Position

Film is a legitimate cultural medium to be used by Christians in the fulfillment of the cultural mandate. They must exercise responsible, Spirit-guided, and enlightened discrimination in the use of the film arts, rejecting the message of those products which sanction sin and exercising responsible discrimination in the use of products from broadly Christian sources.

The church must educate its members in the discriminate use of the film arts, engage in constructive critique of the film arts with the help of specialists, and cooperate with others to produce Christian films, videos, and television. It also should warn its members against products which are contrary to the Christian way of life, promote products which meet the test of biblical principles, and help members to distinguish between good and evil in movies and television programs (see also Worldly Amusements).

History

The CRCNA made its first official declaration on the topic of film arts in a warning against movie-theater attendance in 1928. In 1949 synod decided to study the issue again, and in 1951 it clarified previous declarations. In response to an overture in 1964, synod appointed a committee to study the matter of the church and film. Two years later synod adopted declarations on "The Church and the Film Arts," which became the position of the CRCNA. The film arts were then considered a legitimate cultural medium to be used with discernment by Christians.

References

Acts of Synod 1926, pp. 56-58, 181-82
Acts of Synod 1928, pp. 86-89
Acts of Synod 1932, pp. 36-37
Acts of Synod 1940, pp. 95-98, 186-97
Acts of Synod 1944, pp. 30-32, 368-69
Acts of Synod 1949, pp. 47, 51-55
Acts of Synod 1950, pp. 19, 148
Acts of Synod 1951, pp. 62, 65-66, 126-69
Acts of Synod 1964, pp. 83, 133, 452-67, 481-82
Acts of Synod 1965, pp. 19, 116
Acts of Synod 1966, pp. 32-36, 316-61