I have always had a passion for movies, especially those of the horror genre. I remember staying up late with my sister, telling ghost stories and watching horror movies. This always gave me horrible nightmares, and I loved every minute of it. At one time, I even dabbled in creating my own horror. In my early years as a writer, I embarked on a book series, of which I only wrote two very short additions, entitled "High School Horrors." Very lame, I know, but at the time I was very proud of them. Needless to say, a decent portion of my life was spent watching, reading, and writing on subjects and themes related to horror, until recently.
About a year ago, before I started college, I purchased a movie about a man who tampers with the occult and becomes possessed. I was always scared while watching horror movies, but this one unnerved me like none had before. I was genuinely horrified and have since refused to watch that movie. I have also started to use caution in what I watch and have started to wane from the horror genre. I started school and have learned more and more about spiritual warfare and just how real the topics a typical horror movie present are.
I would love to say that since then I have avoided horror movies, that I have quit cold turkey, but that would not be true. I cannot think of a single time recently that I have not had the same reaction I did that first time. I even had to stop watching "Annabelle" before it was over. I do try not to mess with demons, monsters and ghosts on the film screen, and I feel better when I am not watching those kinds of movies. I have also strayed away from writing stories that revolve around the horror genre, and I am now focusing on a Christian-based story.
I am not trying to tell other Christians how to live their lives. I would be a hypocrite, seeing as how I still watch horror movies on occasion. I would even consider "The Walking Dead" my favorite television show. What I am saying is that we, as Christians, should take caution in what we watch. The topics in horror movies are very real, and it is dangerous for Christians to be viewing them.
Horror movies are everywhere. There are two channels devoted to them. Netflix categorizes it as a genre, and there is a website like Netflix that solely airs horror movies. With new horror movies coming out all the time, how do we as Christians avoid it? Do we cancel Netflix, or throw our televisions off a bridge? I think the answer is simple. Just like with anything else, we should use discretion about what we watch. Horror movies can be an exciting thrill ride, but we should use caution, and not allow them to pollute our minds and hearts.
