEY COORPERATION:

THE INTERNET

FACT: From the Washington Times of October 8, 1998, pg. 8 we see that Disney opposes the Internet porn bill, Child Online Protection Act (COLPA) which would restrict child pornography material on the Internet. Imagine that?!

Disney lobbyists tried to stop the much-needed bill. According to Congressional sources (per Julia Duin of the Washington Post) Disney opposes the bill because it would prevent Disney from marketing adult movies online. The bill passed the Senate with ease as an amendment to another bill, and seems to have little opposition in the House.

Care to guess who opposed the bill in addition to Disney? Well, since you've asked, I'll tell you: America Online, Microsoft and, will wonders never cease, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). While an MPAA spokesman defended opposition to the bill, Microsoft was not available for comment. No information regarding AOL's opposition to the bill was given, but I suspect you can guess why Mr. Gates opposes the child porn bill. Might it have something to do with the new age, humanist, enlightened distortion of the freedom of speech?

TELEVISION, CHILDREN AND FAMILY VALUES

FACT: Disney recently bought Capital Cities/ABC for $19 billion. On March 19, ABC aired a "Dana Carvey Show" program which featured jokes and laughter about alcohol abuse and cocaine addiction. The same show had a skit called "Under Five on Comedy Central" in which children made crude jokes and resorted to name-calling. Also on the show, Carvey portrayed George Washington using cocaine and Ben Franklin in bed with another man. The same program had a cartoon skit entitled "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" in which two Superman-style heroes are homosexual lovers and drive a super car shaped like male genitalia. Finally, a "Celebrity Bloopers" spoof featured 17 uses of the F-word (bleeped out, of course; but its intent was clear). What more can our children and families expect from ABC?

FACT: Disney is the largest stockholder of porn distributor Viewer's Choice, the pay-per-view cable company;

FACT: Disney dropped its 17 year-old "Glory and Pageantry of Christmas" display (one of Disney's few concessions to the fact that Christmas is Christian) near Disney World in Orlando, Florida, and replaced it with "Tropical Santa." Elements of the new festival include, "Santa Claus, tree lighting and caroling with tropical elements such as Caribbean and Jazz renditions of Christmas music, a musical stage show with 'Tropical Santa", street performers for kids, a lighted parade and a holiday sing-a-long and fireworks finale."

PEOPLE, POLICIES AND THE HOMOSEXUAL AGENDA

FACT: In June, 1996, Disney helped promote the 6th annual "Gay and Lesbian Day at Walt Disney World." Since 1996, Disney has allowed the homosexual organizers to portray Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck as homosexual lovers; and Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck as lesbians.

FACT: Disney has extended company health benefits to live-in partners of homosexual employees (the policy does not cover unmarried heterosexual couples who live together). -The Orlando Sentinel, 10/7/95; USA Today, 10/19/95; Daily Variety, 10/9/95

We do not agree that a man and a woman should live together out of wedlock, but the biased discrimination toward homosexuality is sickening.

FACT: Disney president Michael Eisner is quoted as saying he thinks 40% of Disney's 63,000 employees are homosexual. -AFA Journal 6/97

FACT: Disney has the largest homosexual employee organization in the entertainment industry.

FACT: Disney helped underwrite the 1993 Hollywood benefit for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. -The Press Enterprise, 12/28/93

FACT: Disney advertised in Out, a homosexual magazine. -Out, 2/94

FACT: Tom Shumacher, Disney VP of feature animation, is an open homosexual who takes his "husband" to executive retreats. In an interview with the homosexual publication, The Advocate, Shumacher said: "There are a lot of gay people (at Disney) at every level. It is a very supportive environment." -Human Events, 8/12/94; The Advocate 6/25/94

FACT: According to monitoring by American Family Association, Disney has been one of the top sponsors of pro-homosexual TV programming.

FACT: Disney hired Victor Salva, a convicted child molester, to direct its movie POWDER. When Salva's victim, Nathan Winters (now 20), publicized the hiring, some of the police officers who investigated the 1987 molestation were incredulous that Salva was working again as a movie director. "It just blows me away," said Officer Gary Primavera. One Disney official, John Dreyer, refused to respond to Winter's demand that Disney fire Salva, saying, "What's the point other than you want to make headlines?" That's compassion for you. -Washington Times, 10/25/95

FACT: In the May, 1995, issue of BUZZ magazine, contributing editor Steven Gaines reports that a homosexual rights activist said that she was once told by Disney chairman Michael Eisner that "as many as 40% of the company's 63,000 employees might be gay." Thomas Schumacher, an open homosexual and one of the guiding lights behind Disney's billion-dollar hit, THE LION KING, added, "...there are a lot of gay people here at every level." BUZZ is described as a magazine which "provides readers with perspective on personalities, politics, culture and commerce of Los Angeles, California." The cover story, entitled "Disney Comes Out of the Closet," also reported that Disney has the "largest lesbian and gay employees organization in the entertainment industry" and that the perception of Disney as having many homosexual employees is "well founded." In addition to Schumacher, BUZZ names prominent openly homosexual Disney executives: production vice president Lauren Lloyd of Disney's Hollywood Pictures; studio producer Laurence Mark; supervising animator Andreas Deja, the man responsible for the character of Gaston in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; senior vice president at Disney's interactive division Steven Fields; Rick Leed, who heads the production company that produces the television sitcom HOME IMPROVEMENT. Disney training coordinator Jimi Ziehr said that at Disney's Epcot Center in Orlando, Florida, "gays outnumber the straights at Futureland operations, and there's nothing in the closet at Guest Relations." -Buzz, 5/95

FACT: Mark Gill, the president of Disney-owned Miramax (the company which released the anti-Catholic movie "Priest"), admitted that his company thrives on racy, often violent promotion for its movies. PRIEST is a pro-homosexual movie which depicts five Catholic priests as perverts and blames their perversion on Church teachings. One priest is a homosexual; a second an adulterer; a third an alcoholic; a fourth demented; and the fifth just plain mean and vicious. The film is blatantly anti-Christian. -Daily Variety 9/13/95, -The Advocate, 4/4/95, 4/18/95; Family Issues Alert, 3/30/95

FACT: Disney-owned Miramax released the homosexual movie, "Lie Down With Dogs." -Daily Variety, 5/16/95

FACT: CHICKS IN WHITE SATIN (Hollywood Pictures) is a film about a lesbian couple who decide on a semi-traditional "commitment celebration." -Glamour, 8/9/94/B

FACT: JEFFERSON IN PARIS (Disney backed) spreads the smear (initiated by his political rivals, but discounted by historians) that Thomas Jefferson fathered children by a 13-year-old slave girl. -Insight, 12/5/94/B

This is a prime example of history revisionists (I say 'distortionists) in action.

FACT: Diane Disney Miller, Walt's daughter, publicly condemned the Disney company's involvement with Oliver Stone's historically inaccurate movie, "Nixon." In a letter Miller wrote to the Nixon family, she said, "I am ashamed that the Walt Disney Company - the company my father created - is associated with this disturbing distortion of history." Not surprisingly, Disney officials refused to comment on the letter. -USA Today 12/20/95; Daily Variety, 12/20/95; Commercial Appeal, 12/21/95

FACT: COLOR OF NIGHT (Hollywood Pictures) shows co-stars Bruce Willis and Jane March entwined in numerous sex scenes featuring full frontal nudity. -Entertainment Weekly, 6/10/94; Daily Variety, 6/15/94

FACT: THE ADVOCATE (Miramax) is filled with nudity, the movie was rated NC-17 (formerly the X rating) but on appeal (and after cutting out a 12-second sex scene) it was given an R. -Daily Variety, 8/17/94

FACT: CLERKS (Miramax), a black and white film about New Jersey convenience store clerks, was originally rated NC-17 because graphic and sexually explicit language is woven throughout the film. On appeal, it was given an R-rating. -Daily Variety, 10/12/94

FACT: KIDS (Miramax) was described by Variety magazine as "one of the most controversial American movies ever made." According to Newsweek, "the film follows a number of barely pubescent looking boys and girls around New York City as they smoke pot, bait gays, beat a black man and engage in graphic sex." Under pressure, Disney formed an independent company to market and distribute the ['child'] pornographic movie. -Daily Variety, 1/27/95; Newsweek, 2/20/95; Wall Street Journal, 3/30/95; Associated Press, 6/29/95/B

FACT: Disney signed Martin Scorsese, the director of "The Last Temptation of Christ," to a 4-year contract. -Daily Variety, 1/30/96

FACT: Disney hired avowed lesbian Lauren Lloyd for the specific purpose of developing female and lesbian movies. OUT magazine, a homosexual publication, praised Disney: "Like it or not, lesbians are not yet chic entertainment attractions for a lot of America. With Lloyd and Disney on our side, though, anything is possible." -Out, 11/94

FACT: Disney considers buying RIPE, a movie about the “molestation” of 14-year-old twins. -Newsweek 2/12/96

One of the items on the homosexual agenda is to lower the age of consent for sex with minors. This movie about early-pubescent sexual awakening is yet another attempt to do that using the same technique advertisers use - saturate the 'market' with repetition. The entertainment media, including Disney, does the same with material to encourage lowering the threshold of acceptability.

FACT: Disney hired Kevin Smith to produce two movies: (1) "Dogma" attacks Christianity by asserting that Christian beliefs are little more than Christian mythology. (2) "Chasing Amy" is an account of a man's pursuit of a lesbian. -Daily Variety, 11/3/95

FACT: PULP FICTION (Miramax) is a seedy, hyper-violent movie starring John Travolta. It had an NC-17 rating before editing gave it an R rating. -Entertainment Weekly, 6/10/94; Daily Variety, 6/15/94

FACT: In the 1994 Disney movie THE SANTA CLAUSE, the number of an actual phone sex line appears in the film aimed at children and families. -Associated Press, 5/1/96

FACT: The Southern Baptist Convention voted Wednesday June 12, to urge its 16 million members to boycott the Walt Disney Company's theme parks, films, toys - all things Disney.

FACT: Disney `Stonewalling' Brings Christian Women's Group into Boycott

WASHINGTON (BP)--The Disney Company fumbled a supposed attempt to reach out to Southern Baptists and others, in the process pulling a 500,000-member women's organization into the boycott of the entertainment giant and causing other groups to consider such action.

FACT: Disney’s Miramax released “Fahrenheit 9/11”

• Hyperion Press, a Disney-owned subsidiary, published Separate Creation, a book contending that homosexuals are a third sex, or "separate creation," that should be acknowledged and treated the same as heterosexual males and females.
• ABC's Relativity, showed network television's most passionate open mouth kiss between two women.

CHILDREN'S ANIMATED MOVIES

FACT: Actors Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane said in a New York Times interview that the characters they played (Timon, the meerkat, and Pumbaa, the wart hog) in THE LION KING are "the first homosexual Disney characters ever to come to the screen...." -NY Times, 6/12/94

BOOKS

FACT: Hyperion Press, a Disney-owned subsidiary, has published "Lettin' It All Hang Out," the autobiography of RuPaul, a well known "drag queen" (transvestite) entertainer.

FACT: Hyperian Press also published "Growing Up Gay," written by three homosexual comedians, the book is aimed at "gay youngsters who were bred by heterosexuals."

WHAT DO DISNEY OFFICIALS THINK ABOUT CHRISTIANS?

Several years ago, Disney Corporation began giving marital benefits and status to their employees. AFR called for a boycott of Disney, but several Christian artists had already scheduled a Christian family day at Disney World. Because of the deposits made and money that would be lost, including lots of Christian families that would lose their vacation money, the group decided to have the concert and family day anyway. Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith and many other “Christian” artists participated. Everyone had a wonderful day at Disney World and felt they had made a good impression through their 'neighborly', loving Christian witness.

The VERY NEXT DAY, Disney World executives held a massive news media conference at the gates of Disney World. All of the major networks covered it and I watched in horror, as they brought out a large check, which they claimed was the entire profits from the Christian family day and donated the entire amount to the Gay and Lesbian Action Fund. They publicly made comments about how this was their way of getting back at Christians and throwing their money to a cause that they knew Christians would, otherwise, not support.

CONCLUSION:

• Will Hollywood (in all forms: theater, movies, VCR, DVD, TV, etc) make me and my family “more spiritual”?
• Are the Hollywood themes good for my spiritual life?
• Would Jesus Christ go to the movies?
• Would Jesus want me using His money to support the Disney Company or Hollywood in general?
• If my children follow my example how much further will they go? Will they be as discriminating as I am or am I helping them to become familiar with worldly things?
• Should I allow any form of “mindless entertainment” in my home? Would it help me and my kids to substitute these things for interactive and profitable recreational pursuits? In other words, would it better to pursue a hobby or a family game rather than waste hours in front of some sort of media entertainment?

CLOSING EXAMPLE:

For Dr. Gordon—Preach Christ First

 When interviewing Dr. A. J. Gordon as a prospective pastor of a Boston church, the pulpit committee asked: “If you are called to the pastorate of our church will you preach against the cards, the theater, and dancing?” “I will,” solemnly affirmed Dr. Gordon. He was called.

 Months passed and he didn’t say a word against the cards, the theater, and dancing. The official board of the church said, “Almost a year has gone by and you have said nothing against cards, the theater, and dancing. We wonder why.”

 Dr. Gordon replied essentially as follows: “Gentlemen, it is true that I have said nothing against these things, but I have preached Christ who is the only Saviour from all evils. When He comes into one’s heart all evil things vanish from the life like the mist before the hot breath of the noonday sun.”

The most important thing is NOT focusing on what I cannot do;

but focusing on what I CAN do to please Jesus, my Savior!!