Did You Know: The lead actor in the movie pushed for over four years to up the content from a “PG-13” rating to an “R” rating in order to better portray the content of the “superhero”. While pushing the envelope to the extreme the movie almost gained an NC-17 rating. Why would it almost be rated NC-17 you ask? Because there is full frontal nudity (both male and female), multiple sex scenes, part of the movie takes place in a strip club, profanity abounds to a vulgar extreme (the opinion of several worldly critics), and the violence is of a demented nature.
Sounds like a good movie we should all go see over the weekend, right?
It doesn’t surprise me that Hollywood produces such garbage, but it does surprise me that Christians will flock to it in mass droves. I am not naïve enough to think that Christians have always refrained from such temptation/filth in the past, but it is disturbing to see so many church members who have lost the ability to blush (Jeremiah 6:15) and openly discuss their plans to indulge in such lewdness and revelry.
Would we say anything to a brother or sister if we knew they were going to a strip club? If we would, what is the difference between going to an actual strip club and a virtual strip club? I guess the thing that makes going to a strip club okay is whether or not a “superhero” is there to buy the drinks.
This whole scene reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend several years ago after he went to the theaters to watch the movie “Superbad”. When I heard he had seen the movie, I asked him how it was (hoping it could be a learning experience). He replied, “Wow! It was super bad. I mean it was awful.” Shocker. A movie that professes filth lived up to its billing.
Much like my friend and his “Superbad” experience, there will be several Christians who walk away from “Deadpool” with the same feeling of guilt (or unfortunately maybe not). Why does it have to be so? Why can’t Christians use more discretion when it comes to the movies they watch?
I realize I am being a self-righteous, legalistic, sinophobe by writing this warning. So be it. Some times we need reminded of the words of the Psalmist: “I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (If you don’t know where this passage is found, look it up).
How about instead of going out and spending money on a dark, sadistic, sex craved, pornographic, blasphemous, vulgar, cesspool of a film we spend some time reflecting on Philippians 4:8-9. If you don’t know what that passage says, or who wrote it, you really shouldn’t be worried about what the latest anti-hero is going to do; you should concern yourself with getting to know the Hero of all heroes (Hebrews 2:5-18) and being amazed by what his heroic followers accomplished in His service (Hebrews 11).
May God bless the Kingdom, and may the King have mercy on our ignorance and folly.
Proverbs 5:23
“He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”
Proverbs 14:18
“The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, But the folly of fools is deceit. The simple inherit folly, But the prudent are crowned with knowledge.”
Proverbs 15:21
“Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, But a man of understanding walks uprightly.”