While it is true we live in this world we do not have to be apart of so much the world runs on.

TV as you have indicated has few programs that are fit to watch.  Same with the movies the world rallies after.

My family runs with and of the world mostly and that is detriment for sure.

But I am not a complete loner, Christ who loves me most is always with me and I have no desire to cast out my best and truest Friend. 

He is all things to those who love Him and trust in Him and our sure deliverer.

What kind of dvds do you watch, Shireen?  If you are watching secular movies just like what were/are shown in the theaters, then no, I don't see any difference between going to the theater to watch it than in watching it at home, except your influence over others is potentially increased by going out.

There is nothing inherently wrong with moving pictures, just as there is nothing inherently wrong with still pictures.  There is also nothing inherently wrong with letters printed in a book.  However, we must carefully consider what we put before our eyes.  It goes without saying that there are many books that are dictated by Satan.  There are also many pictures no doubt heavily influenced by Satan.  In the same vein, many moving pictures please his Satanic majesty.

Perhaps it would be good to ask yourself, "Is this a movie that I could invite someone I believe to be a deeply spiritual person to watch together with me?"  "Would it be a shame to die in an earthquake during this movie, and wake up in the judgment day with these same thots going thru my mind?  Does it have a tendency to lead me to appreciate Jesus more, or does it make me forget Jesus for 90 minutes or however long it is?

Philippians 4:8 [As to] the rest [or, Finally], brothers [and sisters], as many things as are true, as many as [are] worthy of respect [or, honorable], as many as [are] righteous, as many [things] as are pure, as many as [are] acceptable [or, lovely], as many as [are] commendable, if [there is] any virtue [or, moral excellence], and if any[thing] deserving to be praised, be meditating on [or, thinking about] these things.

NB wrote:

There is a dvd out there that is put out by little light ministries call 'the magic kingdom' and it exposes all the real motives behind movies ...  it is worth a watch.

the people that put out the programming have a motive in mind...... to change yours... once you know the subtle things put in the media you would be astounded at how much is going on behind the scenes

What do you suppose was behind the making of the movie Noah? As stated in my previous post a prominent church leader said they watched the movie for educational purposes. The same person said they believe Hamlet should be taught in SDA universities because of the valuable lessons learnt.

The rating for Noah is below:

this is a clip of only 11 min from an hour long doc about what's in movies for children ...

If you can listen to the MP3 audio book and read the PDF's of Desire of Ages, & Lessons on Faith, Christ and His Righteousness, and Everlasting Covenant - from  http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/ - and be comfortable watching , listening , reading, viewing - media; and that media complies with Philippians ch 4, John ch 17, 2nd Peter ch 1, Ephesians ch 3;  then Jesus would approve of such media, and that media entering your mind / heart, would be in harmony with Christ watching it too, sitting along side you.    

Whom through the work of the Holy Ghost - His being there is just as real as if you saw Him sitting there in Person.  

He said "I will never leave you, or forsake you."    The Holy Ghost makes that possible via distance, and now that we do skype and go to meeting, we have some of that in our own lives too, it gives a bigger dimension to what we live, see, hear, taste, smell, wear, believe, trust, follow, engraft, and so on. 

Ed Sutton wrote:

---

If you can listen to the MP3 audio book and read the PDF's of Desire of Ages, & Lessons on Faith, Christ and His Righteousness, and Everlasting Covenant - from  http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/ - and be comfortable watching , listening , reading, viewing - media; and that media complies with Philippians ch 4, John ch 17, 2nd Peter ch 1, Ephesians ch 3;  then Jesus would approve of such media, and that media entering your mind / heart, would be in harmony with Christ watching it too, sitting along side you.    

Whom through the work of the Holy Ghost - His being there is just as real as if you saw Him sitting there in Person.  

He said "I will never leave you, or forsake you."    The Holy Ghost makes that possible via distance, and now that we do skype and go to meeting, we have some of that in our own lives too, it gives a bigger dimension to what we live, see, hear, taste, smell, wear, believe, trust, follow, engraft, and so on. 

---

 Thank you Ed. I will follow your advice.

FYI:

"The problem will soon become worse if Netflix gets its wish. A recent article in the Huffinton Post reported Netflix's intent "to replace the movie theater."[1] If Netflix gets its way we will soon be able to stream brand new movies right away instead of having to go to a theater. Give it a few years and theaters will become a thing of the past much like the drive in theaters so popular in the 50's. A new generation of Adventists will grow up with no regard to the content they are seeing because, after all, theaters no longer exist."

http://www.jesusadventismandi.com/2013/10/is-it-ok-for-seventh-day-adventists-to.html

"There are thousands upon thousands, millions upon millions, who are now making their decision for eternal life or eternal death. The man who is wholly absorbed in his counting room, the man who finds pleasure at the gaming table, the man who loves to indulge perverted appetite, the amusement lover, the frequenters of the theater and the ballroom, put eternity out of their reckoning. The whole burden of their life is: What shall we eat? What shall we drink? And wherewithal shall we be clothed? They are not in the procession that is moving heavenward. They are led by the great apostate, and with him will be destroyed."

http://www.ellenwhitedefend.com/articles-Comp/Theater.htm

By The Way - what salvation is viewed as colors all approaches to get it.  

http://salvationathreesidedcoin.blogspot.com/

("not saved until" = 2 SOP hits )

" How few bear in mind that the tempter was once a covering cherub, a being whom God created for His own name's glory. Satan fell from his high position through self-exaltation; he misused the high capabilities with which God had so richly endowed him. He fell for the same reason that thousands are falling today, because of an ambition to be first, an unwillingness to be under restraint. The Lord would teach man the lesson that, though united in church capacity, he is not saved until the seal of God is placed upon him, and he is made complete in Christ.  {11MR 367.2}  

     Those who use their God-given intellect to separate themselves from their Maker and lead others into sin need to be searched after and helped. Christ used the parable of the lost sheep to teach a lesson to the hardhearted scribes and Pharisees. The rebuke of God was upon these men because of their self-righteousness and pride. They did not appreciate the attributes of Christ, His mercy, His goodness and truth. These were in marked contrast to their representation of piety, and they were therefore continually misunderstanding His mission and work.  {11MR 367.3}  

*************************

"How few bear in mind that the tempter was once a covering cherub, a being whom God created for His own name's glory. Satan fell from his high position through self-exaltation; he misused the high capabilities with which God had so richly endowed him. He fell for the same reason that thousands are falling today, because of an ambition to be first, an unwillingness to be under restraint. The Lord would teach man the lesson that, though united in church capacity, he is not saved until the seal of God is placed upon him. . . .  {7BC 969.3}  

     The Lord has a work for us all to do. And if the truth is not rooted in the heart, if the natural traits of character are not transformed by the Holy Spirit, we can never be colaborers with Jesus Christ. Self will constantly appear, and the character of Christ will not be manifested in our lives (Letter 80, 1898).  {7BC 969.4}  

     Without Spot or Wrinkle.--Missionary agencies are greatly needed in every branch of God's work. Our institutions need converted, devoted men, who will make the Lord their dependence. God will reveal through such workers the power of His grace. His servants are to be distinguished from the world by the seal of the living God; their words and their works are to reveal that they are laborers together with God.  {7BC 969.5}  

     God can use the human agent just to the extent that he will be worked by the Holy Spirit. To men who accept positions of responsibility as presidents, ministers, physicians, or workers in any line, I am bidden to say: God will test every man who enters His service. He does not ask, Do they possess learning and eloquence? Have they ability to command and control and manage? He asks, Will they represent My character? Will they walk in humility, that I may teach them My way? The soul temple must not be defiled by any loose or unclean practice. Those whom I will acknowledge in the courts of heaven must be without spot and wrinkle.  {7BC 969.6}  

****************************

Teaching righteous by works - saving our selves because of mechanical obedience - without love from God moving us - is the same kind of righteousness spoken of here.  Matthew 5:20 

It is understood that disobedience rebrands us as sinners all over again, but obedience is our duty - Ecclesiastes 12:13 & Deuteronomy 10:12-13 & Deuteronomy 30:2-6 & Jeremiah 31:33; we are not commended for doing our duty,  according his mercy > Titus 3:5, 1 Peter 1:3 , Exodus 20:6 , Deuteronomy 5:10 , Deuteronomy 7:9, Daniel 9:4 

*******************************

The actual SDA view EGW endorsed RE salvation through Christ by faith .

To read pdf & listen to MP3 simultaneously:

Documentary RE it :   

MP3

http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/pioneers/modern-works/the-return-of-the-latter-rain/

PDF

http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/audio/en/pioneers/Modern%20Works/Return%20of%20the%20Latter%20Rain/Return%20of%20the%20Latter%20Rain%20%283rd%20Edition%29.pdf

Lessons on Faith

http://www.tffgny.org/resources/lessons_on_faith.pdf

http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/pioneers/e-j-waggoner/lessons-on-faith/

Christ and His Righteousness

http://whitehorsemedia.com/docs/CHRIST_AND_HIS_RIGHTEOUSNESS.pdf

http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/pioneers/e-j-waggoner/christ-and-his-righteousness/

Everlasting Covenant

http://temcat.com/L-1-adv-pioneer-lib/EJWAGGON/THEEVERLASTINGCOVENANT.PDF

http://ellenwhiteaudio.org/pioneers/e-j-waggoner/everlasting-covenant/

Ed Sutton wrote:

---

Soon an IMAX documentary is coming locally, it's content is compatible with Scripture & asking Jesus to join us, if it's at meal time, butter free popcorn as an end to that meal,(not inbetween meal) is an option not being a violation of Christ's trust in us to honour Him using temperance to declare our love for Him and trust in His management of us.  

My wife an 8th gen SDA was always told it's the theater that's bad, but that's not upheld by modern evidence RE a place like IMAX, it's not broadway, it's an empty viewing room where it's THEIR content and OUR temperance that determines right or wrong.  If I go and garbage up at the concession stand , or indulge my inbetween meal tastebuds - it's wrong, even if the content is right. 

Academy kids were not told the absolute truth in the matter and figured out that the adults were also trying to twist inspiration and find excuses too.     Loyalty & love are loyalty and love, once excuses come in it no longer loyalty and love.   James 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

---

 "but that's not upheld by modern evidence RE a place like IMAX, it's not broadway"

I'm not sure I see the difference Ed. The IMAX I know of also show regular movies, not just documentaries.

NB wrote:

---

I prefer documentaries and watch sermons from those of our faith.  It took about a week to get used to not viewing tv or movies...  a bit of withdrawal but then it was easy.  I went back to it briefly and could not stand it!!  unbelievable the reaction once you break away

---

Thank you NB for sharing your experience. I will try to follow your example. Thank you.

Gibs wrote:

---

There is good and bad in TV, and of course more bad than good.  I had satellite TV for some time for my wife, the game channels when she was in bad shape  and now in the rest home she don't watch much at all, like me the weather channel and certain news ones.

Yes and most stuff is disgusting to me anymore, I have up an antenna and can get 18 or 19 channels.  It is stuck up on a post backside of house..

So much these days is downright filth and most in the sex side and next in killing and these things program and teach the young more than the parents.

Remember, the thing has an OFF switch and when nothing but "filth" is coming through hit it!

Did have a really good show from OSU TV about a seal the fellow raised from just born. osu, Ohio State University

You are not going to get out of having to sort it out in this old world no longer, it is getting worse extremely fast now!

---

 "The media has become the teacher. And at one time societal values were fine, but today they arent"

http://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2008/03/18/celebrity-culture-the-greatest-peril/

NB, I second your experience with getting off TV a long while, and then taking a peek once in a while - "what a waste!" and "how low do you think the vieweres are?" are my main reactions. 

My second reaction is, "you mean it is one way?".  I guess i get that from being on the internet too much where you can usually provide feedback on what you watch on youtube and stuff like that.

Regarding the latest movie "Noah", i found out thru Living Waters (Ray Comfort's group), that this movie was very far away from the biblical story.   I admit, the trailer looked pretty good, and basically according to the Bible.  But the movie itself was ridiculous.  Reading about the director's beliefs gave me a good heads-up that this would be a disaster.

There are some good movies.  I think some of the "Gospel of - " movies have been good. 

"Hell and Mr. Fudge" i think is probably a good story, but haven't watched more than the trailer.  However, it was sponsored by LLC Productions i think it is, which was Jim Arrabito's company, so can have pretty good confidence that it won't be too far off base, if any.

But for just a regular, secular movie?  hmmmm.

Sony Pictures' Affirm Films include such titles as "Soul Surfer, Fireproof, Facing the Giants, Mrs. Miracle, the Grace Card".  I haven't seen a one of them, but have heard pretty good reviews especially for Fireproof and Facing the Giants from Christians.  Maybe they are worth a watch, i don't know.

Nearly all movies have either magic, sex, violence, or cussing, none of which leads us closer to Christ.  I suggest that if you do go with family members to a movie theater, to keep a little notepad marked in these or other categories, and make a little check every time that occurs in the movie.  You might be surprised when the movie is over