The Dangers of Drama

by Denny Kenaston

"Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."
2 Corinthians 4:1-2

I would like to address the issues of drama and the religious movie. There is a question in the hearts of many of God’s people about these new emerging methods of "edification." While some are questioning, the bulk of the people are flocking after the latest "Christian" craze. There is a serpent lurking in the tree of knowledge today, calling to Christians everywhere, saying, "Come and eat of this new fruit." I see many dangers in these seemingly moving methods of "edification." Is there anything wrong with it? Are Christian movies changing the world? This is a good question. I am not sure I can answer it with my limited knowledge of what is happening in the "Christian world." I do know that millions of people in this land have now watched dozens of these new movies, and I don’t see a lot of change in the moral climate of our land.

So, what is wrong with the "sanctified movie"? Let us consider first of all the issue of drama. Drama is playacting. Drama is people acting out a lie. It is when a person pretends to be someone that they are not. I find it interesting to study the origin of words. As I studied the word actor, which is one who plays the part in a play or movie, I found an interesting change. The word should be hypocrite. No one is going to give the star of the show this title, so we call them actors. This word comes to us out of the Bible. Jesus used the word when he described the true character of the Pharisee. It literally means playacting, "to feign a part that is not real." Jesus reproved the religious because they were acting out a part that was not real in their life. I know there is a difference in open playacting and hidden hypocrisy, but not that much difference. This clearly expresses the concern that I have. The religious movie is full of hypocrisy. It is not real, not true and is acted out on pretense. How can this be a right way to preach the gospel or edify the saints?

Consider the emotional dynamics of the religious movie or play. Did you know that a movie must be acted out on a higher than normal emotional level, or the movie would not be very interesting? An actor must learn to release their varied emotional expressions in the extreme mode. If anger must be acted out, it must be an outburst of rage with loud screaming. This cannot be done unless the actor enters into that rage with their whole heart. This has to be defiling. All of the other emotions are the same. A foolish drunk must enter into the emotions of that drunk. A lover must also do the same. These extreme emotions make the movie exciting. It also creates a powerful emotional effect on the audience. People are very responsive to these movies, but does it bring any repentance which takes place in the will of man? I don’t think so. If these movies are so powerful, where is the revival? We need to keep our children and ourselves out of the unreal world of the movies. Millions of people have trained their emotional responses, in real life, by these extremes. The result is weird, hard-to-understand relationships in real life. Do your children a favor—keep them away from this hypocrisy.

I can hardly hold back the tears as I allow my heart to come under the burden of our children. What an evil, poisonous baby-sitter we have hired to come in and entertain the next generation of disciples and church leaders. All that I have written above is enough to spoil the godly seed among us, but this is worse yet. We have figured out that children love foolishness. So in the name of "relating to the children, on their level," man has come up with a whole array of plays and movies for the "kids." These productions are full of dangerous deception. Where is our discernment? We have "Christian cartoons" and silly plays that make the children laugh while they "learn about Moses, Noah, and Jesus Christ." Many of God’s people have followed the world into the animal movies." My dear brothers and sisters, the serpent is in those movies. They are full of "innocent" witchcraft, new age teaching, and eastern religion.

Recently, I had an obligation to go to a typical Evangelical church service. When we arrived, we were told, with quite a bit of excitement, that we will have a play put on by the children for the Sunday morning service. I hurt deeply in my heart all the way through this "ministry to the church." The producers of the play mixed a CNN Broadcasting reporter into the story of Joshua leading the children of Israel into the Promised Land. I could hardly bear the sacrilege. I sat and watched a young lady throw selfish fits of anger about her makeup running in the wilderness. She bossed and degraded several young men who tried to reason with her. She manifested spirits of envy and jealousy when someone else got some attention. I could go on and on, but the point is made. All the while the saints were roaring with laughter at all this display of evil. When the play was finished, the pastor gave a five minute presentation of the gospel. They all patted each other on the back, and went home.

I wonder what the Apostle Paul would do with these "sanctified plays and movies"? Read the verses in the beginning again, now that we have reasoned a while. Paul just finished writing about the glorious spirit-filled ministry of the New Testament preacher, in chapter three. This is a holy, pure, without wax, (sincere) ministry. We must remember that the apostle had a very powerful life changing effect on those he ministered to. He knew this was done by the pure, clean, ministry of the Holy Spirit. In verse two he uses some convicting phrases that apply to our subject at hand. Look at them:

Forty years ago, A.W. Tozer wrote an article titled, "The Menace of the Religious Movie." I have pulled some excerpts out of it for our meditation. He was a prophet in his day, and many disliked him because he preached against the latest new ideas in the church. I wonder what he would say today? Things have changed even more since he walked the earth. He stood and spoke like a thorn in the side of a departing Evangelicalism. They did not listen; that is obvious by the example here given. This is very normal in the churches. The church I visited is a "good church." Consider the words of the prophet Tozer:

First of all, the defiling effect upon the "actors" who play the part of the various characters in the movie. As I stated already, the actor must enter into the spirit of the act he is doing. Any one who can bring himself to act a part for any purpose must first have grieved the Spirit and silenced His voice within his heart. Then the whole business will appear good to him.

Secondly, it identifies religion with the theatrical world. In the name of Jesus Christ, we have joined in with Hollywood in hopes of edifying one another. It is entertainment, just like Hollywood is. This is worldly. John said, "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." We are losing our separation, as we join in with the world.

Thirdly, we are training the palate of our children with a taste for drama. This becomes an easy jump for them at a time of foolish liberty. First, The Sound of Music, then, who knows what they will justify? They will not be satisfied with the inferior stuff the religious movie can offer. They will demand the real thing. What can the parents say, when we have taught them to gather around the video with popcorn and soda?

Fourthly, the next generation will gradually see Christianity as another form of amusement. This is already happening if you look around you. The contemporary church is "reaching out to the next generation" with new music, a new gym, new dress standards and, yes, the movies. Can you see what is happening? The church building is like a theater, or a roller rink. "Hey guys, what do we do tonight? Let’s go over to Entertainment Fellowship Church. They are having a party there."

Fifthly, the movies have a defiling effect on the audience. As we view a movie, we see and hear all that has been mentioned above. Many evil emotions are manifested in one of these productions. These are portrayed for the purpose of teaching. In one movie, you might bring your children in contact with several of these extreme, evil attitudes. The audience is affected in many ways. They learn to manifest the same spirit, as they have seen displayed before them. They become dull to the evil and are no longer grieved by it. As they set wicked things before their eyes, their conscience is clouded. They find it more difficult to muse on good things, because it is easier to be amused with entertainment.

Sixthly, the precious wasted time that it takes to sit, again and again, and see the latest movie must be accounted for on judgement day. Who has time for such an utterly empty use of their time? I don’t see how a dedicated servant of Christ could possibly find time to fritter away on such nonsense. Maybe this seems too strong—if so, forgive me. I have no desire to offend anyone. May the Lord of the harvest stamp eternity on the eyes of our hearts, that we may better use His gift of life and time.