No, going to the cinema is not a sin. God does not condemn fun and not all movies in the cinema are bad. Every Christian can choose whether to go to the cinema or not.
Is watching a movie wrong?
No, watching a movie is not wrong but we must be careful with the type of film we choose to watch. As with books, there are good films and bad films, and what is good for one person can be bad for another. Each person needs to know their limits and respect the limits of others.
Before deciding to watch a movie, find out. What’s the theme? What is the minimum age to attend and why? Do you think the film will respect its limits? If you are going to watch a movie with company, also consider the limits of who will be watching it ( 1 Corinthians 8: 9 ).
Read here: Can a Christian watch a horror movie?
Is the cinema environment sinful?
The atmosphere in the cinema depends on the people inside. Some people like to date at the cinema but most people just want to watch a movie in good company. Whoever creates confusion in the cinema is disapproved by other viewers and may be asked to leave.
The influence that a film and the cinema environment have varies from person to person. It is important to remember that it is just a story, you do not have to believe or accept everything you see. The cinema environment serves to involve the viewer better in the film, but that does not mean that the person captures everything without thinking. We can think critically about what we see ( 1 Thessalonians 5:21 ).
Cinema and Christian witness
Going to the movies can be a good opportunity to share the gospel. When a Christian goes to the cinema with friends who are not believers, it gives many good topics for conversation. Many films leave us with interesting questions that we can debate and that can lead to conversations about Christ, without being forced.
Jesus was not afraid to be in the company of “sinners”. He had fun with them at parties and dinners, even though he knew it scandalized the Pharisees. Jesus did not take us out of the world, he sent us to make a difference ( John 17: 15-18 ). Sometimes it is necessary to risk scandalizing some brothers in order to reach unbelievers.
If you have no problem going to the cinema but know that a brother thinks it is wrong, avoid talking about it with him ( Romans 14: 1 ). If he confronts you about the matter, explain your opinion with love and respect and don’t condemn him for having a different opinion. Ask God for wisdom to know how to do well.
