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My Thought On R-rated Movies

A Word From Jonathan About Discernment/Responsibility

Every once in a while someone asks a question about the use of video clips. "How can you justify showing a rated 'R' film?" or "Aren't you endorsing movies and what they stand for by their use?" I thought I'd address that right up front since I know those emails are coming.

I wouldn't show most movies to kids- and to be honest with you, 'R' isn't the line I use. I'm surprised how often Christians make the 'R' rating, a secular rating system based on secular morals, their line. There is more PG and PG-13 junk out there than ever before. Furthermore, almost every sit com on the 3 major networks today have more junk than 'R' movies 30 years ago, and to be totally honest with you . . . I would rather kids see some movies out there than most sit coms on TV today. A movie like Saving Private Ryan is Captain Kangaroo compared to your average 5 minutes of television's FRIENDS, DAWSON'S CREEK, or BOSTON PUBLIC.

My movie suggestions take small clips from movies to promote discussion. I recommend using discretion when choosing which movies to watch.

Now realize- my background is working with non-church kids in campus clubs. Most the kids I work with are allowed to watch R-rated movies and are always talking about them. Fact is, in my recent survey of junior high kids (age 12, 13, and 14) their favorite movie is an 'R' rated film. A good example was last year: over 90% of the students had seen Matrix and were talking about it, so we did a Matrix discussion (see link on my video clip page, under the topic "Choices") Finding clips from these films and discussing them can be advantageous. Precaution always has to be taken . . . and ramifications always need to be prayerfully considered. But I don't have a problem with showing clips from movies, especially from a war movie like Saving Private Ryan.

Personally, I love movies. Anyone who knows me knows that if they go see a movie with me I usually give the run-down on who directed it, the director's history and the history of all the actors. I studied film in college and I have even dinked around filming a few shorts. However, I have 3 kids and they don't watch anything but a little public television and kids films (Milo & Otis, Tarzan, etc.) Web sites like screenit.com have been a great help in discerning what is appropriate for viewing.

Just because I personally watch almost no TV but like movies, I'm not going to shove that on anyone else. I'm hoping and praying that youth workers out there are going to stay connected to Christ and let their wisdom and decision making flow from Him. Meanwhile, I'll try to keep providing good ideas and resources that might be useful to some, and maybe not to others.

God Bless,

Jonathan

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