Hollywood has come into our churches. Every Sunday, across the metroplex, hundreds of churches play little movie clips that illustrate points in the sermons that are being preached. Or perhaps these clips are the means of communicating the application to the people. Whatever, the means of the clip, it has clearly become the tool of choice. Is this a good thing? What are we communicating if we incorporate a movie clip into our services and what are the natural repercussions, if any?

What is the primary dictator of the cultural trends and attitudes of America and perhaps the world? I would argue that it is the cinema and movies. Just look at people and who they idolize. Will Smith, Mel Gibson, Kevin Costner, etc. These men have been in plenty of movies and are essentially world renowned actors. The theology of Hollywood is being communicated in all kinds of movies. Take for instance Brokeback Mountain. This movie is premiering in a few weeks and it stars two superstars who will portray two men who are homosexuals. The movie will show their intimate relationship in great deal. It comes at a time when the edges have been pushed to allow and be sensitive to this type of sin. There was a time when this would not be allowable. But Sin has invaded Hollywood because it is run by people.

Because Hollywood is a secular entity with little or nor morals as a whole, to use them as a point in our sermons is to condone the garbage that is being communicated in movies. Recently, a large church in the Dallas area began a series called Reel to Real. They showed extended clips of movies and then discussed them. The Bible was essentially dethroned and we learned from the good or bad message of the movie. The introduction, message and application were all communicated through the movie. There was “sermon” time and a verse was read to make a point. In any case after every Sunday for a while I would go home and rent the movie that was shown. I received all the garbage of the movie along with that point made. In some cases the movies had a bunch of junk in them.

Perhaps I am belaboring a point that may be inconsequential but I think it is important that the Bible not be replaced by the theology that we see in movies today. I think it is important to remember that the authority of movies is fleeting and depraved. What are we thinking making movies the teacher in our Sunday services? What are they going to remember? The movie clip of the hottest movie out or the verses you quoted to back the point the movie was making?