Why do we expect Hollywood to teach us the Bible?


Social media can be very interesting. This has happened to me personally, but I also see it with others as well. Someone can post a Bible verse, or even an amazing nugget of spiritual truth, and maybe get a couple likes, possibly a comment and a share. The same person can upload a picture of a pork sandwich the next day, and people go bonkers. Tons of likes, comments that you have to keep scrolling down to read, and everyone and their brother will share the picture. I just don’t understand why we are so consumed with stuff that honestly doesn’t matter very much in the overall big picture.

Another trend I’ve been noticing recently is Christians getting upset over movies. It’s kind of funny, because my reactions to these “Christian” movies over the last year or two have been completely different from that of my brothers and sisters. Let me give you some examples.

God’s Not Dead. The Christian community went bananas over this movie. It was as if we won some kind of battle against atheists. Why do we so easily forget that our war isn’t against flesh and blood? Ephesians 6:12. I actually did a post on this earlier in the year. You can read it HERE. Overall, I enjoyed the movie, but didn’t like the main theme. I don’t believe we have to prove that God exists. Arguing and fighting with people over our beliefs doesn’t accomplish anything but more animosity. We prove God exists by walking in love and using our life as the unspoken argument.

Son of God. Again, Christians went all out fruity over this movie playing in the theaters. I actually felt as if I had been bamboozled a little bit. If you watched The Bible miniseries on TV, then you had pretty much already seen this movie. It might have been promoted that way, but I don’t know for sure. I was sorely disappointed. However, if putting Son of God on the big screen resulted in people realizing their need for a Savior, then it served its purpose.

Noah. There was such an uproar about this movie when it was released. Everything from it was directed by an atheist to it doesn’t follow the Biblical story. Well, I waited and waited for this to come out, because I wanted to see it. Russell Crowe as Noah? Are you serious? We were about to get Gladiator meets Genesis. Unfortunately, the movie was a big snooze fest for me. I believe I actually fell asleep a couple of times. Aside from a couple places with great special effects, it was horrible. I honestly didn’t care whether it completely aligned with the Biblical version or not, which is quite opposite of what most people were looking for.

Exodus. Facebook posts about this movie are what led me to write this blog today. I haven’t seen it yet, so I can’t give my personal opinion on it’s quality. I’m taking my kids to see the new Hobbit movie next week, so Exodus will be a DVD rental. Christians, again, are getting riled up because of what they are seeing on the screen. Or, to put it more accurately, what they are NOT seeing on the screen. I think even Glen Beck said something about it was making Moses out to be a terrorist. I don’t know. I can’t wait to see it, though. It looks amazing.

We are expecting Hollywood to teach the Bible, and I don’t understand why.

I also don’t understand why we only get upset over the “Christian” movies we see emerge. Why don’t we rant and rave on Facebook over the movies saturated with vulgarity, sex, and gory violence? Are we so desensitized to this world, that those movies are just normal? It’s only when something “good” comes out, it strikes a nerve? TV shows are the same. We are up in arms over the inaccuracies of Exodus, but remain glued to the television when The Walking Dead or Sons of Anarchy come on. They are cursing God’s name, but yet that’s okay? C’mon, Church.

If you want a Bible lesson about the flood or Moses, go to church, or better yet, just read your Bible.

My wife and I decided years ago to stop watching rated R movies, with the one exception being Passion of the Christ. I’ve been called legalistic before when I posted about this, but that’s okay. I honestly don’t care if you think it’s legalistic or not. I don’t want to fill my mind with that garbage. I want to chase after righteousness and His kingdom. I’m not saying you shouldn’t watch rated R movies. It’s none of my business. I’m telling you what’s right for me and my family.

Time is short. People are lost. If we are truly born again, we have Christ in us, the hope of glory. We have the hope people need, whether they know what they are searching for or not.

Let’s stop being offended when Hollywood doesn’t get it right, and start loving people every day.

They need what we say we have.

18 thoughts on “Why do we expect Hollywood to teach us the Bible?

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  2. I tend to agree- accept that i dont find myself interested in watching movies like Noah at all.
    We have lost focus and maybe even tried to pass our responsibility to learn onto hollywood.

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  3. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” Matthew 5:16; the unspoken argument spoken so plainly in Scripture.

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  4. Great post. I think sometimes we get fixated on media and expect it to provide something it shouldn’t. Actors and movies and the entertainment industry in general can’t be our moral compass. Sure, we can use the media as a tool to start a conversation, but ultimately, we must get our directives from God.

    Liked by 1 person

  5. Hollywood is there to entertain and not teach, even their documentaries seldom get thing straight. I gave up worrying about it, have seen some of the films usually not only Biblically inaccurate but bad acting as well. That they pick Biblical themes is good, as there is an interest at least! Christians are just slow to capitalize on it. It could actually be a great teaching tool for a Bible study!

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  6. I also wanted to thank you for the follow on my blog too Chris. I’ll be following yours as well and look forward to reading future posts and catching up on the ones you’ve already posted. May God continue to bless you and your family brother.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Great post. Loved what you said about arguing and fighting with people about our faith just creates more animosity. I’ve thought the same thing.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. This post is SO SPOT ON. Another thing I often hear as an outcry against movies like “Noah” and “Exodus” is that it’s an attack on Christianity. Well, even if it is, we are told over and over again by Jesus that we will be outcasts in the world, we will be attacked, etc. Why then do we complain when it happens?

    People get upset because Christianity is misrepresented in our culture, but I don’t believe that most people form their opinions about Christianity because of movies. I believe that those perceptions are formed by their interactions with self-professed Christians. Therefore it is the responsibility of the Christian community to teach, not anyone else.

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  9. you are right that it seems when a movie that carries the name of a story fom the bible christians put it under a microscope and want it to follow word for word (don’t get me wrong it would be nice like in noah they make the fallen angels out to be heros saveing noah and helping him build the ark,which can be misleading to those that don’t put he effort to read all the books of the bible like enoch ,so i see the upset) but we have to remember who and what kind of people control hollywood and the fact is alot of them follow satan and spread his message in movies and music.

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