Interview

Interview with an Academy Bible Teacher About Movies

Does the question of movies often come up in your work with young people?

Pastor Jewett, does the question of movies often come up in your work with young people?

I think it comes up more often when young people try to talk with their ministers. It seems to be one of those "test" questions in the get-acquainted period. The average young person can tell a great deal about a preacher by the way he answers the tired old question of movies, and may determine whether or not he tunes the pastor out after the first ten seconds. However, according to my experience, the question of movies doesn't even make the top ten of problems that most concern academy-age students.

In your opinion, what kind of answer would turn off an average Adventist teenager?

In my opinion the average youth is not trying to question the standards of the church. What he wants to know is whether or not the minister will go to the trouble of making his answer fit the real issues involved. I mean, for example, if the question is: What is wrong with movies? how many are prone to the pat answer about "questionable places of amusement"?

But the Spirit of Prophecy writings use phrases such as you mention.

Yes, I know, and there is a stigma about public theaters that is valid. (Of course, the young people are quick to remind us that this is where we often hold evangelistic meetings.) But it is what is shown on the silver screen that is the issue. If we press the teenager too much about the "place" we may back him out of his own home where he probably sees more movies than anyplace else! It is the problem of "fiction" that is most strongly emphasized in the Spirit of Prophecy. Another oft-heard answer is the one about "association with unholy people." There actually may be more potential for harmful association riding on a public bus.

When someone pins you down on the question about movies, how do you answer?

When a young person really wants an answer I start with a question: "Did you enjoy the last movie you saw?" There is usually an affirmative answer. Then I ask if he enjoyed my last sermon. Putting those two questions in harness is definitely an unequal yoking that does not escape the average teenager. It is not even necessary to ask which he enjoyed more. Then I ask if he would like to see another movie as good or better than the last one.

This usually opens the door for a two-way discussion. (Does one movie lead to another; can you become a "movieholic" and so forth?) If the youth hasn't caught on by now, I may become more blunt. In my opinion Hollywood movies are a concern because of the habit-forming factor. The appetite for excitement, romance, intrigue, and comedy is easy to arouse. I'm not against these emotions in real life as they tend to add flavor and zest in measured amounts, but on the screen they are artificial. They create the appetite without satisfying it.

But don't you think there are some good movies?

Certainly. There are some great movies. But when you say "good" movies, what do you mean by "good"?

Well, I'm thinking of "good" as opposed to "bad." We certainly wouldn't have any trouble defining "bad" movies!

That's right. The kids don't ask about bad movies. They ask what is wrong with good movies. But I think we are on thin ice to try to set up a list of "good" movies. For example, Bridge on the River Kwai was approved by several colleges in our denomination but is often criticized because of the depicted violence.

What if a movie had no so-called "objectionable" features? What do you think of The Sound of Music?

I have not seen The Sound of Music. But to be honest with you, from all reports I've heard, it was a good movie. I'm not, however, an authority on good movies. I'd rather talk about good habits and bad habits. I think it best for people not to judge others on this issue, but to judge for themselves very carefully! Everything hinges upon our relationship to Jesus Christ. The important question is, Does the good movie habit lead in the right direction?

What about the movies that we show on our own school campuses?

I hope the time is coming when we won't be so dependent on them. It is our purpose to lead students to the tree of life; feature movies remind me more of the other tree. . . . There is no Hollywood movie but what its primary motive is to make money. This should not be our primary motive on campus!

Do you think we should come right out and say, "No movies at all"?

If we say "no movies at all," we create the impression of condemnation of those who may sincerely have a different opinion. As an illustration, people who drink are offended by people who go around saying they don't drink. People who don't drink aren't offensive until they start bragging about it! I think the same principle can be applied to movies. Arguing the subject is usually both superficial and academic, in that the love of movies only indicates a more serious problem and arguing the point produces no practical result.

Nevertheless, it is my opinion that total abstinence is the safest course to establish as our goal. "A good movie never hurt any body," is no more true than the similar bromide of the social drinker that "One drink can't hurt you." Or, to use an example closer to home, maybe we should view good movies in Adventist institutions like clean meat, the less we consume the better, leading as quickly as possible to the point of disuse according to individual conscience.

But how can we communicate to our youth the advantages of "total abstinence" when we consider their natural curiosity?

The only safety device to keep the various 1971 models of teenage curiosity from serious accident is mature wisdom. This is why parents, preachers, and teachers are not obsolete. Communication with young people is only difficult; it is not impossible! If we attempt to communicate to our youth the advantages of commitment to a cause that can hold their attention, movies will simply become less important than the leader of their cause, Jesus Christ! If, on the other hand, we make a big issue of movies, they will continue to be part of the adolescent rebellion syndrome as a sign of independence and the young people will go whether they really want to or not.


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February 1971

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