Since the horrific shootings that occurred in Colorado at the premiere showing of the latest Batman movie, my hope is that people will reflect on the idea of viewing violence as entertainment. We are a sinful people who crave sinful things. If this were not so, the Hollywood entertainment industry would go bankrupt. Alas, if the Lord tarries, I have no doubt that violent movies and video games will continue to be produced. It’s all fun and games when it’s on a screen but when it’s real life and the bullets are real and so are the deaths, the fun ends.

It is considered old-fashioned to speak out against our addiction to violent entertainment, but I will be content to be old-fashioned. I will not let my children watch or engage themselves in such sadistic fantasies for entertainment’s sake as long as they are living in my house. There is a time for violence and death, such as in the time of war, and there is not entertainment to be had in that. We once had a soldier friend tell us of his experience of coming home from the war in Iraq, where he had been living in tents in the desert fighting the enemy. Once home, he had trouble adjusting to how nonchalant everyone was about their lives, and the reality hit that our American perspectives are jaded by our own lusts. How does one go from a warzone to riding rollercoasters at Disneyland?

My prayer is that parents especially will reevaluate what they are allowing their children to ingest in the name of entertainment. I’m not blaming the entertainment for the shootings; I blame the depravity of man for instances of violence like this. I hope that people will stop and think about the influence that the entertainment industry has on the youth. Let us pray for the the victims’ families, that they can find comfort and peace amidst such devastation.

We watch it every Easter.

Ben Hur: A Tale of the Christ!

If you haven’t seen it, you are missing out. It can’t compare to the horrible movies of our day. It’s an epic! We love it. We know all the lines. The plot is too long to fully explain, but essentially the story is about Judah Ben-Hur, a Jew, and how his hatred and thirst for revenge on the evil Roman Messala almost destroys him. In the background is the story of Christ, how He suffered, and died for the sins of the world.

Condemned to slavery in the galleys, Judah Ben-Hur takes a sip of Christ’s living water.

“Your eyes are full of hate, Fourty-One. That’s good. Hate keeps a man alive.” (the Roman Quintus Arius to Judah Ben-Hur, slave number 41)

“In his eagerness to save you, your god has also saved the Roman fleet!” (Quintus Arius to Judah Ben-Hur)

Judah seeks revenge in the Circus.

“It goes on. It goes on, Judah. The race….the race is not over.” (The dying Messala to Judah Ben-Hur, after he tells him that his mother and sister are suffering in the valley of the lepers.)

“I’ve seen too much what hate can do! My father is burned up with it. But I’ve heard of a young rabbi who says that forgiveness is greater and love more powerful than hatred. I believe it!” (Esther to Judah Ben-Hur)

I wish there were more films like this one. Sadly, there are few. But if you have time to spare (the movie is 212 minutes long) I surely recommend you try Ben-Hur, in its entirety. I leave you with a clip of the scene that brings us to tears, every. single. time. (Click the link)