Should I watch this movie?

Although the bible is very clear and unequivocal about issues like stealing, murder, fornication, greed etc, there are a whole lot of things the bible did not specifically talk about, giving rise to many questions like what kind of songs should I sing and listen to? Is masturbation a sin? Where is it in the bible that we should not smoke? Is it wrong to wear a mini skirt? Should I take alcoholic drinks? Can I watch X - rated movies? What's the big deal about going to a nightclub?

However, for John, the beloved to have thought that the whole world could not contain all the books that would have to be written if all Jesus did during just three and a half years of His ministry were to be recorded, it’s unthinkable to imagine how big the bible would be if it were to list out every possible question that will ever arise in the hearts of men all through the different ages and state out God’s answer to them. Yet, inasmuch as the bible didn't attempt to write everything in the mind of God, or specifically list every possible decision we may face in life, it does address all choices for the new creation man with principles that govern our freedom as Christians.

These principles are guideposts in the word of God, to help us not to derail from the way of the Lord such that the liberty which Christ won for us by His blood would not end up being a snare that will drag us to the pits. Some people would say, “Do what you want to do, you are free in Christ”. Yes, we are free in Christ, because who the son has made free is free indeed (John 8:36).  As a matter of fact, we are no longer under the law, for if righteousness comes by the law then Christ died in vain (Gal 2:21). He has blotted out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross (Col2 :14). We are justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified (Gal 2:16).

Now, does that mean we are free to live our lives the way we want? Does that mean we now have a license stamped from heaven to satisfy the flesh and its evil desires? Does that mean we should do anything and everything that crops up in our minds and behave anyhow? I don’t think so. About this matter, Paul said, “You my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love” (Gal 5:13) and Peter also said, “Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God”(1pet 2:16).

Therefore, having the understanding that He saved us so we would not continue in sin but live the rest of our lives doing the will of God (1 Pet 4:2), let’s check some of these arising questions with these principles. First, let’s examine the issue of dressing. Paul made us understand that we should stay away from anything that could cause others to stumble when he said “But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak (1 Cor. 8:9)” and Jesus had earlier said "If anyone should cause one of these little ones to lose his faith in me, it would be better for that person to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be drowned in the deep sea (Matt 18:6).” So, if your manner of dressing is causing others around you to fall, then you don’t have the love of God in you because if you love your neighbor you won't do what will make him fall. Besides if God wanted us to expose our bodies, would He have made coats for Adam and his wife (Gen 3:21)? As Christians, our dressing ought to be marked with decency and modesty (1 Tim 2:9).

Another question to consider before engaging in any act is whether or not it would defile your body which is God's temple (1 Cor. 6:19-20). Masturbation fails this basic test. Besides, you should also ask yourself whether or not it would violate your conscience (Rom 14:23). Do you have a clear conscience after masturbating or do you battle with guilt? Paul kept a clear conscience before God and man (Acts 24:16). Anything that will rid you of a clear conscience is a no go area for a believer who has the hope of becoming like Jesus in appearance when He appears (1john3:2-3). In fact, any form of sexual gratification outside of marriage is not the will of God. So is this self gratification okay when you are married and your wife/husband is not around? No! It still goes against the natural use which is for sexual intercourse between a man and his wife, exactly the same way oral sex, anal sex and the likes are against the natural use God intended and is a perversion, and we know the perverted cannot even by mistake inherit the Kingdom of God (1 Cor.6:9).

Furthermore, another check is whether or not what you are about to do would be of benefit to you spiritually (1 Cor.10:23). What goes into your heart through your eyes and ears influence your actions and who you become. So would you rather feed your spirit and soul with the junks and filthy rubbish from the entertainment industry: the dirty music videos and the movies that never fail to have sex scenes? Even if you are married, don’t you know that buying and watching those things simply means you consent to what the actors and actresses prostituting themselves are doing? Don’t you know that these are all devices and schemes of the devil trying his possible best to drag as many people as he can with him to the pits? In case you don’t know, Satan knows he's already doomed and has been defeated at the cross, so he tries all he can to keep as many people as he can from walking the way of the cross, he keeps blackmailing the cross, getting people confused, filling their thoughts with filth that will lead them to sin which results in eternal destruction. The issue of which songs to sing and listen to goes beyond the lyrics, it's not just about not singing songs with dirty and vulgar words, neither is it about not singing a particular style/rhythm, but rather it's about the spirit that influenced the song, the spirit that birthed the song. Scripture tells us, “Beloved, don't believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 john 4:1). The fact that Kanye West sang a song that doesn't seemingly sound bad doesn't mean I should sing it. I won't sing songs influenced by spirit of immorality or cooked in the very pits of hell because I will be invoking those spirits around me. Don’t you know that music is spiritual or why do you think Elisha called for the minstrel and didn’t you know what happened when he started to play (2Kings 3:15)? Or why do you think you fall into diverse sins even when you didn't plan to after listening to bad songs? The mind gets influenced by such. What would you rather expose yourself to? Wouldn’t you rather expose your mind and subconscious to things that are pure and of good report? (Phil. 4:8) James said, “Are any among you happy? They should sing praises” (James 5:13).

In addition, if you say the bible doesn’t say anything about smoking so there’s nothing bad in it, then you can as well say that the fact that the bible did not mention the Virgin Mary's parents means that she didn't have parents at all. Besides, sniffing cocaine or marijuana is also not written in the bible, so does that mean we should go ahead and get ourselves ‘high’ on it? We were not created to be under bondage, addiction to anything (1 Cor. 6:12). Such cravings are simply evidence of the flesh (the sinful nature) and to live after the dictates of the flesh is death (Rom. 8:13). Have you asked yourself why alcohol only gives you boldness to do wrong things and pushes you to sin? Have you thought about the many lives that have been destroyed who started with little sips of alcohol? Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whoever is deceived by it is not wise (Prov. 20:1).

Finally, before you make that decision, ask yourself this very simple question: does it glorify God, would He be honored and praised by this? (1 Cor. 10:31) Would you be able to stand before the White throne on that great day and tell Him “I glorified you on the earth?”
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