set a higher standard for yourself

Friends, I’m just going to be blunt. There are better things to do with your time than to watch movies like Hangover 2 or Bridesmaids. I realize that I’m risking coming off as “holier-than-thou” by posting this. That’s not my intention.

It’s just that when I get on Facebook, when I hear conversations, I’m saddened that I’m finding people who call themselves Christ-followers, bringing stuff like this into their homes (and then announcing to the world that they’ve watched it).

“Oh, come on, John, don’t be such a prude. Good grief…It’s just entertainment.” I get that. But here’s what I can’t get past: you and I, as Christians, are called to a higher standard. Guys, we can do better!

Philippians 4:8 says:

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Help me with what is admirable about the storyline in Hangover 2?  Check out this quote from one of the stars of the movie:

The Hangover Part II's star Zach Galifianakis, who plays the movie's goofy man-child Alan, told comingsoon.net, "It is so bad in parts that I told my mom she is not allowed to see it. I forbid, forbade, forbid her from coming." But as Time's Joel Stein reports after talking with him, "When kids come up to [Galifianakis] and say how much they love The Hangover, he yells at their parents for letting them see it. In fact, he's not sure how he feels about adults' seeing the movie. After his mother watched the first Hangover, she voiced objections to the crass humor. 'I had to get on the phone with my mom and say, "I agree with you,"' he says. 'But at some point, as it did well at the box office, all that embarrassment flew out the window. As long as I can fly them all over the world, they don't care. I could be in porno.'"

Am I way off base? Label me a religious nut if you want to (though I don’t think I am). I just saying that if our goal is Christ-likeness…well, I don’t need to go on…you get the point. To simply dismiss it as pointless entertainment that does not have an effect on you is to be naive.

If you think I need to lighten up, I can’t. The stakes are too high.

I love movies. I love to be entertained. I even enjoy pointless humor. I’m merely suggesting that we can all do better with our entertainment choices (me included).

Set a higher standard for you and your family. It’s worth it.