John Piper's website: Why Christians shouldn't watch filth like Deadpool

[ALAYMAN]

I'm not against watching R-rated movies simply because of their ratings.  Context may indeed require mature themes to be given some weightier subtext, but Piper's homeboy brings some interesting considerations to the Christian to ponder....

I?m huge fan of superhero movies and shows. So it should come as no surprise that someone like me would be excited about the new Deadpool (2016) movie.

Deadpool is produced by 20th Century Fox, based on the Marvel comic, part of the X-Men film series. Unfortunately, unlike others in the series, Deadpool is rated R due to ?strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity.? One website reports that it grossed $12.7 million on opening night, scoring the largest preview number ever for an rated-R film.

On social media, Christians are debating whether or not it?s appropriate to see the film. Is it permissible? Is it wise? Is it legalistic to say no? What follows is a lightly edited transcript from John Piper on why he is committed to abstaining from movies and shows he knows contain nudity. We?ve cast them in terms of seven questions to consider.


1. When Will I Tear Out My Eye, If Not Now?

2. Am I Longing to See God?
3. Do I Care About the Souls of the Nudes?
4. Would I Be Glad If My Daughter Played This Role?
5. Am I Assuming Nudity Can Be Faked?
6. Am I Assuming Nudity Is Necessary for Good Art?
7. Am I Free from Doubt?

So I say it again: Join me in the pursuit of the kind of purity that sees God, and knows the fullness of joy in his presence, and the everlasting pleasure at his right hand.

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-questions-to-ask-before-you-watch-deadpool


And here's a bit more nuanced/complex deliberation on the cinema/arts from Russell Moore...

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KKWY6WNX

So what is your criteria for whether you will view movies with mature content?

 

[praise_yeshua]

Adults can act like adults....not prudes. I'm not against nudity in films to some degree. However, I don't think I've ever seen a film with nudity that really needed it......

Lets see if for what it is.... Nudity sells. That is why people get naked in movies. Not for the sake of the story or artistic impression.

I have to admit that I went and saw Deadpool with some guys from work. It was funny. It would have been funny without all the crude humor and nudity. I wouldn't advice anyone to go see it. Especially not a women. Even though the theater was full of ladies enjoying the movie. I don't really understand how it got just a "R" rating. The "R" rating is deceptive.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Lets see if for what it is.... Nudity sells. That is why people get naked in movies. Not for the sake of the story or artistic impression.

I have to admit that I went and saw Deadpool with some guys from work. It was funny. It would have been funny without all the crude humor and nudity. I wouldn't advice anyone to go see it. Especially not a women. Even though the theater was full of ladies enjoying the movie. I don't really understand how it got just a "R" rating. The "R" rating is deceptive.

Nudity sells?  Maybe, but I really don't think anyone is going to see Deadpool for the nudity. 

I REALLY enjoyed the movie.  A lot.  If I had to complain, I would complain first about the low budget.  But even then, they made that funny.  He cracks jokes about the low budget.  And then Deadpool "forgets" something for the final battle probably because if he didn't forget it, the final battle would have been that much  more expensive to film.  That cracked me up, too.  [no specifics - don't want to spoil it]

I'd recommend the movie to anyone with a sense of humor who is mature enough to overlook the overuse of penis jokes and needless nudity.  So, obviously, it's definitely not suitable for an immature, anal retentive Pharisee like ALAYMAN. 

I'm taking my kids to see it this weekend (they're both over 18).  I think they'll enjoy it, although my son finds something to complain about in any movie. 

 

[praise_yeshua]

Lets see if for what it is.... Nudity sells. That is why people get naked in movies. Not for the sake of the story or artistic impression.

I have to admit that I went and saw Deadpool with some guys from work. It was funny. It would have been funny without all the crude humor and nudity. I wouldn't advice anyone to go see it. Especially not a women. Even though the theater was full of ladies enjoying the movie. I don't really understand how it got just a "R" rating. The "R" rating is deceptive.

Nudity sells?  Maybe, but I really don't think anyone is going to see Deadpool for the nudity. 

I REALLY enjoyed the movie.  A lot.  If I had to complain, I would complain first about the low budget.  But even then, they made that funny.  He cracks jokes about the low budget.  And then Deadpool "forgets" something for the final battle probably because if he didn't forget it, the final battle would have been that much  more expensive to film.  That cracked me up, too.  [no specifics - don't want to spoil it]

I'd recommend the movie to anyone with a sense of humor who is mature enough to overlook the overuse of penis jokes and needless nudity.  So, obviously, it's definitely not suitable for an immature, anal retentive Pharisee like ALAYMAN. 

I'm taking my kids to see it this weekend (they're both over 18).  I think they'll enjoy it, although my son finds something to complain about in any movie.

Deadpool and his girl friend scenes were "over the top". So was the one scene when he goes looking for her. You know which scene I'm talking about. Those scenes are in the film to sell the movie to some. Not saying all. I wouldn't fault someone for going but you have to recognize what it is. My wife would have walked out of the movie... or at least wanted to.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Deadpool and his girl friend scenes were "over the top". So was the one scene when he goes looking for her. You know which scene I'm talking about. Those scenes are in the film to sell the movie to some. Not saying all. I wouldn't fault someone for going but you have to recognize what it is. My wife would have walked out of the movie... or at least wanted to.

Believe it or not, I don't know which scene you're talking about.  I found all the sex scenes totally forgettable.  They added nothing to the movie.  They were just filler I sat through until the movie got back on track.  That's just me, though.  When I watch movies on Netflix, etc., I fast forward through sex scenes.  Not because I'm offended, but because I find them irrelevant and boring. 

EDIT:  By the way, I saw an interview with Ryan Reynolds where he was asked about the nudity and sex scenes.  He said doing them is the very opposite of what most people think.  They think "Wow he gets to do that with the beautiful Morena Baccarin!!"  But in reality, he said, those scenes are the most uncomfortable, most totally un-sexy parts of the acting and filming process.  Which is another argument for leaving them out of the film.  But you're probably right that it sells for some people.  Just not me.

 

[ALAYMAN]

Deadpool and his girl friend scenes were "over the top". So was the one scene when he goes looking for her. You know which scene I'm talking about. Those scenes are in the film to sell the movie to some. Not saying all. I wouldn't fault someone for going but you have to recognize what it is. My wife would have walked out of the movie... or at least wanted to.

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.  TRT is just too stubborn to admit it.

But I like his "you disagree with me and my beliefs, so you're a poopy-britches" argument.  Real heady stuff.

 

[Tim]

A Christian has no place watching Deadpool. The carnal man, maybe, but not the spiritual.

 

[brianb]

I'm not against watching R-rated movies simply because of their ratings.  Context may indeed require mature themes to be given some weightier subtext, but Piper's homeboy brings some interesting considerations to the Christian to ponder....

I?m huge fan of superhero movies and shows. So it should come as no surprise that someone like me would be excited about the new Deadpool (2016) movie.

Deadpool is produced by 20th Century Fox, based on the Marvel comic, part of the X-Men film series. Unfortunately, unlike others in the series, Deadpool is rated R due to ?strong violence and language throughout, sexual content and graphic nudity.? One website reports that it grossed $12.7 million on opening night, scoring the largest preview number ever for an rated-R film.

On social media, Christians are debating whether or not it?s appropriate to see the film. Is it permissible? Is it wise? Is it legalistic to say no? What follows is a lightly edited transcript from John Piper on why he is committed to abstaining from movies and shows he knows contain nudity. We?ve cast them in terms of seven questions to consider.


1. When Will I Tear Out My Eye, If Not Now?

2. Am I Longing to See God?
3. Do I Care About the Souls of the Nudes?
4. Would I Be Glad If My Daughter Played This Role?
5. Am I Assuming Nudity Can Be Faked?
6. Am I Assuming Nudity Is Necessary for Good Art?
7. Am I Free from Doubt?

So I say it again: Join me in the pursuit of the kind of purity that sees God, and knows the fullness of joy in his presence, and the everlasting pleasure at his right hand.

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/seven-questions-to-ask-before-you-watch-deadpool


And here's a bit more nuanced/complex deliberation on the cinema/arts from Russell Moore...

http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=KKWY6WNX

So what is your criteria for whether you will view movies with mature content?

People make the argument that people swear all the time but I know I wouldn't listen to someone swear for 2 hours. When you go to watch a movie like that you are subjecting yourself (except for leaving to go the washroom or get snacks) to two hours or so of profanity. I looked it up on IMDB and they counted over 80 uses of profanity.  That's a lot more than I hear at work all day and I work with the public. And if any one thinks they won't use profanity that wouldn't normally use after watching that given enough provocation they are deceiving themselves. 

 

[Recovering IFB]

What does he say about "Goodfellas"?

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

What does he say about "Goodfellas"?

Or Scarface?

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

People make the argument that people swear all the time but I know I wouldn't listen to someone swear for 2 hours. When you go to watch a movie like that you are subjecting yourself (except for leaving to go the washroom or get snacks) to two hours or so of profanity. I looked it up on IMDB and they counted over 80 uses of profanity.  That's a lot more than I hear at work all day and I work with the public. And if any one thinks they won't use profanity that wouldn't normally use after watching that given enough provocation they are deceiving themselves.

I like to watch a youtube game streamer who lives in Brooklyn.  He's hilarious, and the games are fun to watch.  Like any normal Brooklyn guy (and that goes for the whole surrounding area, including much of northern New Jersey), he drops the f-bomb constantly.  It's just the way they talk.  If you've seen the movie "My Cousin Vinny", you'd know.  I really don't think they think of it as profanity.  It's just a cultural thing. 

I wouldn't talk that way if I lived there (I used to live pretty close).  Hearing it doesn't make you say it. 

 

[rsc2a]

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.

Christianese buzzwords. Evangelispeak. Radio talk show notes. Scare! Scare!

 

[Smellin Coffee]

I have no interest in seeing this movie. I'm not really into the superhero genre though I did appreciate Ledger's performance as Joker a few years back.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

I have no interest in seeing this movie. I'm not really into the superhero genre though I did appreciate Ledger's performance as Joker a few years back.

I love superhero movies, but what makes this movie great is that he's an anti-hero.  He only kills bad guys in the movie (in the comic he kills good guys, too).  The funny part is that he kills bad guys who superheroes normally wouldn't kill because they're bound to a "higher" code. There's actually a scene in the movie that expresses EXACTLY that difference.

I can see why some people would be offended by that, but here's how I see it.  One of my favorite moments in a Bugs Bunny cartoon is when he's about to play the piano on stage, and some guy keeps coughing and interrupting.  After a couple interruptions, Bugs pulls out a gun and shoots the coughing guy in the audience. 

It's funny, because it plays on what one might fantasize in a situation like that. It's not that any of us would actually shoot the guy, but it's funny to watch Bugs actually do what we'd be tempted to do if we were in a cartoon. 

Deadpool is like watching a cartoon where the anti-hero goes to extremes like that.  It's funny, just like Bugs, and it's really no different in concept.  The movie is a live-action comic/cartoon.  The only difference is that Deadpool is not animated (except for some CGI).  That, and Bugs Bunny doesn't include swearing and sex.

 

[Recovering IFB]

I'm more of a crime/gangster genre kinda guy, there's never any cursing or foul language in these movies

 

[ALAYMAN]

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.

Christianese buzzwords. Evangelispeak. Radio talk show notes. Scare! Scare!

Something about.... keep himself unspotted from the world.

It's called being a Christian.  Try it sometime.

Deadpool is like watching a cartoon where the anti-hero goes to extremes like that.  It's funny, just like Bugs, and it's really no different in concept.  The movie is a live-action comic/cartoon.  The only difference is that Deadpool is not animated (except for some CGI).

Yeah, Bugs Bunny, replete with full nudity sex scenes, copious obscenity and penis jokes.  Maybe you should try anime. 8) 

 

[Recovering IFB]

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.

Christianese buzzwords. Evangelispeak. Radio talk show notes. Scare! Scare!

Something about.... keep himself unspotted from the world.

It's called being a Christian.  Try it sometime.

Hey Alayman, your Semi -Pelagianism is showing 

 

[ALAYMAN]

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.

Christianese buzzwords. Evangelispeak. Radio talk show notes. Scare! Scare!

Something about.... keep himself unspotted from the world.

It's called being a Christian.  Try it sometime.

Hey Alayman, your Semi -Pelagianism is showing 

Piper is more non-pegasusian than you, and his thoughts are in the OP.  Try to stay focused, less bourbon, more sobriety.

 

[Recovering IFB]

Hollywood insiders have publicly admitted that the thematic material was more than edgy and abundantly able to secure the modern-day liberal views of the MPAA rating's system.  And that is within the considerations of secular America, not evangelical Christian considerations and sensibilities.

Christianese buzzwords. Evangelispeak. Radio talk show notes. Scare! Scare!

Something about.... keep himself unspotted from the world.

It's called being a Christian.  Try it sometime.

Hey Alayman, your Semi -Pelagianism is showing 

Piper is more non-pegasusian than you, and his thoughts are in the OP.  Try to stay focused, less bourbon, more sobriety.

No way man! How else do you think I'm able to put up with this place? 8)

 

[Bruh]

I've never "met" so many Born again men that walk in the Spirit so much that they can watch stuff like this with,and not one time................not one.......find themselves out of Gods Will for their eyes/heart.

I wouldn't want to attend church with you men, I'd be to intimidated.