Series, movies: Can a Christian
watch everything?
2 hours a day. That's the average time we spent in 2019 on Netflix, according to a report by Business Insider. Since then, Covid has gone through this, causing the use of streaming platforms (Disney+, OCS, myCanal, etc.) to jump. It is currently estimated that a Netflix and Co. user spends the equivalent of 51 full days a year watching movies or bingewatching series on the platform. That's nearly a seventh of its time[1] !
These figures are dizzying and may not correspond to your personal consumption... nor mine! But even if we don't watch TV or Netflix as much as our contemporaries, the fact is that we watch them too! It is in this entertainment culture that we live and grow up our children.
In tensionInevitably, the Christian who seeks to be in the world without being of the world, sooner or later finds himself confronted with the following question: "Can I watch X, Y or Z – this series on Netflix or Amazon Prime, this movie available on VOD, or this TV show?"
This is not an easy question to answer. Indeed, it is a precarious balance that we must seek to have to ensure that our Christian freedom does not become or resemble legalism or license. The legalistic approach of "all entertainment is bad" is problematic. Of course. But the worst way to respond to legalism is to fall into the other extreme: that of naively suggesting that "everything is ok" and that nothing is forbidden to the informed Christian viewer. This is a subject on which we must learn to walk a tightrope.
That depends!To put it another way, there is no simple, short answer to the question: "Can I look at X, Y or Z?"
Because the short answer would be: "It depends!"
Ces films ou séries peuvent nous paraître, à nous et à nos enfants, assez inoffensifs, parce qu’ils ne regorgent pas de sexe, d’insultes et de violence. Mais ils sont écœurants de sentimentalisme et ils nous façonnent inévitablement.
Les SolasBref, il n’y a pas de réponse « passe-partout » qui permettrait de donner une règle stricte et rapide à appliquer à chaque situation. Mais ça ne veut pas dire pour autant que nous n’avons aucune réponse à apporter à la question : « Est-ce que je peux regarder X, Y ou Z ? »
Dans son livre, Daniel Strange propose d’utiliser les cinq Solas de la Réforme comme « tests »
pour jauger notre consommation culturelle :
Three guidesIn addition to these five "tests", three practical guides can also help us consume culture with fidelity:
—is not thinking about it enough.[3]. »
In short, if it is exaggerated to ask yourself a thousand questions before watching each movie or series, it would be good to regularly check your cultural consumption.
These figures are dizzying and may not correspond to your personal consumption... nor mine! But even if we don't watch TV or Netflix as much as our contemporaries, the fact is that we watch them too! It is in this entertainment culture that we live and grow up our children.
In tensionInevitably, the Christian who seeks to be in the world without being of the world, sooner or later finds himself confronted with the following question: "Can I watch X, Y or Z – this series on Netflix or Amazon Prime, this movie available on VOD, or this TV show?"
This is not an easy question to answer. Indeed, it is a precarious balance that we must seek to have to ensure that our Christian freedom does not become or resemble legalism or license. The legalistic approach of "all entertainment is bad" is problematic. Of course. But the worst way to respond to legalism is to fall into the other extreme: that of naively suggesting that "everything is ok" and that nothing is forbidden to the informed Christian viewer. This is a subject on which we must learn to walk a tightrope.
That depends!To put it another way, there is no simple, short answer to the question: "Can I look at X, Y or Z?"
Because the short answer would be: "It depends!"
- It depends on the character. We all have unique personalities, personal histories and family upbrings. In particular, we all have our "particular flesh," that is, a tendency to succumb more easily to some temptations than to others. This means that two Christians can be exposed to the same images, for one it will be an opportunity to fall, for the other not.
- Ça dépend du contexte. Certains sont seul disciple de Christ dans une famille totalement non-croyante, sans valeurs chrétiennes. Il se peut que vous soyez exposés à certains programmes mauvais, non par complaisance personnelle,
- mais par votre présence fidèle dans ce contexte.
- Ça dépend, à cause de la complexité du sujet. Souvent, quand on pose la question « Est-ce que je peux regarder ? » on pense aux dangers du sexe et à de la violence. Comme si c’étaient les deux seules choses contre lesquelles nous devons être mis en garde. En réalité, ces sont des dangers évidents. Nous devons aussi nous méfier d’autres domaines, plus subtils mais tout aussi dangereux.
Ces films ou séries peuvent nous paraître, à nous et à nos enfants, assez inoffensifs, parce qu’ils ne regorgent pas de sexe, d’insultes et de violence. Mais ils sont écœurants de sentimentalisme et ils nous façonnent inévitablement.
Les SolasBref, il n’y a pas de réponse « passe-partout » qui permettrait de donner une règle stricte et rapide à appliquer à chaque situation. Mais ça ne veut pas dire pour autant que nous n’avons aucune réponse à apporter à la question : « Est-ce que je peux regarder X, Y ou Z ? »
Dans son livre, Daniel Strange propose d’utiliser les cinq Solas de la Réforme comme « tests »
pour jauger notre consommation culturelle :
- Sola gratia. La « grâce seule » nous rappelle que notre acceptation devant Dieu n’est pas fondée sur ce que nous« faisons », mais sur ce que Dieu a « fait » en Christ. Nous ne contribuons en rien au salut. Jésus a tout fait, de A à Z. Ce que cela signifie en termes d’engagement culturel, c’est que nos raisons de regarder ou non un programme doivent être axées sur la grâce, et non la loi.
- Solus Christus. Le « Christ seul » nous rappelle qu’« hors de Christ point de salut ». Dieu nous unit à Jésus par la foi, et c’est de notre union avec Lui que nous recevons tous les bénéfices du salut. Or, celui qui est uni à Christ devient spirituellement « un » avec Lui. Il ne s’appartient plus à lui-même, mais à Dieu qui l’a racheté par le sang précieux de son Fils.
- Sola fide. "Faith alone" reminds us of the means by which we are united with Christ and receive His blessings—a living faith, which translates into a life rich in good works. What this means in terms of cultural engagement is that we have to learn to be intentional. Especially in the age of streaming and platforms, our cultural choices tend to be made "by default", negatively, simply trying to avoid evil. We just avoid watching a program with sex or violence, without thinking positively about what is good, or better.
- Sola Scriptura. "Scripture alone" affirms that the Bible is our ultimate authority and that we must analyze the world through (or through) the Word. It is the truth that gives meaning to the world and to our lives. In other words, it is the "Big Story" (the metanarrative) that frees us from alternative cultural "histories" that seek to deceive us. Series, movies and other entertainment are not neutral. They convey values and a vision of the world that are alternative to that of the Bible. As Daniel Strange explains: "These other 'big stories' influence us and tell us what is important and why it is important, what is laudable and what is wrong... If we don't look at the world through the stories of the Bible, [this] host of other 'great stories' stand ready to deceive us. They lurk in our society, seeking to become the reference for the interpretation of the universe" (p. 93).
- Soli Deo Gloria. "To God alone glory" reminds us that everything we do must be for His glory. It is the glue that welds all the Solas Created by God, it is by living for his glory that we find our greatest joy and satisfaction.
Three guidesIn addition to these five "tests", three practical guides can also help us consume culture with fidelity:
- Consciousness. There is the internal control that we call our conscience. It is this God-given inner guide as an alarm system. Scripture says we must never go against Him (Romans 14; 1 Corinthians 8). According to this rule, if watching something feels detrimental to you, don't look at it. If you ask yourself the question, "Should I look at this?" chances are your consciousness has already begun to work. In this case, choose to say "no" unless you have a compelling reason to say "yes."
- The community. There is external control of the community. Instead of watching a movie or series and not talking about it for fear of being judged, why wouldn't we talk about the programs we watch with other brothers and sisters to find out what they think? Why not watch movies collectively rather than individually? This makes it possible to criticize and exchange before and after. Indeed, if we are left to our own deliberations, it can be easy to justify almost any choice.
- Bypass. Finally, let's not forget that it is also possible to avoid certain problematic content, in a more ... Simple and straightforward. By putting your hand in front of your eyes or clicking on the "fast forward" button.
—is not thinking about it enough.[3]. »
In short, if it is exaggerated to ask yourself a thousand questions before watching each movie or series, it would be good to regularly check your cultural consumption.
