Such is often the conversation at my family’s breakfast table the morning after we watch a movie. My siblings and I aren’t always crazy to participate in these discussions, but my dad does his best to draw us out. What makes a movie good or bad? What did we like? Would we watch it again? And we always have to give it a rating on a ten-point scale. The worst of the worst rate a one, with tens reserved for great classics.

It wasn’t until recently, after I’d been in college for a while, that I realized not every Christian has grown up as I have, and I began to appreciate those review sessions and to understand how important the practice can be. Sure, I’d heard the statistics about the average American child watching four to eight hours of TV every day, and sneaking into R-rated movies at night. But those weren’t Christians! When I moved away from home, however, I realized my naiveté. I would sit at the table while my friends — mostly committed Christians — would talk for an hour at a time about their favorite movies. With no objective standards by which they judged each film, personal tastes ruled the day. If it grossed them out, then it was bad; if it gave them nightmares or they thought it was stupid, then it wasn’t worth watching, but no one’s decisions were based on any system of morality.

One of the biggest parts of America’s entertainment culture is the multi-billion dollar movie business. Every year Hollywood creates scores of films, most aimed at high school and college students. Take a look at collections from the past few years, and you’ll see that filmmakers believe either that our generation is willing to support any movie, no matter its depravity, or else that they must coerce/persuade us to accept them. It can be very difficult to discern which movies are worth watching; to pick out the subtle lies woven into a riveting story, to set a standard of purity we will not violate. Movies are, by their very nature, powerful messengers. They can be excellent vehicles for teaching truth, or incredibly dangerous

Recently, I read a review for the popular summertime horror flick, The Blair Witch Project. The reviewer argued that several of the plot nuances were indirectly influenced by Christian thought, and that this film might provide people with an opportunity to open a discussion about Christianity with a non-Christian viewer. Similarly, I have seen the movie Contact several times, and still enjoy the thought-provoking plot. But I have heard people say they believe this movie affirms Christianity, when in reality the theology is quite twisted. Obviously a grounded Christian should be able to discern the truth. But if such films are a non-Christian’s only exposure to Christianity, what are the chances that he is going to believe some very false things about our faith in Christ? As for The Blair Witch Project, one (secular) reviewer counted "at least 134 ‘f’ words [and] 62 ‘s’ words," various other profanities, and a dozen misuses of Christ’s name — in a movie less than 90 minutes long. Well, there may be some "subtle Christian influences," but what about the explicit material that absolutely defies God?

It doesn’t surprise me that Hollywood’s fare is coarsening. Few producers, directors or actors claim to be Christians. It’s no excuse, yet they make no pretense of following a moral standard. Why would they behave any other way? As Christians, however, we have pledged our allegiance to a set moral code and are responsible for our actions.

Don’t think I haven’t messed up. Many times I have started a movie and noticed part way through that it contains offensive scenes, words and attitudes. Since I rarely watch movies alone, there is then The Quandary. Do I say something about how uncomfortable I am, and risk offending my friends — risking being labeled Judgmental — or do I simply stuff it, let the objectionable material roll off my back and forget about it? Sometimes it’s even harder than that: I get so caught up in the drama, wondering what is going to happen to the characters, that I don’t even think about things I might normally avoid . And afterwards I forget about the profanities, the innuendoes and simply remember the story.

To watch a video is primarily a passive activity. We don’t participate in the action, at least physically. But that doesn’t mean we’re not affected by the things we see. Vivid scenes linger in my memory for weeks. Catchy melodies flit through my mind days later, while I try in vain to remember where they came from. Funny phrases get used and reused. That’s harmless, but it causes me to wonder just what else my brain might be unconsciously storing. After watching several movies with a fair amount of profanity, I find that an inappropriate word comes more readily to mind when I am upset. Sometimes after watching a heroine find her perfect match and get married, I get mopey about my own unfulfilled dreams. Obviously we cannot remain separated and unaffected by our intake of popular culture.

Many Christians I know don’t seem bothered by this. They have apparently become so used to the swearing, the sex, the violence, the subtle (or not) anti-Christian messages found in many movies, that it no longer bothers them. They say — reasonably — that they want to be aware of the culture around them; but when does the argument for cultural literacy become a mere excuse for taking in the latest show? Is there a demarcation between being in the world but not of it? If so, what is it? What kind of standards should we follow to keep our thoughts pure, noble and lovely?

On the other hand, some Christians close themselves off to all popular culture. They refuse to watch movies or television, to expose themselves or their families to what they — often aptly — refer to as garbage. Is this what is required of us?

I believe there is a third way, something similar to what my dad instituted at our house. It is more demanding than uncritically emptying two hours of film into my brain, but Jesus instructs us to be wise as serpents and as innocent as doves. To be wise means knowing what is going on around us. Hollywood’s influence is felt in many areas of our lives, and it is good to be aware. Developing wisdom also means that we evaluate what we have seen. Be critical. What would you say to Jesus if He asked you to review a movie? How would you rate it — honestly — on the ten-point scale, and why? After seeing a movie, take a few minutes to analyze it.

But not all movies warrant analysis. To be innocent requires setting limits. Psalm 101:3 says "I will set before my eyes no vile thing." What does this verse means to you personally? There are other ways to be aware of a film short of seeing it — try reading a review, or talking to your friends who have seen it.

Entertainment is one of those areas that is covered only indirectly in the Bible. There are no rules dictating which videos we shall or shall not watch on a Friday night, no black and white guide for what is acceptable and what is taboo. It will vary from person to person and also from time to time in an individual’s life. But I don’t believe God wants us to watch whatever we please. Spend some time in serious prayer about it; ask God for His wisdom, and be willing to obey Him in whatever He asks, even if it means sacrificing a few movies you would like to see. Sometimes it helps to back off for a while and get a new perspective. A friend of mine told me that he once abstained from all movies for several months, just to see what would happen. The longer he went without movies, the more aware he became of objectionable material. At the end of his "movie fast," he didn’t want to watch most videos. Now, that he is back to watching movies on a more regular basis, he tells me he has again lost his sensitivity. Would you be willing to give up what you want in exchange for sensitivity, purity and the knowledge that you are obeying God?

The four areas that affect my decision to watch a movie are: violence, profanity, sex and content (is it an advertisement for witchcraft or thinly veiled propaganda for a sociopolitical movement?). Violence is probably the grayest area. Certain subjects must portray violence in order to be accurate — the holocaust in Schindler’s List or the utter destruction of life in Saving Private Ryan. I haven’t seen either of these movies, but not because I think they’re beyond the pale. It’s only because I know I can’t handle such graphic depictions of violence. I’d have nightmares for days. Many people have a higher tolerance for violence, especially by the time they are adults. (Although it is sad that the majority of adults are so hardened to television violence that it no longer bothers them at all.) Some people need visual images to understand the reality of the story. Personally, my imagination provides more than enough detail to pound a lesson into my memory.

Profanity and content are harder to deal with; especially the abuse of Christ’s name. Such blasphemy is frightening. Other words — well, it depends on the movie. So often it isn’t necessary. The strong language is added more for shock value or to get a higher rating than to enhance the story line. And while I rarely hear anything different in an average day on my college campus, what sense does it make to subject myself to even more off-color jokes or swearing?

The most dangerous content is often that which is 80 percent truth and 20 percent perversion of truth. The lies are subtle; hidden in the tapestry of the story. I for one don't enjoy having my theology messed with in such an underhanded manner.

The fourth and most volatile issue is sex. Each year new boundaries are broken in portraying sexual relationships. We wouldn’t think of watching our friends sleep together, but somehow it's okay when it's done for the camera. Why? It's especially uncomfortable for me to watch suggestive scenes when I’m in the presence of my father, brothers or male friends. What does that say? Sex is sacred and beautiful; private; between God, a man and his wife; it is not something for us to laugh at or fantasize about.

People argue that sex doesn't affect them, they don’t even hear the cursing, and the violence neither turns their stomach nor haunts their dreams. That should signal danger. We quickly become bored with the familiar and yearn for more violence, more sex, more shock. We want to be taken farther then we have been, to be given something new. What we need is to soften our hearts. And no matter how much we protest, Jesus’ words remain: "Out of the overflow of a man’s heart does he speak; by your words you will be condemned."

The challenge is this: Can we serve as witnesses by the words we say and the acts we commit — and, perhaps more importantly, by the things we omit from our lives? The testimony we give by refusing to laugh at others and putting limits on ourselves can be invaluable. "All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial," Paul wrote. We are free in Christ to do all things; we are not bound by a law that says "You shall not watch R-rated movies," but God says that we are not to "use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature, but to serve one another in love." How much more effective might we be if we followed this command?