Stuff Christians Like: Watching R-Rated Movies … but Only If They’re Violent
The following is an exclusive excerpt from Jon Acuff’s new book, Stuff Christians Like. Purchase it on Amazon or at a bookstore near you.
For Christians, it’s completely okay to watch R-rated movies, but only if they got that rating because of violence. If they’re rated R because someone is getting their head cut off or there’s a battle scene that’s so gory, blood splashes on the camera lens, don’t worry. God’s cool with that. However, if the movie is rated R because of sexuality … well, I hope you enjoy your fold-out couch bed in hell. It’s gonna be a hot one, my friend. A hot one, indeed.
I’m not sure where this rule came from, but it’s true. Not only do Christians watch violent R-rated movies, we’ll quote them from the pulpit, build sermon series around them — even show clips from them during service. I call it The Braveheart Rule, and my theory is that it’s because of the Old Testament.
Have you ever read any of the Old Testament? It’s hardcore. Samson smashes people in the head with a donkey jawbone. A priest runs a spear through two people having sex. David carries Goliath’s head around like a bowling ball. It’s violent. I think that Christians read that and assume, “Cool. God’s down with some wanton violence. R-rated movies, here we come!”
But if there’s any nudity, if a single nipple makes a cameo at any point, forget it. Throw that piece of nonsense in the trash. That is horrible. We’ll have to wait until they show the edited version on TBS.
Taken from Stuff Christians Like by Jon Acuff. Copyright © 2010 by Jon Acuff. Used by permission of Zondervan.