A recent article in a Christian publication about a film entitled Chariots of Fire, raised again the age-old question about the responsibility of Christians toward one another and toward the non-Christian world. The article itself gives support to the age-old truth that “the farther away we are from the source of the stream, the dirtier the water becomes.”

     

Throughout the passing years we cannot help but detect the tendency of the church, along with the rest of society, to wander farther and farther away from its original insistence upon maintenance of moral behavior and dedication to strictest of moral standards. The mandate of scripture to “avoid the appearance of evil” has throughout church history, and, therefore, throughout the history of western cultural development, been the keystone in determining how Christians, and societies which are impacted by the Christian church, should behave. But as time progresses and the world becomes “dirtier” morally and more corrupt in its social standards, the church has also become much “looser” in its behavior. What was clearly once “wrong” to the church of Christ ofttimes now has become acceptable Christian behavior. That, of course, raises a question as to how early Christians, under the guidance and instruction of the Holy Spirit, could have been led astray in their believing and preaching that so many of today’s “acceptable” Christian practices were then considered “unacceptable.” Now we must decide whether they were wrong. Or was the Spirit of God wrong? Or has God’s Word changed? Or were God’s demands simply misunderstood by the church? These are the types of questions which even the non-churched ask about the Christian community today.

But now, back to the article mentioned aforehand, the one about a Christian’s approval of a film entitled Chariots of Fire. What bas this to do with that subject? Much, I assure you. For many generations of Christians, movie-going was classified as a worldly practice, one which Christians should not, and could not, indulge in. To attend the theatre itself, and to watch films, was simply to lend support to the furtherance of non–Christian activities, smearing the character and the witness of Christians who were dedicated to the complete separation of the Christian from the world and its activities. And there are still many Christians who believe the same thing.

To give approval to Chariots of Fire is to lend approval to an entire industry which portrays—and personifies—the most sinful of human activities. Anyone and everyone is aware of the fact that the film world appeals to some of the most immoral and corrupt of human inclinations and that its selling point focuses upon crime, sexual indecency, and many other of the worst of human activities. Many crimes result from impressions made in the film media. To spend one’s money for even one production of such an industry is to lend some financial support to an entire industry; a portion of the money you give to attend the “best” of films also is used to make the “worst” of films. So the final result of an article supporting one film is that it lends support to an entire industry, one which is a foe of all that the church is dedicated to doing, cleaning the impurities out of society and staying away from activities which will hurt the Christian witness. However, there is one other very important consideration which the author of the aforementioned article has either forgotten or ignored, and that is the responsibility of Christians one toward another, a responsibility clearly set forth in Scripture. Now let us focus our attention on that subject, our obligation to always consider the effect that our behavior will, or may, have upon others.

All Christian activities may be classified in one of three different categories—the good, the bad, and the questionable. The Scriptures give us definite instructions as to what is proper activity for the Christian, it being summed up in Jesus’ admonition to “love God, and your neighbor as yourself.” They instruct us about those things which are sinful in themselves, these being summarized in the historic Ten Commandments. And they are not silent about those things which are classified as questionable or doubtful Christian activities. They lay down certain guidelines which serve to point us to our responsibility to “bear one another’s burden and so fulfill the law of Christ.”

Among the dubious activities are smoking, drinking, and theatre-going, all being acceptable to some as proper behavior and totally unacceptable to others in the Christian community. But there are scriptural statements which give us some indication of what our attitudes should be and which inform us that “no man is an island.” Let us look at some of these principles as they apply to activities which are not “white” nor “black” but “gray.”

1. We are called upon to surrender whatever may be offensive to others. “Whether therefore ye eat or drink or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. Give none offense, neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” (I Corinthians 10:31, 32).

2. That which may seem right to us but is offensive to fellow Christians must be surrendered, at least for the sake of another’s conscience. The Apostle Paul paid particular attention to this principle when he addressed the Corinthian church regarding the eating of meat sacrificed to idols. Though he knew the eating of such meats was right to him, still he wrote “But if any man say unto you, this was offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that showed it, and for conscience sake. For the earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof: Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved” (l Corinthians 10:28, 29, 33).

As the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, your body surely deserves better treatment than it will receive from the practicing of dangerous body-destroying habits. But, above all, “a tree is known by the fruit it bears”: and the Christian faith and life are judged by the example set by Christian believers in action. What we do speaks well or badly for the Christian faith; there is no room for the doubtful behavior. We live for Christ or we live against Christ; either we reflect true Christian virtue, or we do not.

And now, back to the original subject—the rating of a movie which a Christian leader top-rated. How can that in any way be a detriment to anyone? Surely there must be worse if that is the “best.” And the “worst” was not the one that was rated. Is there anything wrong about a Christian giving his approval to the product of Hollywood or some other movie capital around the world? Let me reply to that one with one example in recent history. A few years ago, a number of small boys saw a film in a public theater, one made in the same Hollywood as any other. After observing the picture and seeing so much that was “good” and “enjoyable,” they decided to put into practice that which they had seen. The end product? A short time later they killed a small friend, using the same method they saw used in the picture. That was a physical death which resulted from their seeing just another “western” in a theater. But what about its coming influence on their lives? And what about the many people who follow the examples set by many of our “stars” and wind up in lives of sin and eventual spiritual death? It all started somewhere, in the home, in the school, or even in a Christian church community, perhaps the result of following the example of a Christian leader who was willing to put his investment, time, and approval into an industry which has given more approval to sinful life-styles than any other.

As “living epistles” we are “known and read of all men.” As we consider what we do—however right it may appear to be to us—we are called upon to remember that “we are members one of another,” that we are “examples to believers,” and we are called upon to bring forth a “certain sound.”

Perhaps, then, we had better take another look at wbat is thought to be acceptable behavior to Christians today and return to the standards set by our Christian forefathers, they who were willing to pay the “cost” to maintain purity of life, unquestionable Christian behavior standards, and exemplary Christian living. Perhaps.it would be best to “be our brother’s keeper” and to give high ratings only to that which will help him maintain a pure Christian life. And the movie industry does the opposite.

3. Activities which cause—or may cause another Christian to stumble are sins against Christ. And many a person has been led from one sin to another grosser still, all of it being based upon that first encounter. Our hospitals, jails, and rehabilitation centers are filled with people who had to start on the road down at some point—whether it was the first drink, the first puff, the first movie, or whatever dubious activity it may have been. How many Christians—and non-Christians alike—ignore the fact that the matter of “first example” is tremendously important to the ignorant or the simple follower. How any Christian can even believe that anything except total abstinence is the greatest “cure all” for these habits is inconceivable in the light of Scriptural lessons found in I Corinthians 8:7–13. We are challenged to read this passage in order to understand the “stumblingblock principle” of Christian behavior. In this passage, Paul again declares that every Christian is indeed his brother’s keeper, but more, that when we sin so against the brethren and wound their weak consciences, “ye sin against Christ.”

4. Participation in questionable practices sets an example which may cause younger Christians and children—our own and those of others to stumble, to fail into worse habits, and even to become “hooked” on these affairs. Like it or not, we are some kind of example to everyone else. How difficult it would be for a parent practicing those activities which are “first steps” toward future problems to another Christian or a young person. How difficult it would be for a drinking father to explain to an alcoholic son just why drinking was even practiced in the home at all or why alcohol was even closeted in the house. How difficult it would be for anyone who sets another Christian on the path of addiction to the theatre and immoral influences to explain why his leadership led in that direction. Jesus said: “Whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and he were cast into the sea.” (Mark 9:42) Paul the Apostle wrote: “What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” (1 Cor. 6:20)

James Shook is an Economist and Teacher in Phoenix, Arizona.