A couple years ago I walked into the movie theater, and I saw a Christian couple I knew walking out. We stopped in the lobby, said hi, and I asked them what movie they’d seen. The guy shook his head and named a flick about a serial killer’s rampage (I think it was
Summer of Sam). I was surprised this couple, who helped in the youth ministry and even had a Bible study group meet at their house, was watching a film like this. I remember the guy said, “We should’ve walked out.” And I couldn’t help but think, “Well, why didn’t you? Why did you even pick this movie in the first place? You had to know what you would see.”
I don’t say this to condemn this couple. We all make mistakes. We’ve all watched things we shouldn’t. But the question I’ve been asking myself lately is this: How will people know we’re Christians if we watch the same things everyone else does?
Some will argue we need to watch so we can be relevant. We need to be able to talk to people on their level, and sometimes that means watching things we wouldn’t normally watch. I see why people use this argument. Relevancy is a big issue in the church—too many people are completely irrelevant to the world. But is this really the answer? I find it hard to believe that Jesus would need to watch an R rated film so he could better minister to people. The Bible says,
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)
Here’s the bottom line. When people look at you, do they see something different? Do they look at your life and want what you have? 1 Peter 3:15 says,
Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.
But if there’s nothing in our lives that sets us apart, how will people know to ask us?
Today we hear from a film maker and author in Advice for Novelists series. In this series I've asked authors, agents, editors and publicists their response to the question:
