Expert: Scott Talbot - 1/22/2004

Question
Scott,

  I'd like to know if it is wrong to watch certain Christian films with angels in it or even with Christ in it.   The Scriptures clearly command us not to make an image of anything in heaven.   

Aren't we making images of things in heaven when we create movies surrounding the supernatural aspect of Christianity?

A new movie is going to be released soon called "The Passion of the Christ"  which portrays Jesus final 12 hours on earth.  I'm really intrigued by the movie and I'd really like to watch it, however, I'm not quite sure it would be appropriate to do so.      
 
Isn't it true that watching these movies makes an image in our minds that is sinful?  

Thanks

AJ  

Answer
Hi, AJ! Nice to hear from you!

Here is an excerpt from Exodus 10:4-5:

20:4
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:  
20:5
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;  

These verses tell us that we should not make an image or likeness of any being or object. Some take this to an extreme, and, I believe, misinterpret the passage. For example, the Amish (many of whom live in our county in Pennsylvania) believe it is wrong to take a picture, or to have one's picture taken, since they view this as a violation of this command in Exodus 20.

However, if you look at the context, you will see that God had something else in mind. What he was saying was that one should not make an image of something (sculpture, visual representation) to make an idol of that thing, and to worship it. This is far different than just saying that we are not to make a likeness of anything. If this were true, any photograph or movie recording would be a violation of this command. No, God is forbidding idolatry.

Can you see the difference? Can you see that watching a religious movie would not be a violation of this command, since we would not be worshipping something that is not God?

I do not think that it would be wrong to watch a religious movie, and I would especially encourage you to watch The Passion when it comes out. I think that God can use this film in a great way to reach out to the lost and saved alike.

But, as with any movie or other form of communication, we should be careful to compare it to the Bible to make sure that it is true to God's Word. (Based on what I've already heard, I don't think that there will be any problem in this regard with The Passion.)

Scott