Speaker 1: 0:19

The.

Speaker 2: 0:30

In the heart of Humacao, puerto Rico. There lived a young man named Johnny. Johnny's girlfriend had a penchant for horror films, always seeking the thrill and the suspense they offered always seeking the thrill and the suspense they offered. One evening, after watching a particularly spying, chilling movie with his girlfriend for the very first time, johnny decided to call it a night. The film had left an unsettling impression on him and he could still feel the remnants of fear as he climbed into his bed. As he lay there, trying to shake off the eerie feeling, he heard a soft thud coming from his closet door. It was so faint that he thought he might have imagined it, dismissing it as a figment of his imagination. He tried to sleep, but then he heard it again. This time it was louder, accompanied by a darker mood that seemed to be carried by the wind. His heart pounded in his chest as he dug under the shelter of his bed sheets. Everything was as it should be. Nothing out of place, he thought. Suddenly, and after hearing another sound coming from the closet door, johnny decided to peek through the textiles to see what was happening. It was quick, almost imperceptible, but he was sure he saw it. He turned his head to see that the closet door had opened by itself. His pulse quickened, his breath hit in his throat. He rose from bed and ran quickly to the closet door and closed it. The room suddenly felt colder. A chill ran down his spine as he pulled his blanket closer. He could see his breath in the air, which was strange for a summer night in Puerto Rico. Then, out of nowhere, the thought returned once again. The door swung open by itself. He could hear his own heartbeat, loud and clear, in the silent room. He could not understand what was happening.

Speaker 2: 2:43

After gathering his composure and strength, johnny returned to the door to have it closed once more, but this time he placed one of his boots in the sliding door rail. But just when he thought things couldn't get any scarier, his closet door began to shake. With a loud and deep thud it creaked open once more. He held his breath, his eyes wide in fear. He reached for his phone, turning on the flashlight, but there was nothing there. As quickly as he had started, everything stopped. The room returned to its normal temperature and the closet door was closed. Johnny heard the lawnmower running as his dad worked with some landscaping in the backyard. He could hear his dad asking him.

Speaker 1: 3:51

Tell me, how did you sleep my child? Well, to be honest, not too well.

Speaker 2: 3:58

Johnny replied.

Speaker 1: 3:59

He then heard his father's voice one more time saying that is because you are doing something that you should not be doing.

Speaker 2: 4:08

Johnny felt a bit guilty. He knew what his father meant. It was clear that exploring the dark subjects in a scary movie was bad for him. He shouldn't have done it. After the scary and unsettling events of the previous night, Johnny finally got back on his feet and prepared himself for the day. But as soon as he faced his father in the kitchen for breakfast, he took the courage to ask him about his comment.

Speaker 1: 4:34

What did you mean by what you said to me earlier, dad? I didn't get it, okay. What did you mean by what you said to me, john? I mean, I'm quite a bit lost here. I'm not following what you told me. Dad, remember About me doing something I shouldn't be doing when you were cutting grass back there? What did you mean by it?

Speaker 2: 4:58

The reply from his father changed Johnny forever.

Speaker 1: 5:02

John, I just got home from the store. I was not doing landscaping or cutting the grass. That is the lack of a neighbor doing that. I was not even here. I did not speak to you. Someone else did, though.

Speaker 2: 5:17

Surely what Johnny felt was an advice from an invisible helper giving him some counseling, maybe even from above. After all, there have been many studies concerning the effects of watching horror films for the minds of young men like him. In fact, in a study conducted by Michaela Holmes, clinical psychologist, dr Natalie Scanlon with the Texas Tech Health and Human Sciences Center, said when kids are exposed to excessively scared movies, images or even haunted houses, they tend to have some of the symptoms of acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr Scanlon explained the phenomenon of being scared is an experience that all humans can relate to. According to Dr Scanlon, however, people process fear in similar situations differently.

Speaker 2: 6:10

Let's face it there is no biblical direct verse that identifies watching a horror film as a sin. However, paul tells the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 10.23, I have the right to do anything, you say, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive. Furthermore, ephesians 5.8 says For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.

Speaker 2: 6:45

There is quite enough evidence that is recommended not to engage in such experiences, even though they do appear as benign and seemingly harmless, like watching a movie? Well, a horror movie. But this is precisely how the enemy of souls prepares his attacks by simply using something that seems harmless and benign and turning it into a methodical, slow weapon of destruction. I am not saying that we shouldn't be watching any horror films, but all I would like to share is that perhaps it could do us more harm than benefiting us. I would only ask you a simple question. With this true story and episode I am sharing with you today, if it's not a sin and unimportant for us to watch horror movies, especially in the minds of young men like Johnny, then why was he reprimanded by it? Or, even more importantly, if his father was not the one reprimanding him that day, then who did it? That should be a good sign, right? I believe so too. Not the one reprehending him that day, then who did it? That should be a good sign, right?

Speaker 1: 7:54

I believe so too.