52 Paths to Heaven

I’ll be the first to admit that some family sites sometimes make movies seem worse than they are on screen.

I saw the new Hulk movie the other day and didn’t even recall the women with low-cut tops and short shorts. Maybe they were on the screen for a second - in the background.

But I have to give these sites credit - they often do provide an honest assessment of the vulgar language, sexuality, gore, etc. Many of their observations are dead on.

Before deciding on a movie, check out  a few of these resources. For example, Mike Myers and Adam Sandler have some so-called comedies out this summer. The problem is that they’re loaded with sexual jokes and sight gags. Do I really want to go to a movie with my 12-year-old son Eric (or let him go to the movies with his friends) just so he can see people cheapen and mock sexuality and intimacy?

I read and paraphrased the entire description of one movie for Eric. I think he finally got the point.

The problem is that youth don’t use enough discretion. So I have to be, well, a parent. I’m sorry he’s embarrased to tell his friends he can’t go. Well, maybe I’m not really sorry. I keep telling him to let them know he doesn’t want to see it - that would be a more mature way to address the issue.

Anyway, here is a handy list. Check out a couple before drawing conclusions. In some cases, take in a movie first and then act like a responsible parent before allowing your children to see what Hollywood suggests they view.

Focus on the Family’s Plugged In
www.pluggedinonline.com/

Kids-In-Mind
www.kids-in-mind.com

Christian Spotlight on Entertainment
http://www.christiananswers.net/spotlight/home.html

ChristianityTodayMovies.com
www.christianitytoday.com/movies

Screen It
www.screenit.com

Parent Previews
http://www.parentpreviews.com

As my book points out, one of our paths to heaven may be a scene from a movie that touches our heart. You still need to be careful about your selections.

Babies, young kids, and others like mentally or handicapped people will go to heaven without having one of those born again moments we think about.

Most people are going to hell. Most people won’t get the fact that Christianity requires a denial of self, a turning away from sin and a love of Jesus - accepting His sacrifice for sin. It’s a simple prescription for heaven. But Matthew 7:13 says most people will miss it:

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

We want to hope for the best, think about God and His mercy and the fact that He’s loving. The fact is, He gave us a free will. Our sin makes us His enemy. And He’s all about justice. We’ll face the punishment of eternal separation from God for a single sin.

It should sound scary. And yet, don’t most people remain apathetic about their souls and fate? They do because they live the self-deception - literally. They’re so focused on themselves that they don’t think God will send them to hell. He will. He must.