After returning from a week long Men’s Mission Trip this past weekend and needing to spend some time with my youngest daughter, we decided on an afternoon movie.

I am selective about what I watch, but it is especially difficult to find acceptable movies to take an eleven year old to see. I know a lot of people who seem to have no filters in place when making decisions about what movies to watch or even regarding their internet content. They seem to believe that it doesn’t really matter, suggesting that… “after all, it’s only a movie… my kids know that stuff’s not real.”

I have some pretty strong personal beliefs that would suggest otherwise. I also believe that with the resources available to parents today, there is no excuse for not being informed as to the content of a movie. I personally use several websites to get the “real” review of a movie long before we ever get our popcorn and a good seat.

I generally love the fall season and a lot of the things that go along with it. From the football, to The State Fair and corny dogs, to the cooler temperatures… and I could go on and on. But, when it comes to some of the movies that come out this time of year… I’m thinking, “Do people really watch that stuff? And why?”

2 Timothy 1:7 tells us that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  Now based on that verse alone, when someone asks me why I’m not going to the Haunted House or the latest scary movie for some fun. My response is simply, “Well, I don’t think I want to be afraid.” Why should I go to a movie or anywhere else and basically pay for something that God chose not to give me? He did however choose to give me power, love and a sound mind.

I was reminded how far removed our culture is from the Biblical values that we started with when I read down the list of movies available this past weekend. The movie titles seemed to tell their own story with… Halloween 2, Sorority Row, Jennifer’s Body, Whip It, The Invention of Lying, Pandorum, The Informant, Inglorious Basterds, I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, Zombieland, The Final Destination.
Well, I like Tyler Perry and I realize that I can do bad all by myself, but for this movie date, we opted for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs in 3-D and that was scary enough for me.

Greg Richards is Senior Pastor of Life Church, located at 607 E. Fair in Kaufman. For more information, go to www.yourlifechurch.com.

Greg Richards is Senior Pastor of Life Church in Kaufman. www.yourlifechurch.com