Is it a sin to go to the movies? How about dancing? How about going to the beach or a public swimming pool? How about women wearing pants or shorts or skirts that go above the knee? What about men having long hair (as in hair below the ears)? Or maybe Christians reading novels with bad words in them? Or going to a restaurant that serves alcohol? (Let’s not even talk about consuming alcohol!) Or listening to music with a beat? How about wearing shorts to church?
And on and on.
All these things and more are indeed SINS according to many Christians today. Perhaps even some of you reading this article.
I grew up in a very strict Baptist fundamentalist environment and most of the above activities were frowned upon — if not outright condemned.
Not surprisingly, many of my brothers and sisters in Christ (including some of my generational peers) who grew up in a similar environment rebelled and ran as far as they could in the opposite direction. Even today, you’ll find all kinds of “exvangelicals” and “ex-Christians” ranting against the “puritanical” and “toxic” culture of their past. As just one example, Google “purity culture” and many of these rants will come up.
I’m not going to add my voice to any such rants.
I don’t wish to attack the intentions or integrity of any of the dedicated Christian men and women from my past, including my parents who brought me up in that environment (even though they didn’t always agree with it).
I do, however, wish to offer a “Beware of Legalism” warning to anyone reading this. In that spirit, I offer caution, not condemnation.
Christian legalism is basically a term that encompasses any choice, decision, policy, inclination, or culture that adds to or redefines biblical theology in order to put added, unnecessary burdens or expectations on those who wish to follow Christ.
Note that legalism is quite often more of a tendency or emphasis than an official, defined organization, denomination, or movement.
And, therefore, it’s hard to pin down.
Many legalists deny that they are legalists.
This makes discussion of this very difficult and can create some emotional and angry disagreements.
But…we need to try to put those emotions aside.
In my opinion, the world needs less anger and outrage and fewer opinions — and more wisdom and nuance. And that includes the world of evangelical and especially fundamentalist Christianity. (Side note: In my youth, there was a distinction between “fundamentalist” and “evangelical,” and we can explore those differences in a future article. But today, those terms are often used interchangeably in our culture — both inside and outside Christian circles).
And, yes, this entire issue or condition or situation – or whatever term works best – needs nuance.
Let’s get clear up front on some essentials:
- God is real.
- God is not the fruit of your imagination.
- You don’t get to create God. He created you.
- We are accountable to God and His revelation.
- God has revealed Himself to humanity in multiple ways, most significantly via Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and through the apostles and prophets.
- We have a written record of God’s revelation via Christ and the apostles and prophets thanks to the Scriptures (i.e., the Bible).
- Those who have put their trust in the Lord have the Holy Spirit as a continual presence in their lives, but the Spirit will not lead you to do or believe something that is contrary to the rest of God’s revelation. Put simply: God is not against God!
- Yes, there are (over the course of history) various “dispensations” (that’s for another article) or stages in history where God unfolds new revelation, and…
- Yes, we must take time to prayerfully and properly study the Scriptures to understand God’s revelation. But…
- The Scriptures are divinely inspired and should be regarded as authoritative to all believers in Christ.
In light of all that…
There are standards. There are some beliefs and behaviors that are right and others that are wrong.
And those standards aren’t based on public or personal opinion.
God is Truth.
Not you.
Not me.
God.
He is the standard. He is Truth.
Okay?
I hope everyone is with me so far. And I trust that I haven’t lost anyone.
The problems start to compound when we do one of the following:
- Ignore God’s revelation
- Dismiss God’s revelation
- Rebel against God’s revelation
- Redefine God’s revelation
- Add to God’s revelation
Christian legalism is guilty of the last two.
A legalist will add to what God says and take it several steps further — beyond God’s original revelation. For instance, in Paul’s day, legalists added the requirement that Gentile believers be circumcised. In our day, legalists will say it’s a sin to listen to music with a beat in it.
How do you know you’ve strayed into legalism territory?
You know you’re there (or getting close) when you apply or seek to enforce belief-and-behavior requirements on people — requirements that are nowhere found in Scripture.
It’s at this point that strict Christian legalists will often deny they are legalists. They’ll do so by narrowing the term. They’ll say something like: “I’m not a legalist. I don’t believe works are necessary for salvation.”
And, let’s be clear that this is probably the biggest danger of legalism. Legalism can lead people to think that salvation is performance-based or rules-based instead of grace-based.
It’s true that God saves us to do good works (see Ephesians 2:10), but our salvation is not based on our works (see Ephesians 2:8-9). We are not called to try to earn our salvation. We can’t. We’re called to receive it!
And, so if you’ve got that straight, you do well. But…
There are other forms of legalism.
There are many who agree that salvation is based on God’s grace, but hold that our Christian walk is based on following all the rules and living up to God’s standard of holiness. Yeah, we may be “saved” but if we want to please God and be blessed by Him or have Him hear our prayers, then we better shape up and fly right.
This is where the nuance comes in.
Yes, we can grieve God and even strain our fellowship with Him due to our sin. But we are called to a relationship — not a set of rules and rituals, although following certain rules and practicing certain ‘rituals’ can help strengthen our relationship. See? Nuance!
Paul addresses this repeatedly in his epistles, and I encourage you to read them. The continual theme, though, is this…
God wants a RELATIONSHIP with us.
When it comes to your walk with Christ, think in terms of RELATIONSHIP — not legal statute.
I’m faithful to my wife Jane. But I’m not faithful to her because the “rules” say I have to be. I’m faithful to Jane because I love her. I’m not married to a set of rules, regulations, and standards. I’m married to a person. A person I love.
Guess what?
As Christians, we’re the bride of Christ (see Ephesians 5:22-33). Yes, there are standards. Yes, there are things that are right and wrong. Just as there are standards and matters of propriety in marriage or any relationship. But the driving motive for our adherence and our passion should be love, not the law.
So…
Is it a sin to go to the movies? or to go dancing? or to go to the beach? or (insert whatever)?
Those aren’t the right questions.
Rather, we should ask…
What does God want me to do with my time today, tomorrow, next week, and so on? How can I best please Him? How can I draw closer to Him? Can I — by doing (insert whatever) — glorify Him?
A few weeks ago, my family and I went to the beach. It was a quiet area of the beach taken up mostly by families and away from all the tourists, crowds, etc. Was that pleasing to God? Yes, because I was spending time with my wife and now-grown children. It was a relaxing and refreshing time. And it was great for all of us.
Now, if I would have (and I wouldn’t do this, but just for the sake of illustration) chosen to go to some beach known for its hedonism or extra-revealing beach attire (or lack thereof) for the purpose of scoping out and lusting after single (or married) women, then that would NOT be glorifying to God. It would not be pleasing to Him. It would take me further away from Him and further away from my wife. So…
Yes, that would be a sin.
Let’s take movies.
In the fundamentalist environment I grew up in, going to the movies was a sin…period. Doesn’t matter if you go to see Old Yeller, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, or some porn flick. Doesn’t matter. It’s all a sin.
I believe that such a belief-and-behavior requirement imposed on others by Christians (however well-meaning) is a perfect example of Christian legalism. And I reject such legalism.
There is nothing — nothing! — in the Bible that forbids Christians from going to plays, games, races, or any other forms of leisure entertainment available in Bible times. And, by logical extension, there’s nothing in the Bible you (or anyone else) can point to that forbids Christians from watching television or going to the movies.
Nothing.
But…
There is Philippians 4:8.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
And there’s I Corinthians 10:31.
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
And there’s the issue of whether your actions or choices may cause you or someone else to stumble into sin (see Romans 14:13 and I Corinthians 8:9).
When it comes to what entertainment you consume — and how much time overall you spend consuming entertainment — you need to prayerfully meditate on those (and other related) passages and ask God for clear direction and wisdom. And then be obedient to Him.
Not because of any law, but because you love Him.
Let me close by urging all of you to be patient and humble (see I Thessalonians 5:14, II Timothy 2:24) in discussing your practices and convictions with others — especially when it comes to matters not directly addressed in the Bible.
You don’t want to go to the movies? No problem. But don’t impose that on other Christians or judge them if they disagree. You can certainly talk about how God has blessed you as you seek to please and follow Him, and how you’ve drawn boundaries that work for you and you believe are pleasing to Him. But you must understand that different people are at different stages of their walk with God, and they have different backgrounds, needs, understandings, and experiences.
Now, if it’s explicitly stated in the Scriptures, then – by all means – share those verses. But, even then, you’ll make greater progress (and be more honoring to God) if you lead with love, humility, patience, and gentleness.
The key is to encourage everyone (through your love, your wisdom, and your example) to seek the face of God. The Holy Spirit can — and will — do a much better job than you in dealing with the specifics in other people’s lives.
Be humble. Be patient. Be gentle. Be wise.
May God bless you as you draw closer to Him.
*******
For further reading:
