The R-Rated problem

R-Rated Christians Who Hate R-rated Movies.
Or,
Why I Find the Company of Pagans and Agnostics So Refreshing.

So, I was visiting a certain church and I got into some small talk with a few of the members following the Sunday night service. Someone asked what I did and I told them about Hollywood Jesus. The next question was, "Do you review R-rated movies?"

I said, "Yes, of course."

And then I was hit with some harsh judgmental attitudes. "How can you watch that stuff? Don't you know that Christians are not suppose to watch R-rated movies? We are suppose to protect our hears and eyes."

The 3 monkeys (see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil) came to mind. But I was kind. In my response I stated what Jesus said, "It's not what goes in that defiles a person, rather its what comes out" (Mark 7:15).

Unbelievable as it may sound, the next question was: "Which Jesus do you believe in?"

Which Jesus? Like, oh my gosh, I suddenly realized they did not feel I was even a Christian. Suddenly this conversation was a bit much for me. I said "The Jesus of the Scripture." However, nothing I said mattered, and I knew it. I had been tried, convicted and sentenced. I received the worst verbal attack I can remember in a long time.

I was being victimized by narrow minded Christians. No, make that closed minded. R-rated Christians who complain about R-rated films. I went home shaking my head. I kept telling myself how foolish I was to think that there was any kind freedom in these kind of churches. They are not Jesus centered. They are centered on some moralistic agenda and I did not fit their cookie cutter concepts. I mean like, check your brains at the door. No independent thinking here. In fact do not try to think at all.

To make matters worse, when I got home I found this horrific e-mail awaiting me:

David, Wolves in sheeps clothing appear in churches from time to time. After tonights encounter my suggestion to you would be to not return either to the singles group or to any activity at XXX XXX Fellowship. If you do, you will be escorted off the premises by what ever means is necessary. I hope I make myself "perfectly clear". By the way I was not one of the guys that took part in your discussion, so don't rack your brain trying to figure out who this is. I guess that I don't have to tell you that I will also notify other churches in the valley who you are and what you are about. I do not agree with the material on your website, your beliefs, or the way that you "market" yourself.
Guardian Angel

It was depressing.
It was like, so unbelievable.
I mean, I was like totally wondering what Jesus this "Guardian Angel" followed. This person was threatening me with implied physical force and was plotting to destroy my character! The email made my wonder what the true meaning of R-rated was.

But, then God smiled on me and moved on "a pagan" to send this email:

Hello. I just wanted to send you a quick note and tell you that I quite enjoy your site. It is very well done and I am most impressed by that it has not, as much as I have read ever, really put down a film for being negative in any way. It always seems to find the positive aspect when reviewing a film from the Christian perspective. I have seen too many web sites attack a film for being satanic or evil in nature when that was quite obviously not the intent. Anyway, Thank you for the site and keep up the good work. I will return.
David -A Pagan

And then God moved on "an agnostic" to send me this wonderful email:

I discovered your website quite by accident. While doing a movie search I saw A "Christian" reference to the movie "Dogma" and clicked it, expecting to see the typical bashing of the "cesspool" of Hollywood. Instead I found one of the most enlightening, profound and deephearted reviews I've ever read.

Perhaps a bit of background information would be helpful. For the majority of my 32 years I have labeled myself agnostic. Not due to a disbelief in God or Jesus, but stemming rather from my own inability to reconcile my personal beliefs from all the public statements being made by "noted Christian" representatives...

And then I found your website. I remember listening to a guy at work bashing the movie "Dogma" as being incredibly blasphemous and against God. I was so intrigued that I went out and watched the movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it and when I returned to work the next day, I tried to discuss it with the guy. He informed me that he hadn't actually seen the movie, but since it came from Hollywood, and it was a religious comedy, he didn't need to "smell the sewer to know it stinks". I filed this under "typical Christian reaction" until looking into buying the DVD today. I ran across your review and now I feel that every narrow minded belief I had in Christianity has been blown completely out of the water. I may even pick up the Bible again. I have now poured over your archives, and as ridiculous as it may sound, I might just see enough connection with my own beliefs to start caring again. Your reviewers don't simply quote a bit of scripture from the bible (something that has never really made clear sense to me) and leave it at that, like it's the final word said on the matter. Rather they look at a film and attempt to put in into perspective. Geez, if you can find a Christian story line in "Fight Club", you can't be the closed minded group I once assumed all of you guys to be.
Thank you for bridging the gap.
Regards Dave Yung

All I came say is, "Long live the pagans, agnostics and atheist!"
I love you, I love you, I love you.
Give me R-rated truth, and save me from G-rated insults and lies.
May God place more of these wonderful people in my life.
I feel the love and pleasure of God through you (John 3:16).

I think I want to open a church that is open to all people
--punkers, gothics, blue collars, suits, divorced, singles, outcasts, freaks, geeks, doubters, the broken and abused, smokers, drinkers and maybe even a few "Thomas Kinkade perfect family" types;
A church that is X-rated (Busters), and Y-rated (Millenials).
A church that embraces the ugly, the despised and rejected.
A church that defines integrity as encouraging free thinking and honesty;
A church that allows for differences;
A church that follows the Jesus who hangs with sinners and prostitutes;
A church that welcomes the woman who has five ex-husbands and is currently shaking with some guy (John 4);
A church that says "No rocking throwing allowed" (John 8).
A church that "world speaks."
A church that is in love with Jesus and with ALL of humanity.

Actually, I like to think of Hollywood Jesus as an online Cyber Church that is all of the above. And, I also know, there are some really-with-it-churches out there that truly understand the radical concept of Jesus' "whosoever will."

In terms of R-rated movies, I do think there are stupid crappy ones out there that I do not waste my money on (see Newsletter #24). But then, I also feel that way about certain G and PG films, too (Omega Code comes to mind, and can you believe it: there is a sequel in the works).

I also believe that it is counterproductive and strange to publicly judge a non-Christian filmmaker for not making a so-called Christian-friendly film. Its like saying stating the obvious. Its judging an apple by the standards of an orange. Jesus set a good example to follow: he did not come to judge the world (John 3:17). I really think it is best to leave the judgment thing to God.

In terms of certain elements within a film, I do not believe that if a film portrays someone committing adultery with someone else's spouse, that I will in any way be motivated to do the same. Nor do I believe that if a film portrays a thief or murder that I will suddenly have a desire to do the same. And, I can assure that if a film portrays nudity, my clothes will remain on.

I believe, as with all things, it is the intent of the heart that matters. If someone has impure motives for viewing a film, then it is wrong.

For me, however, film is a reflection of our time, our culture, our values. Popular main stream films furnish me with common ground for public discourse. Fight Club, Dogma, Saving Private Ryan, Green Mile, The Matrix, and Amistad are all R-rated and have proved invaluable in my many conversations with agnostics, atheists, pagans, new agers, young and old, Christians and non-Christians. Film becomes a very spiritual experience for me. I am a post modern missionary that loves to engage the culture within the culture. How about you?

God is good.

What are your views on popular main stream (non-crappy) R-rated films? It is very okay to agree or disagree with me!