Does Using VidAngel to Screen Offensive Content out of Movies Still Involve Financially Supporting Hollywood?

Last updated on: July 5, 2021 at 8:30 am by Randy Alcorn

Does Using VidAngel to Screen Offensive Content out of Movies Still Involve Financially Supporting Hollywood? 2021-06-09T14:45:54-08:00 Randy Alcorn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A reader wrote:

I ran across your blog while researching VidAngel. I’m a Christian, and a mom to seven. We love movies and are pretty choosy because of content. I’m thinking VidAngel is an amazing answer for us, in wanting to enjoy so many stories without the smut.

But I had a friend ask, “Aren’t we still supporting those who make movies with all this content we wish to avoid?” I’m struggling with the moral question of whether to financially support Hollywood, even though my contribution would be miniscule in comparison to what they already make. Is this an issue you could speak to?

Here’s my answer:

I think it’s similar to how we view Wallstreet. If you invest in stocks, you should stay away from those that clearly dishonor God. But just because some stocks are immoral doesn’t mean I shouldn’t invest in good ones. None of us have the power to turn a bad stock into a good one. But if you have the power to remove from a movie everything that dishonors God, why not use it?

If you go to see some movies in theaters that are appropriate, arguably you are indirectly supporting those that aren’t and are making the theater profitable. If you buy milk from a store that also sells inappropriate magazines, is that acceptable? If there was a piece of clothing that was inappropriate, could you buy it and sew on something that would make it appropriate? That’s what I think VidAngel is doing—It’s taking mostly decent movies and removing what isn’t decent. (If a movie is mostly bad, and some certainly are, I wouldn’t use VidAngel with it. I just wouldn’t watch it at all.)

I am more concerned about what I take into my mind than what the movie industry makes money on. They are not making money on my choice to listen to their bad language or watch their bad scenes, because I’m not doing that. True, technically a handful of Christians who use VidAngel to morally screen a movie may at an extremely small level contribute to the financial success of that movie. But I think that’s negligible. In the same way, if you buy from a store owned by Mormons (or for that matter if you subscribe to VidAngel) you are supporting Mormons. But if you knew who owned the other stores there would likely be atheists, supporters of Planned Parenthood etc., who in their own way are as bad as Hollywood.

The truth is many Christians do end up watching things on Netflix and Amazon Prime, etc.—as well as on network TV—trying them and hoping they will be moral, then seeing what they shouldn’t. With VidAngel, you don’t have to hope because it actually will screen out what you’ve told it to screen out—I will never see a sex scene, hear the Lord’s name taken in vain, or hear the f-word. You are making choices to guard your mind. To me that outweighs the considerations. Of course, everyone has to make their own choices. It’s a matter of conscience, and if your conscience says don’t use a service like Vidangel, then don’t. But realize the consciences of others, such as mine, tell them that’s exactly what they should do. It’s just like Romans 14 says:

5 One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. 6 Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God….

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean….

22 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.

Browse more resources on the topic of purity, and see Randy’s book The Purity Principle and his booklet *Sexual Temptation.*Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash

Previous Post

July 1, 2021

Spurgeon on the Ever-Living Gospel and the Person of Jesus

Next Post

July 8, 2021 My Novel Deadline and a Story of God’s Relentless Love

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Me Animals Books Books and Resources Christ Christian Life Christians Past and Present Church Creation Culture and Worldview Doctrine and Theology Eternal Perspective Ministries Fun Grace and Truth Grief Happiness Heaven Marriage and Family Missions Money and Giving Persecuted Church Politics Prayer Prolife Salvation Sexual Purity Sovereignty and Free Will Suffering and Evil Uncategorized Writing

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz