“Everything I learned I learned from the movies.” – Audrey Hepburn
A few months ago, my family settled into the couch for a movie night. The snacks were assembled, drinks ready, and popcorn popped. I got to pick the movie (which rarely happens. I felt pressure to make sure it wasn’t lame) I chose a classic from my childhood. You know way back in the 80’s and 90’s. The movie was rated PG and was branded as a “kids” movie. I thought, “Surely this is fine. I don’t remember anything questionable in it. Plus, things were different back then, the good old days.” Within the first five minutes we heard a string of curse words yelled by a child actor directed at another child actor.
Was it the worst that could have happened? Not a chance. Yet, I know cursing doesn’t represent Jesus well and I don’t want my kids to repeat what they heard. I apologized and explained why we shouldn’t watch the movie anymore. It wasn’t because we’re better than others. We’re not. I’m a pastor and I need Jesus as much as anyone. It wasn’t because I was being judgmental. It’s because as a dad, I’m a gatekeeper for my kids. I want my children to be guided by God’s truth, not led into confusion and the sinfulness of liberty unhinged from godly morality. I know how harmful it is for kids to be exposed to explicit content. Obesity, nightmares, violence, sexual promiscuity, even depression can be linked to what kids watch on a regular basis. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/tv-affects-child.html More than anyone else, it’s a parent’s responsibility to teach and model good discernment concerning entertainment choices.
Practical Tip: Set Parental controls on every device your kids have access to and use review websites like, movieguide.org, kidsinmind.com, commonsensemedia.org and IMDB parental guides. (note: not all movie review sites will review from a Christian perspective.)
If I had reviewed the movie, my kids wouldn’t have heard what they heard. They also wouldn’t have seen a terrible example of how to treat people. Kids are impressionable. As parents, we won’t be able to protect our kids from every negative thing out there, but we’re the gate keepers in our homes. We decide what is allowed to enter our kids minds and hearts through their eyes.
Matthew 6:22-23 - “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
Audrey Hepburn may have learned everything from the movies. My kids won’t on purpose!