If there's one thing Hollywood is making clear these days, it's that they sure don't care much about any potential moral sensibilities that you, your children, your faith community, or anyone for that matter may have. The new Marvel movie, Deadpool, is case in point (keep in mind that Disney owns Marvel). With it's extreme violence, horrific language, and blatant nudity, including a lengthy and very revealing sex scene, this movie is even pushing the envelope of a rated R movie. In fact, I'd say, based on the reviews I've read (obviously, I'm not going to see the movie for myself), that this movie will be a part of redefining what we've come to expect of a rated R movie. No longer will rated R stand for "restricted" but instead "raunchy", "rank", "reckless", and "reprobate." Sadly, these very adjectives that define what rated R has come to stand for will likely not make the movies that bear that rating repugnant and repulsive to people but, remorsefully, more attractive.
I pray that this will not be the case for the Christian community. As Hollywood redefines what rated R stands for with movies such as Deadpool, I pray that many of us will decide that paying for and allowing our eyes and ears to take in this raunch, is not worth keeping up to date on movies, staying culturally relevant, wanting to be included, or whatever excuse we may use to consume this type of garbage.
Boycotting movies and the movie industry is nothing new to the Christian community. Some conservative denominations since the 1920's have suggested complete abstinence from anything with Hollywood origins; others simply warning against the unguarded consumption of anything and everything put out on the bigscreen. Although, the former is likely too extreme and can be arguably uncalled for, the latter seems especially pertinent in light of a movie release like Deadpool. The least we can do as Christ followers is to read a review or two (like the one attached) and make a decision that is God glorifying.
Warning to students: If you haven't seen Deadpool yet, please read the attached review and ask yourself, "What will this movie offer me that I will be missing if I do not see it? Is it really worth it?"
https://www.ksl.com/?sid=38443187&nid=1205
If you have seen the move and believe this blog to be too conservative, restrictive, or legalistic a perspective then you are only proving that Hollywood has won. It is having the exact influence over you, your community, and likely your whole culture that it aims to have. If there is conviction that comes with the reading of this blog, I empathize with you. I too, do not like being convicted. But I'm sure glad the Holy Spirit keeps hanging around an old sinner like me and guides me to walk around the cesspool and not swim through it!
