You walk in the back doors quietly–they’ve already begun. Your eyes scan the dimly lit room for an open row or cluster of seats. You move swiftly up an aisle and slide into a seat that is much too close to the front for comfort. You glance at the people sitting a couple seats down, smile awkwardly, then turn your attention to the front of the large, high-ceilinged room.
Have you ever noticed the similarities between a church’s auditorium or sanctuary and a movie theater? Reread the description above. It could easily describe either setting. The experiences we can have in both a movie theater and an auditorium are as much alike as the aesthetics of each space.
Think about why you go to see a film. There is a difference between watching a rental in your home and going to the theater, buying a ticket, smelling the popcorn, and feeling the ground tremble with the movie’s explosions and music and screams and laughter. For me, the best part of the theater experience is connecting with a piece of art alongside people who I do not know and will probably never see again.
Now, think about why you go to church (and there can be many reasons). Some people go to be entertained, some to “punch their card,” and some to fully connect with God as they let the Spirit move in their hearts while gathered with fellow believers in a sacred space.
I believe that movies are art. Through the years, Christians have taken various approaches to viewing film. Earlier methods involved avoidance and caution and later ones called for dialogue, appropriation, and allowing ourselves to experience divine encounter through the art of film. However, for the final option to occur within our hearts, we have to engage. We can’t simply sit back, turn off our ability to think critically, and expect revelation. It’s like church–if you come expecting the preacher and the Holy Spirit to do all the work, you will likely end up disappointed and dissatisfied. Worship is a two-way street. Can film be classified as worship?
What if you came to the movie theater AND the auditorium ready and willing to engage and think every time? Things would be so different! Remember the story of Jesus and the woman at the well in the gospel of John. He gives her living water. The last thing he tells her, before revealing himself as the Messiah: “But an hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. Yes, the Father wants such people to worship Him. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).
Saying that movies are purely entertainment discredits the work of the artist, and, more importantly, discredits God’s ability to speak through a huge component of popular culture. It is true that there are some films that are simply corrupt and provide no truth or help us to live more righteously (movies like Step Brothers, American Pie II: Beta House, or any and all porno flicks). However, there are some films that we write off immediately because of the rating or perhaps one scene that does not line up with that which is considered noble and honorable. Watching a movie and writing it off as shallow and only meant for “entertainment” is just as wasteful.
Many people spend as much time (or more!) watching movies as they do praying, serving, or reading the Word. Robert K. Johnston says in his book Reel Spirituality, “Movies are perhaps singular in their ability to reveal American culture, whether for good or for ill.” If this is true, and we really spend such a ridiculous amount of time watching movies, why shouldn’t we let them do that of which Johnston says they are capable?
We want to be true worshipers. If there is a place where truth exists and we choose to ignore it, maybe we aren’t worshiping the way that we should. Actively allowing “entertainment” to educate, transform, and reveal truth about culture and humanity will help us to make a habit of searching for truth not only in film, but in books, television, on the web, in music, nature, and in every part of culture that we choose to holistically engage. Hopefully, it will help us form better habits in the auditorium, too!
God of truth,
Thank You for speaking to us through the world. Let our ears hear Your voice. Give us eyes to see truth and goodness everywhere we look–even places that we might not expect to find it. Teach us to bring open hearts to every worship opportunity–whether in the auditorium, at home, at work, or even in the movie theater. We love You and we thank You for the surprising and astounding ways that You reveal parts of Yourself to us everyday.
Through Jesus,
Amen.
To learn more about theology and film in dialogue, read Robert K. Johnston’s Reel Spirituality or search for film reviews at www.imdb.com or www.christianitytoday.com.
Erin Daugherty
Stephenville, Texas
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