A4P Guest: “Is watching a movie a sin?”

A4P: It is always good to ask yourself, “What do I get out of this movie?” before you decide to watch one. Will the movie bring you close to Jesus or away from Him?

A4P Guest: What’s wrong with relaxing and enjoying myself while watching a movie? I don’t think God is against that, is He?

A4P: Not at all! However, the Bible says, “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything.” (1 Corinthians 6:12) So, it is good to ask yourself in what way the movie you sit to watch is going to add any value to your life. You see, there is no “neutral” movie per say, means, every movie you sit to watch has a tendency to influence and shape the way you see and interpret life and reality.

Whether a movie brings you close to Christ or not depends on the moral values the movie promotes.

A4P Guest: But I’m watching only Amharic movies.

A4P: C’mon now, who said that Amharic movies are made in the heavenly Jerusalem?

Look, the life we live in Christ is a life given over to God because of the love we have for Christ. That love should dictate our lives not the do’s and the don’ts we create in our minds.

I think this “Is doing ‘this & that’ a sin” kind of question comes out of a mind that is too busy and focused on “do’s and don’ts.”

As Christians, we need to focus on developing close and intimate relationship with Christ as we meditate His Word, pray without ceasing and fellowship with other believers. When we do that, we run out of these kinds of questions because His love will make them all totally IRRELEVANT to our lives.

Listen what the Bible says, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”” (Isaiah 30:21)

Did you hear that? Who can hear God clearly except those who are very close to Him! Listening to God means making the word of God part of your life so the Holy Spirit brings the right verse or passage of the Bible to your memory in the right place at the right time.

Remember, list of “do’s and “don’ts” won’t make us better Christians but our devotion to know and love Jesus Christ. ///