Kids Just Wanna Have Fun

This past Wednesday night in Surge began a new series we're talking through that has everything to do with the technology and multimedia that our kids are constantly exposed to and the potential that they all create.  Of course, the things in and of themselves are absolutely neutral, so the potential for good or ill comes from how we use those things.

We started with movies, asking the good ol' question of "Why can't I see PG-13 Movies".  Obviously for some of them, this is less of an issue, but we looked at the top 10 box office hits of 2011 (so far) and the ratings of those films.  There were 2 G rated movies, 2 PG rated movies, only 1 R rated movie and 5 PG-13 movies.  In all the years I've taught this lesson, the numbers are almost always exactly the same.  And if you look at the vast majority of movies put out, the PG-13 rating is hands-down the most popular.

We talked through Philippians 4:8 and Romans 12:2, how we are supposed to be different from the world and how we should focus on thoughts that are pure, lovely and worthy of praise.  We also talked about the things in movies that go against those virtues and why guarding ourselves against them are so important.  However, the conversation didn't stay on movies as we branched out to talk about other things in life that work in much the same way - from music and books to tobacco and alcohol.  We also talked about how the rating system doesn't mean that the movie is bad or that if you're old enough to see it that you should.  There are some great movies out there that are rated R because of the graphic nature of modern cinematography.  (Passion of the Christ was mentioned) And there are some PG movies that aren't as appropriate as the rating might suggest.  (Rango was brought up by the kids)

The main point that we ended on was that just because you can do something doesn't mean you should.  Being old enough to get into a movie doesn't mean that it doesn't have images or thoughts that affect us, no matter how old you are.  And the Bible is clear that our thoughts should be focused on the good and honorable things around us rather than the bad that is in our world.