A note to balance what I've recently written- another reason we watch movies and TV shows is because inherent in us is a great love for stories. I believe this is godly, after all, the Bible isn't the Bible full of stories? Isn't it one big story? The story of God and his relationship with mankind? Jesus himself was a great story teller. He loved to share truth in story form. We call them "parables". The main difference between the Bible's stories and most of the movies we watch is the Bible's stories are all true.

The problem with living in a world where graphically illustrated fictional stories are consumed on a mass consumption level never before seen, on an almost daily basis, is that we become spectators of life, watching others live it, fake or real, but not really living it ourselves. Whether sports or movies or TV shows we passively sit and watch other people playing or acting and this conditions us for our religious church services.  Since we're used to sitting and watching,  listening but never doing, when this is all that's asked of us in church, it feels normal, natural and right to us. We become like the Greeks at Mars Hill, if we're not careful- who sat around discussing and talking about each new wind of philosophy that blew their way. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom- yet when Paul spoke truth to them, two thirds of them either mocked him or said "we will hear thee again of this matter" - they did not receive but put off receiving- basically the three responses were red light, yellow light and green light "Howbeit certain men clave unto himand believed. 

Just sitting around in Church talking about truth, seeking wisdom even, is never enoigh. Even hearing testimonies isn't enough - you must go forth and make a few happen for yourself. You must be a doer of the Word not a hearer only. There is a time and place for talking together and reasoning with one another but the reality of God's presence within us must never become like the fictional stories we know and love. If we're not careful,  the Bible itself can become like fiction to us - we read it and hear it and speak about it with our minds and mouths but our hearts don't really believe it. Look at the first response when most Christians get sick - run to the doctor. Our actions will always speak much louder than our words.

I do not think watching a movie, fiction or not, is a sin. Some stories told by actors in a movie can inspire us, teach us, make us laugh, or cry, portraying us as noble and good but many are subtly or openly demonic.  When we see, over and over again, from the time we're children,  throughout our adult lives - mankind portrayed as "good", s noble, as triumphing over "evil", in his own strength and wisdom- with God nowhere to be found except as a curse word, then this can have a deadly long term effect on our souls. We learn to rely on ourselves- meaning our own self or other people, rather than learning to rely on God, totally. 

Paul boasted of his weakness- not his strength. "He said to me My grace is enough for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore i take pleasure in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when i am weak, then am i strong".

Christianity has become a religion that exalts man and belittles God. Sure we sing songs about how mighty he is but they're really more about how mighty he was or will be. We rarely see his might on display- we rarely see his majesty and power in action.  Religion is all about man. They revolve around men - they say man is wise enough and strong enough to understand God and what he requres: and he is dependent on man's strength  and wisdom- church becomes all about man explaining God.....God becomes limited to man's understanding of him. In churches they rely on themselves.  They look to their pastor's as someone who has it all figured out, who is strong and wise - a pillar holding up the entire fellowship.  Churches  choose men who have gone to Bible Colleges or Seminaries,  who have been taught and trained by men, to be our leaders. They do not choose men who demonstrate and desire the communion of the Holy Spirit.  They look for charisma not charachter. They want men who seem to have it all together, not men infirmed, reproached, needy and persecuted.

Movies can have their place in our lives, if we keep them in proper perspective. If we're watching or listening to stories and not living them, something's wrong.  The Holy Spirit has taught me wonderful truths while watching movies. Jurrasic Park - the Lost World or "The Bear" for instance. Just stay in continual submission to the One who has the power to present you blameless before your Father in heaven. If the Holy Spirit prompts you not to see a movie, no matter how much you may want to - obey Him! It's not worth harming your soul. I've walked out of theaters in the past. Many movies are so heinous, we as Christians should have nothing to do with them. The world is entertained by all manner of depravities, we, however, should "think on whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,  whatsoever things are of a good report, if there be any virtue, any praise, think on these things." "These things which you have both learned and received of me and heard, and seen in me, DO!" Paul, and I too, urge you to do what you've seen God do in us, not just say. 

One last note about movies, TV shows, etc. If you watch a two hour movie you should then give The Lord at least two hours of your time to be fair. Never spend more time in secular, worldly movies, books, music etc., than you do with the Lord. Personal, private time with him, going to church doesn't count, unless you're actually encountering him at church.