In today’s society, we love to be scared. To get our adrenaline pumping. Heart racing. We love Fear. Why? Why has fear become a drug in our society? And it’s not just the world either; it’s the Church. We, as the Church, love this drug as well. We love to be with the rest of society indulging in the drug, but does this help build up the Temple of God? Should Christians watch Horror/Scary movies? Join Reverend Kenny Yates as he brings the first message of our new message series titled, ‘Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See.’
Psalm 101:2–4
Matthew 6:22–23
Proverbs 23:7KJV
1 Corinthians 6:19–20
John 15:4, 7-8
Philippians 4:8–9
Matthew 6:33
2 Corinthians 10:4–6
More Information on Christians and Horror/Scary Movies?
According to a study done by Psychology Today in 2008,
‘And anxiety has been increasing. The average high school kid has the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s. We are getting more anxious every decade. Psychologists have speculated about the possible reasons for this increase in both anxiety and depression over the last fifty years.’
Psychology Today
The average high school kid in 2008 had the same level of anxiety as the average psychiatric patient in the early 1950’s, and according to Psychology Today anxiety gets worse every decade. It’s now been over a decade since this study in 2008. So, how much more has our society become anxious? Why is anxiety rising at such a rampant speed in our society?
Could it be that we made a partnership with fear in the 60s when we introduced Creature Features? We no longer had to leave our homes to see horror films, we could turn on our television and tune in to watch classic horror films throughout the decades starting with the 30s. We no longer went to the movies, watched the film, and then returned to our home; instead we brought the horror films home with us.
The very definition of horror films should cause Christians to question their participation. According to Wikipedia,
“A horror film is one that seeks to elicit fear in its audience, for entertainment purposes… Horror films often aim to evoke viewers’ nightmares, fears, revulsions and terror of the unknown. Plots within the horror genre often involve the intrusion of an evil force, event, or personage into the everyday world.”
Wikipedia horror film definition
To elicit: To call forth, draw out, or provoke.
To evoke: To call forth or up.
I want you to keep in mind that fear IS a real entity. It is NOT just a feeling. The bible attributes fear to an actual real-life living spirit, but as Christians, we hold to the promise of 2 Timothy 1:7, “7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” So, as Christians, why do we try to evoke and elicit a spirit of fear into our lives by watching these horror films? Matthew 6:22-23, “22 The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, 23 but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” If you continuously fill your eyes with darkness and fear, will that not cause your whole body to be dark? And if your whole body is dark, how can you be the Temple of the Living God?
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John Ramirez is an ex-satanist now serving the LORD. Check out his incredible story and journey here.