Six Checks in Making Sure Your Entertainment is Acceptable to God by Ezra Byer

Six Checks in Making Sure Your Entertainment is Acceptable to God by Ezra Byer

Movie Filter

Check #1 – Appearance of Evil

“Abstain from every form of evil.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:22

Most PG 13, R-Rated, and NC-17

Sinful Cover

Bad Reviews

Ungodly Title

Actors with evil lifestyles

Check #2 – Three Human Temptations

“For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” – 1 John 2:16

Lust of the flesh

Drunkenness, gluttony, laziness, crime

Lust of the eyes

Immodesty, suggestive behavior, porn

Pride of Life

Greed, selfishness, materialism

Check #3 – That which is Good

“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

True – Is lying and deception promoted as acceptable behavior?

Honorable – Are people treated respectfully? Is there foul language?

Right – Does right prevail over evil?

Pure – Is there excessive violence?

Lovely – Is true love or fleshly love displayed?

Good Repute – Does this movie have a negative reputation? Would you recommend it to a friend? Do you come away feeling better after watching it? Is the movie useless and unprofitable to Christian growth?

Check #4 – Profitable

“All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.”

– 1 Corinthians 6:12

How will this benefit me spiritually?

Is this the best use of my time?

Does it make me more like Jesus?

Check #5 – Loving God; Loving Others

And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. – Matthew 22:37-39

Could you watch this with Jesus beside you?

Would you watch this with a non-Christian whom you were trying to lead to Christ?

Does your watching this cause someone else to stumble or have wrong temptations?

Does it Christian promote family growth?

Check #6 – Personal Convictions

“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and whatever is not from faith is sin.” – Romans 14:23

Does this violate my conscience?

Does this allow the devil an opportunity to exploit any of my weak areas?

Does this violate my personal convictions?