spending my time like i have so far arguing for/against something on the internet is a waste of life in my humble opinion.

also in my humble opinion is that we should try to look past whatever differences we have because we are to be UNITED in Christ.

let’s pray for that.

To reiterate what I said above, only more succinctly: Tarantino, with this film, is drawing attention to the fact of Nazi violence (as well as our own, & other historical violence) within the context of viewing movies in a movie theater. & also (in particular) the glorification of violence (in ourselves &)in the media.

My own perspective toward this film (& POSSIBLY other violent films) are all absolutely, 100% informed by all of the Bible verses you mentioned:

Philippians 4:8-
Tarantino’s film forces the viewer to direct the question about whatever things are pure and holy (that’s a paraphrase, obviously) toward the violence we’ve seen in the past, *as well that part of ourselves* that makes us applaud the death of even the most historically vile governmental system of certainly the 20th century, if not all of history.

That CLEARLY jibes with the quote Phillippians, by asking us to ask those questions of ourselves.

II Corinthians 6:17-
Again, Tarantino’s film asks us to ask ourselves “what is unclean” in our own actions and in our own beliefs. These questions again, obviously clearly jibe with what God asks of us through the Bible.

Psalm 101:3-
Certainly violence & murder is wicked. Again, Tarantino’s film points a finger right at that fact. & for those humans (& unfortunately Christians sometimes) that think it’s OK for this kind of violence (yes, even in the case of wars past and present) THOSE are the people that have turned aside from the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:6-
I’m pretty sure I’ve established the connection between asking ourselves what is wrong with a violence that we endorse (through war, government action, and applauding the violence of a movie) with what God does NOT want. To do that, I have shown, is what angers the Lord.

Also, my comments earlier are directed toward a deepening of our faith through asking these kinds of questions. We DO hopefully come to answers (as I have even through Tarantino’s film) through this kind of questioning, rather than making sweeping assumptions about the Bible & about what God asks of us. Assumptions only lead to more assumptions and a shallow faith, which is NOT what I want–and probably most of the people reading this site.

To take something seriously, in this case a film, you have to approach it on its own terms:

Is a dumb summer action flick all it wants to be? In that case, count me out: that kind of violence is EXACTLY what Tarantino is criticizing here (as well as the genuine violence of war).

Is it something that people watch just because it’s cool, awesome & culturally relevant? The assumption that this is the only reason people watch a movie like this undercuts the intelligence people might use when approaching something like this as a “serious” statement–though there are people who see it just because it’s cool unfortunately.

Is it something that is just a series of violent images in front of people’s eyes? MAYBE. & that’s the point with the majority of voices here. To each his own, as the old adage goes. Or to return to what I mentioned before, it CAN be helpful, to those who aren’t weak in their faith. To those who are weak in their faith, or who don’t/can’t appreciate it for what (I think) Tarantino intends for this film, then go see something else, or spend the night on the internet.

The unfortunate truth of the internet though, is that it’s not 100% pure either (a quick search will prove that point). & neither is language (truly), or the cellphones we use (I’m stretching into hyperbole here to hopefully prove a point).

Good can sometimes come out of “bad.” This film is an intelligent (& perhaps ironic) example.

& didn’t something good come from Nazareth?

See what men like Stephen Charnock, Arthur W. Pink and A. W. Tozer have to say about God’s holiness in their respective works on the Attributes of God. You will not find any more careful and thoroughly biblical  treatments of the subject than theirs. 
  In the book of Habakkuk, the prophet, under the influence of the Spirit, says: “Are You not from everlasting. O LORD, my God, my Holy One? [...] Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor.”

There is one small glimpse of the holiness of our God that we are commanded to imitate. What about you, Christian? Can you look on wickedness with favor in movies/tv?  Do you approve evil by watching other people sin and by encouraging others to do the same? If you do you do so on your own. God can not look on wickedness or approve evil because he is holy, and he has commanded us to imitate him.  Holy can be biblically defined as: “Utterly pure, separated from sin.” The Bible tells us that God hates sin, that he cannot sin nor will he tempt others to sin. God is so pure that he cannot tolerate sin in any form in his presence. That leads to an important implication: holiness and sin cannot coexist. If you want to be holy as God is holy, you must adopt his attitude toward sin. You must abhor it as he does. If you coddle sin or excuse it or dabble in it you cannot be holy as he is holy. 

The rest of your questions must be answered through the lens of the above truth. 

Pastor Mattia, I earnestly hope that biblically-informed answers are of more importantance to you than the simple act of asking questions; and I would love to hear your answers to the questions you posed above.

Also, James – if you’re still out there, I am waiting for you to clarify your previous statement by answering the question I asked you above. If James has moved along, someone else please take a stab at it for him.

In way of addressing this, I’d like to start by asking a few questions.
-what does be “holy as I am holy” mean?
-what does mission look like in the New Testament Era?
-how does one keep personal holiness in a culture that is anti-God?
-how does one reach people in a culture that cares nothing for God?
-How much of human culture is effected by the fall?
-How much of human culture does God want to redeem?
-What is our part in that redemption?
-What examples of this are we given in the Bible?
-To what degree are we to participate in human culture?
-and what exactly is James referring to when he tells us that true religion is keeping oneself unstained by “the world”?

Jonathan McIntosh – “Is it helpful for Christians to watch movies with strong violence/language?” I would say that it depends. There are some movies that some of us should never watch, and we should have an attentive ear to the convictions of the Holy Spirit. And on the other side of that, we need to also have an attentive ear to what aspect of the gospel the Holy Spirit might be speaking into our lives through a particular movie. The gospel is in almost every movie, and we should be looking for where it is revealing itself so that we can show it to our unbelieving friends.

We also need to remember that we are ambassadors for Christ. Ambassadors learn the language and culture of the foreign land where they live. Movies, good or bad, are part of the language and culture of the foreign land we find ourselves in. We should prayerfully engage in this culture so that we might better share the language and culture of our Father’s home.

 ”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.” Philippians 4:8 

It will be worth your time to do a word study on each of those words in order to resist loading them with a meaning of your own making. (i.e. “the critics loved it, so it must be praiseworthy!”) If something doesn’t measure up to God’s standard, I don’t care if it’s Shakespeare or Facing the Giants; it’s out. 99% pure, 1% pure – I’m not drinking it.

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you” II Corinthians 6:17

To whoever suggested that we must defile ourselves with bad language and drugs and violence in order to minister to people who live around bad language drugs and violence… Something tells me that the extent of your ministering in the hood has been watching John Singleton movies, but just in case you’re serious, please consider the above.

“I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” Psalm 101:3

Does somebody have a different translation with maybe a footnote there that says “except for really awesome culturally relevant movies and tv shows?”

‘Do ye thus requite the Lord, O foolish people and unwise? Is not he thy father that hath bought thee? Hath he not made thee and established thee? (Deuteronomy 32:6

I’m sure the pastor who wrote this piece (along with Jonathan McIntosh and 99% of the other Christians reading this) have all read the above scriptures many times. The difference, I assume, will be in the “interpretation”. I am only left to assume that in some other interpretation of the Bible there is a god with whom holiness is only one of many available options for the believer, a god who winks at sin and chuckles at “corny, over the top” portrayals of murder. One who has a good sense of humor about wickedness when it’s only on tv. It’s not like you are actually murdering someone, you’re just watching someone pretend to murder someone. What’s the big deal? Like, everyone knows it’s not ok to fornicate, but it’s ok to watch pornography. Well, maybe if it’s softcore and the actors are just pretending to do it for the camera.

Please, please forgive me for not finding a more humble and gentle and loving way to say all of the above and if you are a brother please know that I am only motivated by love for Christ and a zeal to see his bride purified – but please, whatever you think of the way ive said what I’ve said, ask yourself if it’s true. Holiness unto the Lord!