Are we guilty in some way of what we watch or listen to?...

HuskeyBoy

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Hi, the question that I would like y’all’s input on is:

If I watch or listen to something that’s plainly sinful, am I guilty of what I watched in some way?

For example, if I watch a movie or TV show that has blasphemous language about God in it knowing it was going to be there from reviews, am I guilty of any kind of blasphemy or irreverence as well? Or if I watch a show or series that I know that has rape or the mistreatment of women in it, am I guilty of that in some way, too?

I hope my question isn’t offensive in any way, and I hope it makes sense. Thanks for your input.
TH
 

SkyWriting

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Hi, the question that I would like y’all’s input on is: If I watch or listen to something that’s plainly sinful, am I guilty of what I watched in some way? For example, if I watch a movie or TV show that has blasphemous language about God in it knowing it was going to be there from reviews, am I guilty of any kind of blasphemy or irreverence as well? Or if I watch a show or series that I know that has rape or the mistreatment of women in it, am I guilty of that in some way, too? I hope my question isn’t offensive in any way, and I hope it makes sense. Thanks for your input.
TH

If you think it is wrong, do not do that.
Nobody is keeping tabs or count of your sins
but you get full credit for doing what is right.
 
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Handmaid for Jesus

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Hi, the question that I would like y’all’s input on is:

If I watch or listen to something that’s plainly sinful, am I guilty of what I watched in some way?

For example, if I watch a movie or TV show that has blasphemous language about God in it knowing it was going to be there from reviews, am I guilty of any kind of blasphemy or irreverence as well? Or if I watch a show or series that I know that has rape or the mistreatment of women in it, am I guilty of that in some way, too?

I hope my question isn’t offensive in any way, and I hope it makes sense. Thanks for your input.
TH

God's grace removes the guilt of our sin, forgiveness is readily available. But i agree with post #2. If you think it is wrong, then don't do it. But there is no condemnation imputed to those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1.
 
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HuskeyBoy

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If you think it is wrong, do not do that.
Nobody is keeping tabs or count of your sins
but you get full credit for doing what is right.

I agree with your statement 100%, but what if you did know the movie or music was wrong and turned it on anyway? Where does your ownership of the wrong begin and end?
 
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Kenny'sID

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Nobody is keeping tabs or count of your sins

God is.

Are we guilty in some way of what we watch or listen to?

Do you stop reading the stories in the bible where some act very badly? A movie is a story, and though there is a point even I may not watch, I don't think watching makes me anything, guilty or otherwise.

On the other hand, if doing so causes me to do like they do, that's different. The Holy spirit/God rules in our heart, will generally keep us from wanting to do as they do. If we are a new Christian, might want to beware for a time anyway, at least until we get some things figured out/get more established.

There may be other good reasons not to watch such things, but for me anyway, that is not one of them

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.
 
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SkyWriting

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Sorry. I meant for the saved, sins are not counted.

Romans 4:8
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

Psalm 32:2
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
 
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SkyWriting

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I agree with your statement 100%, but what if you did know the movie or music was wrong and turned it on anyway? Where does your ownership of the wrong begin and end?

It begins when you do what is wrong. It ends when you accept forgiveness.
 
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Strathos

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How much of the show is this portrayed in? If the whole thing glorifies sin, I wouldn't watch it. But if it's just a passing part of the story, I think you're ok.

There's also the issue of how it is portrayed.

I'd say there's a big difference between a work of fiction where sin is portrayed as good and proper, and one where it is portrayed as bad, even if it is portrayed in both.
 
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Sabertooth

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If I watch or listen to something that’s plainly sinful, am I guilty of what I watched in some way?

For example, if I watch a movie or TV show that has blasphemous language about God in it knowing it was going to be there from reviews, am I guilty of any kind of blasphemy or irreverence as well? Or if I watch a show or series that I know that has rape or the mistreatment of women in it, am I guilty of that in some way, too?
This looks like a job for the HOLY SPIRIT...!

In my current sensibilities,
  1. Approval of sin (real or fictional)? Bad [Romans 1:32]
  2. Vicarious participation in known sin? Bad [Matthew 5:28, Romans 16:19]
  3. Objective crime reports? Okay [Matthew 10:16]
  4. Fictionalized crime stories where justice is emphasized? Okay [1 Corinthians 13:6]
For me, most fictional serial killer movies fail at #2.

We used to edit out GDs on video tape. We don't condemn others for it. We will finish out movies in a theater (unless excessive) but we won't own them, over that.
 
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mmksparbud

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Hi, the question that I would like y’all’s input on is:

If I watch or listen to something that’s plainly sinful, am I guilty of what I watched in some way?

For example, if I watch a movie or TV show that has blasphemous language about God in it knowing it was going to be there from reviews, am I guilty of any kind of blasphemy or irreverence as well? Or if I watch a show or series that I know that has rape or the mistreatment of women in it, am I guilty of that in some way, too?

I hope my question isn’t offensive in any way, and I hope it makes sense. Thanks for your input.
TH


Psa 101:3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.
Pro 23:5 Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
Isa 33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
 
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OldWiseGuy

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Only if you buy the show sponsor's products. ;)

My pastor once warned that "On Golden Pond" had a lot of swearing in it, implying that we shouldn't see it. Years later I watched it on television. It's a wonderful movie and the 'swearing' wasn't gratuitous and was just part of real-life dialogue.

Of course many movies today fill the air with completely unnecessary cursing and expletives.
 
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HuskeyBoy

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God is.



Do you stop reading the stories in the bible where some act very badly? A movie is a story, and though there is a point even I may not watch, I don't think watching makes me anything, guilty or otherwise.

On the other hand, if doing so causes me to do like they do, that's different. The Holy spirit/God rules in our heart, will generally keep us from wanting to do as they do. If we are a new Christian, might want to beware for a time anyway, at least until we get some things figured out/get more established.

There may be other good reasons not to watch such things, but for me anyway, that is not one of them

Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.

The stories in the Bible as dark as some of them are, are redemptive, though, right?
 
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Kenny'sID

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The stories in the Bible as dark as some of them are, are redemptive, though, right?

Many movies are as well, good guy/bad guy... good triumphs over evil is a common story line. Tons of lessons in movies, and yet some are completely mindless.
 
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Kenny'sID

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Sorry. I meant for the saved, sins are not counted.

Romans 4:8
blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.

Psalm 32:2
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Isaiah 53:10-12
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.



"Everyone", as I understand it, but there are also several verses that would back up your understanding, so what now?

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).

“So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God” (Romans 14:12).
 
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HuskeyBoy

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This looks like a job for the HOLY SPIRIT...!

In my current sensibilities,
  1. Approval of sin (real or fictional)? Bad [Romans 1:32]
  2. Vicarious participation? Bad [Matthew 5:28, Romans 16:19]
  3. Objective crime reports? Okay [Matthew 10:16]
  4. Fictionalized crime stories where justice is emphasized? Okay [1 Corinthians 13:6]
For me, most fictional serial killer movies fail at #2.

We used to edit out GDs on video tape. We don't condemn others for it. We will finish out movies in a theater (unless excessive) but we won't own them, over that.

just to clarify, let’s say I don’t approve of the sin/blasphemy/crime, but I just wanted to watch the movie for the story.

Take the Bad Boys movies for example, I love Will Smith, and love his acting, but I knew that this movie had terrible language (frequent GD and saying “Jesus Christ” a lot). Was it a “sin” to watch the movie if I didn’t approve of their language and wouldn’t dare say those things myself, but just watched it for mere entertainment?
 
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Sabertooth

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just to clarify, let’s say I don’t approve of the sin/blasphemy/crime, but I just wanted to watch the movie for the story.

Take the Bad Boys movies for example, I love Will Smith, and love his acting, but I knew that this movie had terrible language (frequent GD and saying “Jesus Christ” a lot). Was it a “sin” to watch the movie if I didn’t approve of their language and wouldn’t dare say those things myself, but just watched it for mere entertainment?
Have you been Born-Again?

If so, you don't have to answer to me, just your own Holy Spirit/Bible-led conscience. (I just told you where mine was.)

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23 NKJV

As you walk with God, He will fine-tune your sensibilities.
---------------
If you haven't been Born-Again, you are just re-arranging deck chairs on the RMS Titanic.
 
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HuskeyBoy

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Have you been Born-Again?

If so, you don't have to answer to me, just your own Holy Spirit/Bible-led conscience. (I just told you where mine was.)

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23 NKJV

As you walk with God, He will fine-tune your sensibilities.
---------------
If you haven't been Born-Again, you are just re-arranging deck chairs on the RMS Titanic.

I will say that I didn’t make it very far into the movie before I had to turn it off, my conscience wouldn’t let me keep watching. But I did feel extremely guilty, and I guess that’s where my question is coming from. Did my watching the movie mean I approved of what they were doing and saying? In my heart I didn’t, but am I still guilty of breaking the 1st commandment because I took advantage of my “liberty”?
 
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Sabertooth

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..., but am I still guilty of breaking the 1st commandment because I took advantage of my “liberty”?
Look back. Can you see where you went off of the rails? Repent, if you need to. Recognize your error for next time.
 
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HuskeyBoy

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Look back. Can you see where you went off of the rails? Repent, if you need to. Recognize your error for next time.
The Bible has some very scary things to say about people who sin on purpose repeatedly, I’m just trying to evaluate if I should feel guilty for something somebody else did that I “approved” of. I work around foul language every day at my job, it’s on TV every time I turn it on to even watch the news. I can’t help those times, but in some cases I have had the choice to not hear those things and thought it was ok to because I wasn’t actually the one saying them. That’s where the grey area is for me.
 
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