Should We Watch Horror?

This time of year is when almost every channel is saturated with horror films. From slashers to monsters, the gore genre gets to generate revenue. I am very concerned that many brothers and sisters in Christ are entertained by these films. I want to recount a story from the Early Church. A presbyter, a disciple of Bishop went to Coliseum Games in Rome, and while watching the shed blood shed, elephants butchered by poles of blades, men slaying one another, and lions devouring people; he became demonized and could not stop going to the games. (Sources: History of the Church, Eusebius, Tour Guide at Coliseum, Rome Italy). It was Rome who perfected entertainment by watching blood shed, the coliseum was blood sport, and gladiators and beasts fought to create a basin of blood for the onlookers who cheered. I fear we are doing this digitally. The Lord God tells us this disturbing news, " "Whoever sheds human blood, by humans shall their blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made mankind." (Genesis 9:6). The Lord brings up something we ought to pay attention to. Slaughtering humans is slaughtering the Image of God, for we are made in that image (Genesis 1:27). In essence, to watch people be slashed to pieces, devoured by monsters, and other horrific images is antichrist, because Christ made all things through himself (John 1:3, Colossians 1:16).

I am not just concerned about marcabian Draculaesque films or the slasher horror films like upcoming Snowman killer film, I am equally disturbed by C.S.I, Law and Order, Priest Solves Murders on PBS, and etc.; all of these revolve around hunting down either Jack the Ripper era murderers or 21 Century Jack the Rippers. Now many claim, "I watch the series to solve mystery, not to see blood shed." Sure, you go to action films for the plot, and people pick up porn to watch the story. It is disturbing how comfortable watching hacked up bodies and gore filled rooms has become. On prime time television there is bodies in bathtubs of blood, and scenes of such savagery I question the state of people's spiritual health; because the majority of the channels are focused on solving murders and depicting the most despicable and grotesque deaths. I remember horror once was an isolated genre, kept on shelves in rental stores for adults, now prime time television features horror, and worse, its not just during Halloween time that these films and shows are on air, no all year is monsters, butchers, murderers, and marcabian stories of Tim Burton Sweeny Toddesque nature.

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ warned us about the eye and what is sees, "³⁴ The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness.  Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If therefore your whole body is full of light, with no dark part in it, it will be wholly illumined, as when the lamp illumines you with its rays," (Luke 11:33-36 NASB), "But I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart," (Matthew 5:28). Your eye has the power to defile your soul (mind and heart), and we are told to take care of our bodies and minds and not let defilement take over it, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body," (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), and "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." (Philippians 4:8). We are told over and over again to keep our eyes guarded because they are doorways to the soul, mind, heart, and even body, "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways," (Psalm 119:37). Our eyes are like portals to us, and when we look at somethin it either fills our souls with light or darkness, with Christ or devilish things. This my chief concern about horror films and all the crime mystery stories people watch; they are filling your mind and heart with murder. 

There is a deliberate move by Hollywood, Media, and writers to fill people's minds with morbid, marcabian, Salem witch trials, and horrific images in both movies, television, and books. The creepy hue of black and that deep red fills everything right now and not just at Halloween; I have been watching all year and last year; the morbidity is growing. Everything in media is seeking to turn people's minds to darkness, to delight in blood shed, monstrosities, and devils (examples, Lucifer series, The Strain, The Walking Dead, and beyond). I urge you brothers and sisters in Christ to turn your eyes from evil things, and stop filling yourselves with darkness, and instead fill yourself with Christ's light. Read the Bible, watch edifying films, shows, and etc. Do not entertain devils, and become the mob in coliseum baying for blood! Instead, weep, pray, and turn to LORD Trinity, and let Him cleanse your darkened mind and cobwebs of horror, morbidity, and darkness that has seduced you. Throw off and abandon Ann Rice, Bram Stoker,  J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Stephenie Meyer, Mary Shelley, Stephen Spielberg, Colin Trevorrow, Tim Burton, Wes Craven, James Cameron, Ridley Scott, and beyond. And replace these bad influences with Christ, Holy Spirit, Father, Paul, Peter, John, James, and beyond. Do not fall into the darkness any longer

"Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness," (Luke 11:34), "