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When it comes to choosing movies and shows for your family, do you ever wonder if as Christians we should watch Disney? Maybe the thought has crossed your mind and maybe it hasn’t but it is something to chew on. We need to be careful about what we consume as Christians and choosing family-friendly media is important. Here are 3 things to consider when bringing Disney into your home.
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I’m going to give you my “author’s bias” right at the start, which I hope doesn’t stop you from reading the rest of this post!
I grew up on Disney. I loved Disney movies as a child and still do. Lion King, Toy Story, Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, Snow White and so on. I secretly want to get a karaoke machine just so I can do Disney karaoke!
I also came from a pretty strict household. There were many mainstream television shows we were not allowed to watch. We didn’t have cable (my parents got satellite after I left for university) so we were limited to television providers like CBC, TVO and PBS. My parents also gave us a solid Christian foundation about making healthy choices in terms of books and movies so they were careful about what we consumed.
I use the same philosophy in my own home. I also actively engage with my kids after they’ve watched something to talk about what they saw. Sometimes we talk about the characters on the show, how they behaved and what they said. Sometimes we talk about the plot, what was happening and how it ended. I don’t grill my boys and make them write an essay about everything they’ve watched but I encourage them to think critically about what they are consuming on the screen.
I hear rumblings about how Disney is bad and you shouldn’t watch it. This is what prompted me to write this post to give some perspective for Christian parents.
If you know someone who could benefit from this post, please share it!
Should Christians Watch Disney?
I’ll be honest, this is a complex question. Disney is a huge company that now owns Lucasfilm (Star Wars), 20th Centure Fox, Marvel, Pixar, ABC, ESPN and so on. They aren’t the little Micky Mouse company that they once were.
So there’s no easy answer to this but let’s make one thing clear… You are not a bad Christian if you enjoy Disney movies, just as if you avoid Disney films doesn’t make you a perfect Christian either.
Christians simply need to be wise in the choices they make every time they turn on the TV or watch something on a screen. Just because it is “Disney” doesn’t mean it is bad. Many Disney films are full of good characters, fun songs and wholesome plots.
So what are some things we need to consider before choosing a film to watch? Let’s explore.
3 Things to Consider:
1. Bible Truths
It’s important to remember that media consumption falls into the “tertiary issues” in terms of doctrine and our Christian lives. In other words, as long as you believe what the Bible says, that Jesus died for you, you have accepted Him as your Lord and saviour, then you are standing on a firm foundation of God’s grace. This means watching Disney should not have an impact on your salvation.
BUT…If the things you are consuming go against scripture (glorifying murder, adultery, homosexuality etc) or it is becoming an idol in your life then that is when you need to reevaluate your choices because this “third tier” issue is now going against what the Bible says and then you might run into problems with your walk with God.
We cannot love God and fill our lives with things that go against His word.
There are other issues and questions that Christians face that don’t have clear cut answers in the Bible and we have to ask the Holy Spirit to give us a discerning mind, pray scripture and ask God to lead us. This is what causes debate among Christians and divides us, when one person does one thing and another assumes they are wrong.
The Bible does not say “thou shalt not watch Disney,” but it says to consider if what you are consuming is good for your heart and mind (Proverbs 4:23), if it is good, just and honourable (Philippians 4:8) and worth your time (Ephesians 5:15). You have to read and understand these verses for yourself and make a decision asking God for his guidance.
Be diligent and mindful of what you are consuming. If it is not Biblical, consider turning it off.
Ultimately you need to teach your children how to choose good media based on scripture and yes, you may decide Disney does not fit into the types of things the Bible wants you to consume. You can make this decision after years of watching Disney and that’s okay!
In my blog post Teaching Media from a Christian Perspective I provided several verses you can use to help your family navigate changing media if you are wanting to dive deeper into a Biblical perspective on media for your children.
The best way to know the Bible is to read it. Check out one of my favourite Bibles here!
2. Classic Disney vs. New Disney
Disney has changed over the last few years. They have acquired different companies and now own franchises like Star Wars. My house was one that also grew up on the Star Wars saga, it was one of the few movies we saw in theatres when the new ones were released. My kids will be allowed to watch Star Wars when they are older. Just because Disney slapped their name on the rights to the films doesn’t change what the movies are about.
And many of the classic Disney films are based on old stories. Beauty and the Beast for example was not a plot created by Disney. They took old stories, made them children-friendly and produced films about them. If you’ve read the Shakespearean play “Hamlet,” you may have noticed similarities to the movie Lion King as well.
The film The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe as well as Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader were all novels written by C.S. Lewis and were all produced by Disney. C.S. Lewis wrote profound Christian works and his most notable children’s novel (LWW) is one of my all-time favourite books and now film.
Disney is creating content that viewers want to see; whatever will make money in the entertainment business. These new films may or may not be appropriate for a Christian family.
Things have changed in more recent Disney films as they create story-lines and characters that society wants to see. This is where we see themes that are not biblical or unchristian-like. The 2017 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast hinted at a character who was gay. It was never openly spoken about in the film but the producers later said that their intention for that character was that he be gay. Again, knowing the Bible and what it tells us, this goes against what we believe.
Many old Disney films have story-lines and characters that teach children about perseverance, kindness and bravery. Newer films have story-lines that encourage acceptance, tolerance and inclusion, which on the surface sounds good but parents will need to check these films before letting their children watch them.
This is the sort of thing you as the parent have to pray about. It is a teaching opportunity, where you can open up discussion about what the Bible says about homosexuality and how we as Christians are called to love them but not the way they live their lives. Or you may choose not to go down that road altogether, which is perfectly acceptable.
In the end, you may only allow classic Disney films or television. This way you know for sure what the story is and what the characters portray. And it might mean taking a good look at the newer films to decide whether they are acceptable for your home.
3. Know Your Family and Yourself
The last thing you need to consider is your own household! Building a Christian home means making tough decisions about what we consume. Even if it means putting some of our favourite films on the shelf.
Consider your children and how influenced they are by what they see. Some kids could care less or have a strong conviction about what they believe and are not moved by what they watch. Other kids are more impressionable and may need stricter rules in place about what media they watch.
If you find your family is consuming too much and not being a good steward of their time then take a break from it altogether!
Make the decision, even if it’s hard, for your own family. Not everything that is labelled “Disney” is bad, but if it has a negative influence on your home then don’t watch it!
Pray and ask for the Holy Spirit to give you a discerning spirit. If you feel lead to remove those movies or shows from your home then do it. If you are not feeling convicted about it then continue monitoring what your children watch and having conversations about the films or shows.
Just because your family watches Disney does not make you a bad Christian. And if you have chosen not to watch those types of films doesn’t make you an overly strict parent either. If you are following God’s plan for your home, then you can trust He has only the best in store for you!
Start talking to your children about how to make healthy choices in what they consume. From movies to social media, this resource will give you scriptures and helpful tips to explain media to your children from a christian perspective. Get the digital download HERE.
Check Films Before You Watch Them
There are some great tools online to check a movie before you let your family watch it. My two favourites are Christian Spotlight on Entertainment and Plugged In (by Focus on the Family). Both are Christian websites that give a synopsis of films (more than just Disney), along with the good and the bad you will see. This is a good way to decide if a movie is suitable for your family or if there are things that you will need to explain or discuss afterwards.
Let God Be Part of Your Decision
Whatever you decide, remember not to judge others for their choices. There are a lot of good non-Christian films and movies that teach morals and good character traits. Allowing your children to consume these films does not mean they are going to be wayward people, but it does mean you will have to continue to instill Biblical teachings.
Teach your children to have discerning minds, to turn something off if it is no longer appropriate and to choose entertainment that will not harm their hearts or minds.
Disney is just one of the many options for media and should be treated as we treat any other form of media we bring into our homes.
If it is negatively affecting our children, don’t consume it. God always comes first and when in doubt, go back to the Bible. When asking yourself if Christians should watch Disney, I hope these 3 things come to mind and help you make a decision based on Biblical truths, God’s will and the needs of your family!
Want more Christian resources in your home? Check out some of my favourites, available on Amazon!
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