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Brookelynn Rhyne
Durrell Nelson
CINE 340-B01
07 March 2024
Christian Involvement in Cinematic Arts
In the conversation of whether or not Christians should engage with the cinematic arts,
the short answer is “yes.” Writer Sam O’Neal says, “For as long as the church has existed,
Christians have embraced the arts as a poignant and effective method for telling the story of the
Bible” (O’Neal, 2012). This assertion validates the idea that for Christians, positive engagement
with the arts can act as a form of promoting the Gospel, conveying other moral messages, help in
sharing the faith, and explore complex human experiences.When looking to understand the role
that Christians should play within the arts, we must first understand the calling on our lives.
Scripture teaches us in Ephesians 4:1-3, “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life
worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing
with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of
peace” (English Standard Version, 2019). In this regard, it applies to each aspect in which
Christians should engage with the cinematic arts, whether it be making films, or how the church
should best respond to film.
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When asking why Christians should actively participate in film, it is important to
understand the impact that film, at its core, has on the hearts and minds of people. “Filmmakers
intentionally use cinematic techniques to induce specific emotions. For example, suspenseful
music, close-up shots of actors' faces, or quick edits can enhance feelings of fear or excitement”
(Neurocinematics: How films influence brains & emotions).
As this relates to Christian filmmakers, this fact explains how film can be used as a tool
for believers to act according to the calling given to us in the Great Commission. Matthew 28:19-
20 outlines, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (English
Standard Version, 2019). When making films as believers, whether it be a religious film or not,
the film itself should align with one's personal convictions. More specifically, when creating a
religious film, the primary goal should be the scriptural integrity. The success of the film is not
possible without holding the honor of it in the highest regard.
The church plays a significant role in the perception of believers. Because of this,
how the church responds to film is crucial. To begin, the church must acknowledge the power of
movies. Like mentioned before, film can have a large effect on the psyche of an individual. With
this knowledge, “We must be in the world discussing—and possibly confronting—what society
is participating in and talking about” (Reynold, 2015). As a body of believers, we should be
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confronting the world, discerning, and solidifying what is truth and what is not. Secondly,
churches cannot omit the presence of cinema in the world. Along with this, they can also not
disregard the fact that evil exists in our world. Therefore, this should empower the church to
combat the lies being filtered through with the use of film. A strategy for this could be to support
Christian artists who seek to promote the ideologies that believers hold dear.
From a Biblical perspective, leaders in the faith and in theology, especially those in the
arts, should concern themselves with every intricacy of society. These individuals have the
platform that enables them to produce messages of hope, joy, fulfillment, the kind only possible
through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ. Faith-based movies should not be confined to its
respective "community." Instead, the makers of these films should seek to broaden their audience
beyond that. With that, churches as stated, should show their support for these kinds of films and
their makers. Jesus should be the most important subject at the box office, and that is not
possible without the work of believers alike promoting religious films.
The question of what kinds of movies Christians should make is subjective and may vary
among individuals and denominations within the Christian community. However, there is one
thing they should all have in common, is the truth of the character and life of Jesus Christ. Each
perspective is subject to one’s personal convictions. However, there are a few things that all
Christian filmmakers should consider. First, the nature of the content. When creating a film, the
makers must ask themselves is the culture surrounding the film is one that is edifying to the
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Christian beliefs or not. Secondly, they must examine the morals and values of the film. As
Christian filmmakers, they should seek to only promote ideals that align with scriptures. Next,
creating movies suitable for a wide audience, including families and children is very important in
order to convey the messages to the largest amount of people. Lastly, and arguably the primary
focus, should be the overall theme of the film. Film is a major means of communication. From
the National Library of Medicine, they explore how, psychologically, people are more receptive
to information that is endorsed by people of status. “The psychology literature tells us that
celebrity advice conditions people to react positively toward it. People are also inclined to follow
celebrities if the advice matches their self-conceptions or if not following it would generate
cognitive dissonance” (Hoffman and Tan, 2015). When films communicate different ideologies
to widely differing audiences, those audiences then communicate those ideas to their
communities. Thus, spreading information from city to city, country to country. Hence, why the
thematic aspects of a movie are the most crucial to its success. This is especially true for
Christian filmmakers, because they are writing about ideas that are not, popularly displayed often
in film.
When asking, how should Christians utilize movies to influence the world around them,
immediately, they can use movies as a way of communicating their values to a broken world, so
desperately in need of the good news. This can be done in many ways, but we will explore a few.
It may be seemingly simple, but movies have the ability to convey messages across a wide
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variety of communities. Because of this, they have the opportunity to share stories of hope,
redemption, love, and compassion. Films can use the power of storytelling to inspire and uplift
audiences, showcasing positive values and moral lessons. To add, movies can often spark
difficult conversations, and in turn give us as believers, opportunities to explain, and share the
Gospel. When discussing the idea of film inspired dialogue, the novel, which later was adapted
into a movie, A Case for Christ, comes to mind. In personal experience, this film has been the
source of many gospel conversations. A Pastor at Westminster Seminary reviewed this film and
notes what this film taught him, “while our efforts to defend the gospel must always rest on the
presupposition of the authority of Scripture, at the same time we should not diminish the
historical reality of the life, death, and resurrection of Christ” (A Pastor’s Reflections: The Case
for Christ (the Movie)). A film like this, containing so many difficult narratives, contesting the
existence of God, and the truth of the scriptures, should be at the forefront of modern cinematic
art. However, it is so common that faith-based movies are cast off as being too niche. In that
case, their audience is not branching out to individuals who, would most likely not view this film
otherwise.
It is important for Christians engaging in filmmaking to approach the process with
thoughtfulness, sensitivity, and a genuine desire to contribute positively to the cultural landscape.
By using movies as a medium for storytelling, Christians can have a significant impact on
shaping the values and narratives present in today's culture.
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It is much easier to convey religious themes when using movies that are in its likeness to
do so. However, we must ask ourselves, if we would feel comfortable using a secular movie to
illustrate a theological truth to your audience. I think that is not only vital but necessary to be
able to maximize secular movies for the use of promoting theological ideas. Author Craig
Detweiler in exploring how cinema and faith intersect, shared a story of the first time he ever
saw the two concepts relate. He notes that it was not during the viewing a religious film, but
during the exact opposite. At the end of Raging Bull, after the screen fades to black, the
following words come across the screen: “All I know is this: Once I was blind, but now I can
see.” (Ross, 2019). To most, this phrase would not register as being religious. However, for
Christians, we remember this as a claim made by the apostle John in John 9:25. This ties back to
the idea that we serve an omnipresent God. Although it may not seem like the Lord is present in
every situation, and in this case process of making of a film, he is. Scripture tells us in Psalm
139:7-10 “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to
the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of
the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right
hand will hold me fast” (New International Version, 2007). Because we know this truth, we
should seek to find God in every aspect of media. For an individual to witness God in a world
where he seems so distant, will have a much greater impact than if they were to experience Him
during a faith-based film.
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In the discourse on whether Christians should engage with the cinematic arts, the
affirmative response is clear: yes. As Sam O'Neal aptly points out, Christians have a long history
of embracing the arts as a powerful means of telling the story of the Bible. The call for Christians
to engage with the cinematic arts is rooted in their broader calling to live lives worthy of the
Gospel. Understanding the profound impact of films on the human psyche, particularly in
inducing emotions, underscores the potential of cinema as a tool for believers to fulfill the Great
Commission.
The careful creation of faith-based movies, characterized by scriptural integrity and
thematic focus, is crucial for effectively conveying the messages of hope, joy, and redemption
that is so profound in Christianity. The church, recognizing the potency of movies, plays a vital
role in responding to and utilizing films. It must engage in discussions about societal
participation and discern truth from falsehood, supporting Christian artists who align with core
beliefs. In this way, leaders in faith, especially those in the arts, possess a platform to spread
messages of hope through the redeeming blood of Jesus Christ.
Finally, the question of what kinds of movies Christians should make underscores the
importance of aligning content with Christian values, morals, and a broad audience appeal. This
includes recognizing the psychological influence of film and strategically utilizing cinema as a
means to influence society positively. In conclusion, Christians can and should actively
participate in the cinematic arts, recognizing the potential for films to communicate their values,
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inspire dialogue, and impact the world around them. Whether creating or responding to films, a
thoughtful and discerning approach is essential to contribute positively to the cultural landscape
and fulfill the broader calling of a Christian life.
We are incredibly blessed to have written instruction that is God breathed, in which helps
us to act according to his will, daily. As I venture into my future career, whether it has any
relation to film or the cinematic arts, the lessons learned from understanding how to interpret,
analyze, and critique not only film, but the world around me, is a vital tool to carry into every
aspect of life. We as believers are called to righteousness, and that is ultimately how we should
interact with the cinematic arts. We see in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but
be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (English Standard Version, 2019). It is our
responsibility to contest with the things produced by Hollywood, and big budget media
cooperations, but we can also play a proactive part in the support of more Christian and faith-
based productions. It is time Jesus is shown on the big screen.
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Works Cited
ESV New Christian’s Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway, 2019.I
“Neurocinematics: How Films Influence Brains & Emotions.”IMirage News, Mirage News, 16
June 2023, www.miragenews.com/neurocinematics-how-films-influence-brains-1028661/
#google_vignette.I
Niv Bible. Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, 2007.I
O’Neal, Sam. “How Should Christians Think about Film and Television?”IChristianBibleStud-
ies.Com | Transformed by the Truth, www.christianitytoday.com/biblestudies/bible-an-
swers/personalconcerns/filmandtelevision.html. Accessed 8 Mar. 2024.I
“A Pastor’s Reflections: The Case for Christ (the Movie).”IWestminster Seminary California, 19
Jan. 2024, www.wscal.edu/a-pastors-reflections-the-case-for-christ-the-movie/.I
Reynolds, Trey. “Four Ways Churches Can Maximize Movies in Their Ministry.”ILifeway Re-
search, 14 July 2015, research.lifeway.com/2015/07/14/four-ways-churches-can-maxi-
mize-movies-in-their-ministry/.I
Ross, Bobby. “Faith and Flicks.”IThe Christian Chronicle, 27 Oct. 2019, christianchronicle.org/
faith-and-flicks-christian-films-gain-a-following/.I
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