Should Christians watch "Horror Films"?

You asked for opinions. My opinions are no better or worse than anyone’s. But, opinions can have their basis in truth.

We are warned to set no wicked thing before our eyes, and to take heed what we hear.

Images are generally spoken of in a negative sense in scripture.

We know that the “entertainment industry” is owned by wealthy unbelievers. They know how the brain works. They take full advantage of our built-in propensity to worship, and offer their counterfeit to us via their programming.

If you take in images of devils and their ritual paraphernalia, as one “rock star” put it, ”you get demons.”

My wife and I are active in an addictions ministry (drunkenness and pharmakeia ). We have dealt with many people who have, through their “passive participation” in the occult/satanic rituals displayed openly, via the media (e.g. motion pictures), invited devils into their life.

You have heard, ”You are what you eat.” The same applies to what you watch.

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.

I am not a fan of violence.

However, i think, that as long as we moderate the horror films we watch as an entertaining thrill, for other purposes solely...

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...Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (1 Cor. 5:6)

...then the actions taken are just, for entertainment, fictional and educational purposes.

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One cannot make clean, that which is unclean.

"Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one." (Job 14:4)

Horror films are designed to scare you, but not in an EVIL sense, just for a thrill.

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...For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he... (Pro. 23:7) Every action runs to some purpose. If that purpose is not for the building of God's kingdom, then it is for the building of a rival kingdom. There is no neutrality.

I believe that horror films share the same principles as a roller-coaster situated in a theme park. So i think that Christians cannot measure the same judgement on Horror films, if they have ever went on a roller-coaster in their lifetime.

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Setting the roller coaster analogy aside for a moment, God says he has not given his people the foul spirit of fear (one of Satan's boys), but has given us the spirit of love, and of power, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim. 1:7) "Horror films" are, by design, antithetical to God's purposes.

And there is much more going on with "horror films" than fear mongering, perhaps to be discussed at another time.

@ Thomasleonard ...

Proverbs 4:23 tells us to "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life".
I believe that we a tripartite being - we are a spirit, have a soul and live in a body.
However when it comes to the word "heart" I see it as the all embracing term that covers everything within us - mind, will, emotions and spirit,
this covers both the conscious and subconscious mind.

And Solomon tells us to "guard, watch and keep" this heart of ours because from it flows the "issues or sources" of life.

Jesus said in Luke 6:45 ...

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil;
for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

So whatever goes into our "heart" ... what we see, hear, and speak will settle there and then return out of our mouths, the thoughts of
our minds and will determine our actions.

Luke 9:47 says ... But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side.

So the mind where we think is part of our heart.

Proverbs 15:13 says ... A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, But when the heart is sad, the spirit is broken.

So when we experience joy it comes from our emotions which are part of our heart.

Obadiah 1:3 says ... The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock .... "

Pride which comes from our will also comes from the heart.

And the list goes on and on, what I'm trying to point out is that what is in our hearts determines and ultimately controls everything
we do.
Remember the earlier verse quoted where Jesus himself said, "... from that which fills his heart."

So what goes in eventually comes out and if it's negative emotions like fear, worry, anxiety etc., that are the underlying emotions
of horror movies, then that's what is going in ... and that is exactly what is going to come out.

You're going to speak it, feel it, think about it, act on it and it will govern the direction of your life whether you're consciously aware of it or not.
So, guard your heart, protect it, watch what you watch, listen to what you listen to, because somewhere deep down inside of you the factory of
your heart is busy forging your life.

I bet the responders playing holier-than-thou on horror films watch action films. I bet the person who said he isn't a fan of violence reads novels where violence is depicted. Violence itself is not evil and the only movies I believe are evil are those that don't narrate, through the contest of violence, the prevailing of good over evil. The Bible itself is a tale of graphic violence, is it purer because it's in written form instead of picture?

No, horror films are not evil, wrong to watch, or an affront to Christian standards of conduct. I enjoy watching horror films where goodness prevails. The shallow, unimaginative horror films that lack this deeper philosophical struggle I tend to avoid.

This Vale Of Tears said:

I bet the responders playing holier-than-thou on horror films watch action films. I bet the person who said he isn't a fan of violence reads novels where violence is depicted. Violence itself is not evil and the only movies I believe are evil are those that don't narrate, through the contest of violence, the prevailing of good over evil. The Bible itself is a tale of graphic violence, is it purer because it's in written form instead of picture?

No, horror films are not evil, wrong to watch, or an affront to Christian standards of conduct. I enjoy watching horror films where goodness prevails. The shallow, unimaginative horror films that lack this deeper philosophical struggle I tend to avoid.

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what about what Sojourner posted? the occult/satanic rituals displayed openly, via the media (e.g. motion pictures), invited devils into their life

let's not pretend to be blind. or maybe some of us already are.

This Vale Of Tears said:

I bet the responders playing holier-than-thou on horror films watch action films. I bet the person who said he isn't a fan of violence reads novels where violence is depicted. Violence itself is not evil and the only movies I believe are evil are those that don't narrate, through the contest of violence, the prevailing of good over evil. The Bible itself is a tale of graphic violence, is it purer because it's in written form instead of picture?

No, horror films are not evil, wrong to watch, or an affront to Christian standards of conduct. I enjoy watching horror films where goodness prevails. The shallow, unimaginative horror films that lack this deeper philosophical struggle I tend to avoid.

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What gives with the labels you tag on people when you don't agree with them ...to assume that "the responders playing "holier-than-thou" on
horror films", are indeed holier-than-thou is well ... where to begin ?
Besides there is a huge difference between horror films and action films ... within the genre of action films there are many that are obvious that
go beyond mere action but rely on nudity, excessive bloodshed, cursing etc. to make the film "work".
And most of those can be avoided.

Not so with horror films, they are purposely designed to instil fear and anxiety, something which I avoid and my reasons are not because I'm "holier
than thou" but because I don't need that in my spirit.

Sure the Bible depicts violence, but it does not promote it.

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and
swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the
name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 1Cor 5:9 -11

Paul states the obvious, that to escape the activities of this world, you would need to go out of this world, because those things are facts of life but as a
Christian you need to avoid them ... did that make him holier-than-thou or anyone who follows this advice ?

A Christian is probably the only one that can watch a horror film without being affected.

I would say its fine to watch anything as a Christian. Just watch your intake, judge your motives and do not stumble others! Stumbling younger Christians is probably the biggest reason for needing to avoid certain films.
I do walk out of many films though. I think we should all do that. Films that mock the Lord are much worse then any gore, death or scare tactic.

Two guys kissing > a demon ripping 10 people to pieces! Why? Because the first is sin entering with the appearance of right. The second is a clear shock tactic. It is not trying to deceive anyone.

that's not true KingJ. Yes we have Jesus's blood covering us and he is stronger but by watching horror films you are letting demons into your life and that can affect you and lead to bondage.

teamventure said:

what about what Sojourner posted? the occult/satanic rituals displayed openly, via the media (e.g. motion pictures), invited devils into their life

let's not pretend to be blind. or maybe some of us already are.

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Proving that ignorant Christians can be just as superstitious as any Amazon tribe. Superstitious Christians make the rest of us look stupid.

Enquirer said:

What gives with the labels you tag on people when you don't agree with them ...to assume that "the responders playing "holier-than-thou" on
horror films", are indeed holier-than-thou is well ... where to begin ?
Besides there is a huge difference between horror films and action films ... within the genre of action films there are many that are obvious that
go beyond mere action but rely on nudity, excessive bloodshed, cursing etc. to make the film "work".
And most of those can be avoided.
If you read my post, I already stated that I avoid those kind of horror films. There are very good films written by people who have a strong grasp for how good and evil work in the supernatural world and even those that approach strong Christian orthodoxy regarding how the demonic realm operates and how they are defeated by Christ. The problem is lumping all horror films into a single context for evaluation.


Not so with horror films, they are purposely designed to instil fear and anxiety, something which I avoid and my reasons are not because I'm "holier
than thou" but because I don't need that in my spirit.

No they are not "purposely designed to instill fear and anxiety". They are designed for entertainment and some of them have a very positive message by causing good to prevail over evil in a way that gives people hope that evil can indeed be defeated.

Sure the Bible depicts violence, but it does not promote it.

Neither do horror films. Now we're just being a tad silly, aren't we? I think people here are getting riled because somebody dares to dissent from the accepted axiom that horror films are terrible and no Christian should ever watch them. Have you ever seen The Rite? How about The Conjuring inspired by renowned demonologists Ed and Lorraine Warren? The problem isn't horror films, the problem is bunker mentality Christians who exist in tiny little mental circles and consign everything outside of their limited perimeter of experience to darkness. Being small minded is not a Christian virtue.

Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (Philipians 4:8)

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thomasleonard said:

Should we as Christians, following the lord himself of peace, love, forgiveness and mercy, watch Horror films?

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No, because most of them are really, really stupid.

This Vale Of Tears said:

Proving that ignorant Christians can be just as superstitious as any Amazon tribe. Superstitious Christians make the rest of us look stupid.

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it's funny you call me an ignorant Christian. No Christian is more ignorant than the one who denies that reality of spiritual warfare. wake up and open your eyes.

horror films are a direct attack of spiritual warfare. people i used to know who suffered from demonic oppression called horror films movies with demonic fingerprints.

I remember my former husband trying to force me to watch horror movies and I said no!!!! I was so afraid of him that I usually obeyed him as the Bible said I should. When it came to demonic films I stood my ground- refused to watch and left the room no matter how angry he got. I usually will not watch action movies either. Well actually i almost never even watch a movie at all. If it does not uplift us then why should we watch it? I refuse, but to each his own path I guess.

teamventure said:

it's funny you call me an ignorant Christian. No Christian is more ignorant than the one who denies that reality of spiritual warfare. wake up and open your eyes.

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I can believe in spiritual warfare without thinking that watching a movie will cause me to be possessed. Superstitious Christians are embarrassing to the rest of us.

i don't know who's saying watching a horror film makes you possessed. but denying that they are demonically inspired means you are blind.

1. You did. (short memory)

2. Denying that horror movies are demonically inspired makes me a rational person who arrives at conclusions objectively and scientifically, shunning the shroud of useless superstitions.