Should Christians watch movies or shows with mature content?
Christians often wrestle with entertainment choices, especially when it comes to movies or shows with mature content. Balancing the Bible’s call to focus on purity (Philippians 4:8) and guarding one’s heart (Proverbs 4:23) with cultural engagement is challenging. This discussion invites you to explore how Christians can navigate these decisions in ways that honor God.
Entertainment can be a tricky topic for Christians, especially when it comes to movies or shows with mature content. On one hand, these films can offer compelling stories and themes that challenge us to think deeply. On the other, they may include elements—like violence, explicit language, or sexuality—that conflict with biblical values.
The Bible encourages us to guard our hearts and minds (Proverbs 4:23) and to focus on what is pure, lovely, and commendable (Philippians 4:8). But how do we balance that with engaging culture or understanding complex narratives that reflect the human condition?
What guidelines should Christians follow when deciding what to watch, and where do we draw the line between entertainment and compromise?
I start with a question that works well for documentaries as well as tv or film: other than making money, what is the goal or agenda? If showing the crime or sex or rage is the goal, I Don’t watch it if these things are part of the story that centers on an important event or idea, I may watch.
Hi,
Should we read books that contain sexual immorality, adultery, formication, homosexuality, and the treating women as property?
The Bible has all of that.
So it cannot be the reading that is sin.
Whatever activates our lust of eyes, our flesh, or stimulates our pride of life, that is what to look out for.
Of course that would include movies and TV.
Its our reaction to what we see that becomes the sin.
I’m an avid reader, over 200 books this year.
And I would agree that if what one is reading or watching on the big screen or at home in the privacy of one’s home causes a stumble into sin, then it’s wrong. For that person.
I have turned off many books or movies because something is “ wrong” for me in the content.
Saying that, what is wrong for one mature adult may not be wrong for another. I do believe parents must supervise minors.
Just a brief story…. As a family we were watching an HBO movie, when HBO came out (yes I’m old) and the movie content embarrassed me and I felt shame. I think, as I have looked back several times, that my parents might have felt as I did. But we all remained steadfast. Later that night I had dreams and cried fitfully in my sleep from the movie. I believe my parents should have turned it off and talked with us 5 kids.
Later, another brief memory, I was watching a movie in the home of a prominent missionary, with other missionaries, and I was again embarrassed and felt shame. There were people who got up and walked out. I should have but didn’t. It is acceptable to evaluate and walk out or turn off, like I do with some genres of books. I will not read books that are in anyway dealing with psychic, supernatural or evil spirits.
How about @Joe’s response? Are there then parts of the Bible that you won’t read because they are x-rated?
Like Abraham’s threesome?
The rape of Tamar?
David’s affair with Bathsheba?
The prostitute Rahab’s rescue of the two spies?
These stories have all the aspects of what you and your missionary friends would surely call embarrassing content, but you likely give it all a pass because it’s scripture and not HBO.
I understand your point just fine. What I’m saying is that your point isn’t a consistent position that you are able to even apply to the Bible, let alone secular entertainment. When you say that you won’t read anything that deals with the supernatural or evil spirits-- how much of scripture would that eliminate?
Personal embarrassment or the feeling that something is wrong with the content isn’t really much of a measuring stick, and it’s likely a kind of holdover from your upbringing, or teaching you’ve sat under that causes some sort of guilt-ridden response to what otherwise might simply be classified as mature content.
No judgment, just an observation, and like you say-- nothing to argue about.
Thinking about this question as I now have a teenager who is watching movies at friends’ houses. How should I approach this subject with a 13-year-old? I want him to “stay innocent” but I also don’t want to be the parent that makes life hard for him. I know how hard “my mom said I can’t” hits a teen.
There are movie editing tools that allow the muting of language, the removal of offensive scenes, the covering of nakedness, and even the removal of entire characters.
I’m reminded of the song, “Be careful little eyes what you see. There’s a Father up above looking down on you in love. Be careful little eyes what you see.”
I think of what we put into our mind in the same way as what I put into my stomach. In either case, my mind or my stomach has no choice but to digest what I’ve put in, and it will be either for my good or not. What I eat over time has an effect on my health and what I watch over time has an effect on my thinking. You can’t unwatch something and you can’t unknow something. Once you know, you know and once you’ve seen, you’ve seen. As a guiding principle, it works well.
Wish you were here brother, but to answer the question biblically…
Scripture does not address “movies” as such, but it speaks very directly to what the believer sets before the mind and body, especially in light of the indwelling Holy Spirit. When you trace Paul’s argumentation, the issue becomes one of temple theology, sanctification, and moral participation rather than mere external activity.
First, Paul grounds everything in the reality that the believer is the dwelling place of God Himself.
The noun “temple” (ναός) refers not to the outer courts, but the inner sanctuary, the מקום of divine presence. The imperative “glorify” (δοξάσατε) establishes obligation.
What one entertains through the senses is not morally neutral, because it is brought into the sphere of God’s dwelling.
Second, Paul consistently prohibits mental and participatory engagement with impurity, not merely physical acts.
The phrase “must not even be named” (μηδὲ ὀνομαζέσθω) intensifies the prohibition to the level of association and normalization, which is precisely what “mature content” media often does.
Third, Paul explicitly forbids participation or passive alignment with sinful works.
“Take no part” (μὴ συγκοινωνεῖτε) denotes shared participation or fellowship, even indirectly. Regular consumption of content that celebrates sin risks precisely this kind of κοινωνία.
Fourth, the apostle defines the discipline of the mind as central to sanctification.
The present imperative “think” (λογίζεσθε) governs sustained mental orientation. Content that is explicitly impure or corrupt stands in direct contradiction to this command.
Fifth, Paul frames liberty within the category of edification and mastery.
Even where something is not explicitly forbidden, it must be tested by whether it builds up and whether it exerts enslaving influence over the affections and desires.
Finally, Paul warns against grieving the indwelling Spirit.
The verb “grieve” (λυπεῖτε) indicates relational offense within the covenantal presence of the Spirit. Persistent exposure to what God condemns is incompatible with His indwelling holiness.
So the Pauline synthesis is this, from Scripture…
Because the believer is the temple of the Holy Spirit, what is watched is not trivial.
Because sanctification includes the mind and affections, what is entertained matters. Because fellowship with darkness is forbidden, normalizing sin through media is spiritually dangerous.
Therefore, while Scripture does not list “movies,” it gives a framework that strongly cautions against consuming content that promotes impurity, glorifies sin, or dulls holiness, since this conflicts with the indwelling presence and sanctifying work of the Spirit.
Miss you @Fritzpw_Admin and stay strong in Messiah, continue to grow in holiness/sanctification, maturity and perserverance, and in the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body - ESV ↩︎
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you… Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking… - ESV ↩︎
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them - ESV ↩︎
whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure… think about these things - ESV ↩︎
“All things are lawful for me,” but not all things are helpful… I will not be dominated by anything - ESV ↩︎
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption - ESV ↩︎
