Let’s be honest. Our culture is loud. Music, movies, television and the Internet bombard our eyes and ears everyday. No one can deny that what we see and hear has an impact on our worldview. As believers in Jesus Christ, it is very important to keep in mind the words of the Apostle Paul:
“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” – Philippians 4:8
Thinking on things that are noble, just, pure, lovely, etc., can be difficult in a culture that thrives on a veritable fire hose of any and all information. Whether you are a media junkie or you prefer to be technology free and stay off the information super highway, the entertainment industry has an impact on your life. Whether you do or do not go see a film, hear a song or watch a TV show, it is very likely that you have friends, family or acquaintances that do. The entertainment industry is a major part of our culture’s daily life.
Of course, everyone has personal convictions, so whether you choose to view the films and other entertainment items we review is between you and God. Our goal is not that everyone should see the movies and entertainment we review, but rather we desire for Christians to be aware of what the world is watching, to be able to view entertainment and movies through a Christian worldview, and to be able to discuss the themes and messages of current films, music, etc., with both believers and the unsaved.
What movies we review
The films we choose to review are based on many different factors. Our goal is to keep you up-to-date on the movies that are impacting culture so you can more easily engage culture in knowledgeable and relevant ways. These can include current headlining films, films people are talking about, or films that specifically speak to the Christian worldview.
What each review includes
First we wish to take the movie as it is. What is the story? What are the themes presented? How does it apply to the Christian worldview? As our readership is aimed toward young careers (early 20s to late 30s) we will focus more on the application of themes in the films and just briefly touch on content. We trust you know your own taste in movies, and it is our hope our reviews will give you enough information to know if a movie is one you want to see and enable you to discuss topics presented in a film with others who are interested in it.
What we don’t review
As stated above, we want you to be informed regarding the most current, most talked about films. Of course, some movies may be current and the topic of many discussions for not very good reasons. That being said, there are, and will be, movies we will not extensively review simply because we give our reviewers the freedom not to watch a film they would be uncomfortable viewing. This can be because of violence, sexuality, or anything they feel would violate their consciences.
This does not mean that we will not write about these kinds of films. In fact, if we feel convicted about seeing them-or not seeing them- we want to tell you why and be a resource for you by elaborating on those convictions.
A final word (Where you come in)
One observation that can be made about our media-driven culture is that most young people gravitate toward interactive application of their thoughts and ideas, which is what we want to engage. In other words: you have opinions and we want to hear them. These reviews are observations that our reviewers have made on the themes and content of the films, but the insight of one individual can only go so far. We encourage you to join us in discussing the films presented. Let us know what you think by commenting on the article in the fields provided at the bottom of each article page or by writing us at engagefaq@afa.net.
Thanks for reading!
