God is Bigger

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Thankfully this post is - as you say - your opinion.

Still waiting on some actual examples please.

I hardly think it would be wise to point fingers at specific churches that follow Hollywood. I am not going to do it. There are enough people out there willing to do so. I don't feel that that would be productive.
I do feel that this issue is worthy of discussion since it has such far reaching implications for the church.

I do know that you and I are on opposing ends of this based on your posts and mine. I am not going to argue with you here, but am open to discourse on the matter.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by NobodyImportant

I hardly think it would be wise to point fingers at specific churches that follow Hollywood. I am not going to do it. There are enough people out there willing to do so. I don't feel that that would be productive.
I do feel that this issue is worthy of discussion since it has such far reaching implications for the church.

I do know that you and I are on opposing ends of this based on your posts and mine. I am not going to argue with you here, but am open to discourse on the matter.

Unless you are of a "TV is bad - Internet is Good" mentality then we are not on opposite ends of the spectrum. Even if you believe internet is less harmful I think we would agree that the content of each is what is really in question. And we would likely agree that a "TV" satelite channel dedicated to lifesaving techniques for medical doctors can have benefit for good and be used to the glory of God.

And national geographic channel is the same content TV or internet...

Whether we like it or not there are gray areas...

[Sherri]

N.I., there are actually several movies that have come out lately that portray Christian values and can be used as teaching tools for young people. Not everything that comes out of Hollywood is bad, although I agree most of it is. There are many young people who are now rising up to be movie producers and actors, whose desire is to infiltrate Hollywood with Godly living and principles. If we had done this years ago, instead of shielding ourselves from the whole scene, Hollywood would be in much better shape today.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Sherri

N.I., there are actually several movies that have come out lately that portray Christian values and can be used as teaching tools for young people. Not everything that comes out of Hollywood is bad, although I agree most of it is. There are many young people who are now rising up to be movie producers and actors, whose desire is to infiltrate Hollywood with Godly living and principles. If we had done this years ago, instead of shielding ourselves from the whole scene, Hollywood would be in much better shape today.

This is true and is ironically, one of the ways groups like the Baptists are as NI put it, "distancing themselves from the influence of Hollywood". ("Hollywood" being used as a derogatory term) One way to limit influence is change the enviroment.

Originally Posted by Sherri

N.I., there are actually several movies that have come out lately that portray Christian values and can be used as teaching tools for young people. Not everything that comes out of Hollywood is bad, although I agree most of it is. There are many young people who are now rising up to be movie producers and actors, whose desire is to infiltrate Hollywood with Godly living and principles. If we had done this years ago, instead of shielding ourselves from the whole scene, Hollywood would be in much better shape today.

I fully disagree with you here.
The rot of Hollywood is not environmental as you seem to be suggesting but spiritual. It is not something that we can just go in and Voila!! it's clean. It was never clean to begin with.
Early films showed ungodly things, though much less vulgar than today. It has never been truly a medium for godliness.
Some early films were considered okay by many, but the far reaching implications of it is that it still promotes ungodly lifestyles. The earlier films showed smokers and made it cool. Consequently, a generation wanted to be just like their movies idols. This is still going on today. It hasn't changed in its import, merely how open it all is now.
I do not believe that it will ever become godly. Even the films that are being promoted as having "christian values" are not something that I would want to watch. The term is very broad in the eyes of producers.
I guess we should just all go watch Evenalmighty and laugh it off as he scoffs at truth. Or any other film.
I guess it is okay to watch something like that even if it has a couple of bad words in it since that is real life.
I can not follow this line of thinking. It just isn't biblical.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Sherri

N.I., there are actually several movies that have come out lately that portray Christian values and can be used as teaching tools for young people. Not everything that comes out of Hollywood is bad, although I agree most of it is. There are many young people who are now rising up to be movie producers and actors, whose desire is to infiltrate Hollywood with Godly living and principles. If we had done this years ago, instead of shielding ourselves from the whole scene, Hollywood would be in much better shape today.

Wow, what understanding, and an attitude of vision instead of defeat! Well said.

I choose to be among those who believe God is greater that all that the enemy can throw out. The "creation is going to hell in a handbasket" crowd I place with the "fearful and unbelieving".

The scripture tells us there will be a day when "the glory of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the seas." Sounds like the church triumphant!!!!

Originally Posted by Stephen Hoover

Unless you are of a "TV is bad - Internet is Good" mentality then we are not on opposite ends of the spectrum. Even if you believe internet is less harmful I think we would agree that the content of each is what is really in question. And we would likely agree that a "TV" satelite channel dedicated to lifesaving techniques for medical doctors can have benefit for good and be used to the glory of God.

And national geographic channel is the same content TV or internet...

Whether we like it or not there are gray areas...

Actually, I am totally opposed to tv. I do not and will not own one again.

Let me share a little something here:
I was so engrossed in Hollywood prior to church that friends would call to find out how we liked recent movies. We literally were there on opening night or at worst the next day. My wife and I were avid fans of movies and tv. It was a lifestyle for us that took much of our time.

After coming into truth, we got rid of tv. It was nice to have peace and quiet and we found that it was more conducive to prayer and godly living.

Several years went by and some family members came to live with us for a while. They brougth their tv which I allowed, provided it stayed in their room. And it did for a while.

I found myself standing in the doorway becoming engrossed in it once again. It eventually was brought out to the front room and prayer was now secondary.

Our family became situated in their own home and our house was once again somewhat quiet, except for tv. It never left. They graciously allowed us to keep it with us, surround sound and all.

After DVD, our library began to grow. We had dozens of movies within weeks and were steadily buying new ones since it was so much cheaper to stay home and watch the movies and the popcorn was better and also much cheaper.

Our friends at church began to buy their own tv's since we had one. Their libraries also grew and outpaced our quickly. We would go to luch together after church and discuss the latest films and all of that stuff. Until...

One sunday afternoon, one sister who we used to pray regularly with made this comment: "We used to talk about the things of God. Now we talk about the latest movies. Isn't it funny how things have changed?"

My heart was pricked for it was then that I realized what tv and movies were doing to our walk with God. I literally quit watching it. My wife would sit there and watch it alone. This went on for six months until she came to me and told me to get rid of it.

I will never forget the first night without it. The peace that settled in our home was alomost tangible. Our friends would come over and often remarked on how peacefuly it felt in our home.

Our prayer lives came back into focus. Our walk with God became stronger than ever. Our convictions about separation also strengthened. It was here on this sacrifice of worldly pleasure that a minister was born.

I am that man and my wife is that woman.

I am thankful that God opened our eyes to the damage that Hollywood has done and is still doing in the lives of good church folks. I sincerely hope that He will continue to open other's eyes as well so that the church will once again become separated from the devices of this world. as it is, so many are ensnared with this junk and think that all is well.

Samson thought he was okay. He toyed with the world through Delilah.
Look at this:
Judges 16:20 And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him.

He had gotten so far along with playing with Delilah that he did not realize that God had left him. That is what is happening to those who think they can live closer to the world and still think they are doing right. They have no clue that God is pulling His spirit back from them.

Oh, they can shake rattle and roll, but they wist not that the Lord has departed from them.

Maybe that is why the Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

He understood that God could and would withdraw from man if man wanted to follow evil. God will not stay close to sinful hearts and lives.