Am I in the wrong for drawing violent stuff?

[ChristianLad]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

 

[JohnDB]

A lot of young guys are attracted to violent depictions. Playing army, cops and robbers, or whatever.
Comic book heroes with outrageous muscles and doing hurculean tasks.

Part of every young man's life.
Then when womenfolk get all upset about it the young guys get worse just to startle the women even more... because it's juvenile humor and funny to them.

My son had a teacher who got upset about such things...and she wore us out about how horrible it was and how he needed counseling.
So I pleaded with him to please appease her. So he wrote a story about fluffy bunnies and unicorns all eating people. *Sigh*
It was funny but she went on a tirade. My son is a banker today for Wells Fargo...sits in a chair. Doesn't do much physically. Certainly doesn't even play paintball. He is kinda nerdy for such a big guy.

It's a phase for most guys. Not a big deal.
However the drawing and details of your drawings are probably increasing dramatically while you are doing all of it. And those skills translate into marketable skills later. Like attention to visual details that others might miss. Good stuff IMHO. (Architect, engineering, and etc) Granted the subject matter is juvenile...but it's still normal stuff for young men.

Girls dream of princesses and princes and tea parties...as if that thing was ever going to happen. Guys dream about winning struggles over evil, sports, and building/construction.

Stereotypical but true.

But in the meantime... take it from an old guy. Keep drawing but to appease your mother... keep the subject matter a bit lighter and with less gore. There's not a thing wrong with you. It's actually rather healthy normal heterosexual male behavior. All the young guys go through this phase. Turn out just fine adults with no medications needed for a happy, healthy life. To this day I like a good horror flick or sci-fi flick which can be rather disgusting at times.

But...to appease the women who have more control over your life than you will find comfortable...burn after drawing is probably a good policy for a while.

 

[posthuman]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

i don't think there is anything wrong with drawing things like this.
i think it's good to make art, and to keep on making art, so that your skill and your artistry continue to develop

like JohnDB said, it's a natural thing

do you play any sports, or gaming, or . . .?
it's good to have some kind of outlet to express your natural competitive/physical nature in.
if it's through art, that's fine tho.

what would make it a problem is if you start to become obsessed with violence and starting to feel urges to act violently.
that's what your mom is worried about. she wants you to grow up with a kind & gentle soul, i'm sure.

 

[Kojikun]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

I started drawing as a child. It was usually Sonic, Dinosaurs and Mortal Kombat (which was quite gorey) my parents encouraged the Sonic and Dinosaur s but I assume they were at least a little alarmed with the gorey depictions I would draw (oddly enough they've kept some of my earlier drawings from school some of which was Mortal Kombat related) as I got older my artwork switched to an anime style. I didn't tone down the Gore until becoming a Christian. If you look in the bible (Old Testament for example) there are many bloody battles depicted and some of which are Good vs Evil. I think senseless violence is just that, but there is conflict in the bible and conflict in real life. I think fighting for good is a good thing. If it's fictional and meant to send a Good vs Evil message or even to mearly depict our earthly struggle I think it's fine. Just make sure you are not glorifying evil and there is a reason why this violent interaction is happening.

 

[allsaved]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

 

[allsaved]

You have not done anything wrong. As Christians we tend to over think such matters and worry needlessly. Enjoy your drawing and lrust your conscience to be your guide. We live under the law of the Spirit. The Spirit will guide you.

 

[Subhumanoidal]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

How violence is viewed is a funny thing. I grew up watching Tom and Jerry, Roadrunner, Bugs Bunny, etc... and cartoons back then had a lot of violence in them. Someone was always being shot, dropped off a cliff, anvils dropped on them, getting slapped, etc... and no one thought twice about it. Now there are people complaining about such cartoons for being too violent.

Think about if two men get into a fist fight vs two men in a boxing ring. One is seen as violent, the other competition. Both involve two men trying to hurt one another with their fists. What's the difference between the two? Intent. The two men fighting are typically acting out of anger and negative emotions. Whereas boxing is (mostly) not stemming from anything negative, but rather people training for an athletic competition.

Unfortunately it's not always easy to know a persons motive when it comes to violence. And this is what makes it troublesome for many people. Some people drawing violent images may have violent intents and the drawing is merely an extension of this inner desire. Others utilize violence to tell a story or some even may find drawing it helps prevent them from becoming violent.
As a teen i sometimes had some anger, but i liked to write song lyrics. I wrote about the things i was feeling because it helped me to vent out those emotions, which made me feel better. My lyrics weren't a reflection of what i wanted to do, but of emotions i felt and was able to release.

So as long as you keep checking yourself and how you're feeling and what you're intending with these drawings, and not finding any desires to do what you're drawing, then keep drawing. If at any time you begin to feel it become a desire, stop it all and tell someone and seek help.
But as many said, it sounds like you're just being a normal boy and having fun. So keep having fun. Perhaps, though, also learn to draw less violent things that you've able to share with your mom as well. I'm sure she'd still love to see (and maybe save) things you make.
Also, that way, you may discover other things you enjoy drawing and allow your talents to expand and for you to become better.

 

[brighthouse98]

Brother ChristianLad,first welcome. I wish I could draw; I cannot even make a good stickman lol I would be interested to find out if what you are drawing is a first step in danger from going on to then acting them out in real life. ( Phil 4:7-9) This my good brother is what your mind should be set at. Perhaps the reason you are drawing what you are, is due to an unhappy situation either at home or life itself.

I do not know, neither am I judging you whatsoever! When one is drawn to darkness it is very difficult to want to be in the light again. I would suggest a journal to express your thoughts upon the day, this helped me brother after I became a believer. For me what I finally began to figure out was, where am I now, and where do I intend to go from here with my life, how I want to treat others, as I wish to be treated...these questions I asked myself. Anyway I hope this helps you brother on the need for what really is best for oneself, as well as others. Blessing Bro!

 

[Live4Him2]

So for about 2 years now iv found an interest in drawing (Im not that good at it but I enjoy it). My favorite genre to draw is action, like explotions and shoot outs and stuff. (just to clarify Id never do these violent actions in real life like harming others or using firearm). Im really proud of the stuff I do, especially since I once won an art contest somehow at my school. But a few days ago my mom was checking a chat conversation that a friend and I had where I showed my friend my recent drawing. After that she'd sometimes give me a few insinuations that she saw the drawing and that I should stop and rethink what iv done. To be honest I dont think iv done anything wrong for drawing violent stuff, but Id like to know other peoples opinion if im in the wrong or not, because I sincerly dont know. And if I should stop doing it

So, here's my take...

On the one hand, I agree that what you're doing is "normal" in the sense that multitudes of others have done the same thing or something very similar over the years. On the other hand, however, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good thing. In other words, much of what you're presently doing is done by the unregenerate, and we need to ask ourselves if what we're doing is pleasing in God's sight.

For me, as a Christian, I try to live by the following standard:

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; " (Colossians 3:23)

Are your drawings drawn "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"?

Personally, that is a question that I would be asking myself if I were you.

Before I became a Christian, I was actually a pretty good artist myself.

I never had any sort of formal training, but I was pretty skilled at drawing caricatures of people and coupling them with something humorous.

In fact, a business owner who saw some of my drawings when I was but a teenager offered me a job at his tanning salon in which he wanted me to draw caricatures of his customers if they so desired. I declined. In private, I also drew other types of pictures...some humorous in nature, some sexual in nature, some depicting horror scenarios, etc., etc., etc.

I was also quite skilled in poetry before becoming a Christian.

Back then, my poems were generally humorous or satirical in nature, but a funny thing happened when I became born again...

I not only lost all of my desire to draw, but I noticeably lost all of my inspiration or even ability to draw and write poems.

I ultimately realized that my inspiration and abilities back then weren't really godly in nature, and I've long since yielded my instruments (or body members) unto God as scripture dictates that we should (Rom. 6:13).

Anyhow, that's my two cents worth...

 

[ChristianTonyB]

The biggest issue I have in this respect, is the desensitising of gratuitous violence, filthy and blasphemous language, and sexually immoral acts and relationships, openly portrayed as acceptable through media, digital games, and movies. Each generation will become more degraded than the previous, unless some catastrophe checks them.

Whereas motion picture censors applied strick rules in the past to at least guard against corrupting the minds of the young ones, they have let their standards slip, and the internet has minimal to no censorship. We need to think about the consequence those around us, of our deeds.

For example, I would be discouraging any child of mine to be depicting any kind of violence, and would present opportunities for them to exercise their imagination in more wholesome activities that will be more useful and rewarding to them, and pleasing to God. We Christian parents are charged by God to bring our children up in the ways of the Lord. I'd struggle to believe that as a youngster Jesus would have drawn any violent pictures. So if I insist on such behaviour for my child, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't insist on the same moral behaviour from myself.

 

[Live4Him2]

The biggest issue I have in this respect, is the desensitising of gratuitous violence, filthy and blasphemous language, and sexually immoral acts and relationships, openly portrayed as acceptable through media, digital games, and movies. Each generation will become more degraded than the previous, unless some catastrophe checks them.

Whereas motion picture censors applied strick rules in the past to at least guard against corrupting the minds of the young ones, they have let their standards slip, and the internet has minimal to no censorship. We need to think about the consequence those around us, of our deeds.

For example, I would be discouraging any child of mine to be depicting any kind of violence, and would present opportunities for them to exercise their imagination in more wholesome activities that will be more useful and rewarding to them, and pleasing to God. We Christian parents are charged by God to bring our children up in the ways of the Lord. I'd struggle to believe that as a youngster Jesus would have drawn any violent pictures. So if I insist on such behaviour for my child, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't insist on the same moral behaviour from myself.

Amen.

 

[Kojikun]

The biggest issue I have in this respect, is the desensitising of gratuitous violence, filthy and blasphemous language, and sexually immoral acts and relationships, openly portrayed as acceptable through media, digital games, and movies. Each generation will become more degraded than the previous, unless some catastrophe checks them.

Whereas motion picture censors applied strick rules in the past to at least guard against corrupting the minds of the young ones, they have let their standards slip, and the internet has minimal to no censorship. We need to think about the consequence those around us, of our deeds.

For example, I would be discouraging any child of mine to be depicting any kind of violence, and would present opportunities for them to exercise their imagination in more wholesome activities that will be more useful and rewarding to them, and pleasing to God. We Christian parents are charged by God to bring our children up in the ways of the Lord. I'd struggle to believe that as a youngster Jesus would have drawn any violent pictures. So if I insist on such behaviour for my child, I'd be a hypocrite if I didn't insist on the same moral behaviour from myself.

I understand what you are saying. It's precisely why I gave up horror movies after becoming Christian. The point of many modern horror is to enjoy and glorify violent deaths. My generation is a very degraded one. The internet and it's wild west days showed the worst the world had to offer all easily available to any youngster with internet access. My days of drawing sex and gore are thankfully over. However there is much violence in the Bible and if you were to draw and animate the Bible in every detail it would at least get a hard R rating. I have no issues with violence that depicts the struggle against evil or even allegorically depicts our constant spiritual war we are entrenched in. For example my newest artwork I'm planning is a depiction of Delilah and Samson and there bloody struggle. Samson lived by the sword and he died by the sword. He is a good example to why senseless violence is just that. If his art reaches a younger audience and preaches the gospel accurately without glorifying the wrong things I think it's beneficial.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

I understand what you are saying. It's precisely why I gave up horror movies after becoming Christian. The point of many modern horror is to enjoy and glorify violent deaths. My generation is a very degraded one. The internet and it's wild west days showed the worst the world had to offer all easily available to any youngster with internet access. My days of drawing sex and gore are thankfully over. However there is much violence in the Bible and if you were to draw and animate the Bible in every detail it would at least get a hard R rating. I have no issues with violence that depicts the struggle against evil or even allegorically depicts our constant spiritual war we are entrenched in. For example my newest artwork I'm planning is a depiction of Delilah and Samson and there bloody struggle. Samson lived by the sword and he died by the sword. He is a good example to why senseless violence is just that. If his art reaches a younger audience and preaches the gospel accurately without glorifying the wrong things I think it's beneficial.

I guess there's a balance that has to be achieved here.... is it merely a pictorial recording of historical events, or also an inadvertent incitement to ghoulish thoughts and behaviour if not of ourselves, but of someone else that looks upon our drawings. Samson's arrogant belief that he could withstand all temptation eventually led to his downfall. That incident is a metaphor for us this day. Do we have associations or activities that put us on the edge of the abyss, yet feeling strong enough in ourselves that we won't topple over? My advice to myself, and to my children if I had them, is to stay well away from the edge and travel down the safe centre, that's where Jesus walks!

 

[Kojikun]

So, here's my take...

On the one hand, I agree that what you're doing is "normal" in the sense that multitudes of others have done the same thing or something very similar over the years. On the other hand, however, this doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good thing. In other words, much of what you're presently doing is done by the unregenerate, and we need to ask ourselves if what we're doing is pleasing in God's sight.

For me, as a Christian, I try to live by the following standard:

"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; " (Colossians 3:23)

Are your drawings drawn "heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men"?

Personally, that is a question that I would be asking myself if I were you.

Before I became a Christian, I was actually a pretty good artist myself.

I never had any sort of formal training, but I was pretty skilled at drawing caricatures of people and coupling them with something humorous.

In fact, a business owner who saw some of my drawings when I was but a teenager offered me a job at his tanning salon in which he wanted me to draw caricatures of his customers if they so desired. I declined. In private, I also drew other types of pictures...some humorous in nature

I guess there's a balance that has to be achieved here.... is it merely a pictorial recording of historical events, or also an inadvertent incitement to ghoulish thoughts and behaviour if not of ourselves, but of someone else that looks upon our drawings. Samson's arrogant belief that he could withstand all temptation eventually led to his downfall. That incident is a metaphor for us this day. Do we have associations or activities that put us on the edge of the abyss, yet feeling strong enough in ourselves that we won't topple over? My advice to myself, and to my children if I had them, is to stay well away from the edge and travel down the safe centre, that's where Jesus walks!

Regardless of what we do that edge will come with or without inticment. I'm on it daily myself as I have little control over my thoughts and brain. If God didn't want us to see struggle and what evil brings I think he would have left them out of the bible. I have no power to avoid the edge. I have no power over anything I'm recently finding out. I have zero strength to keep from toppling over. I now need to rely on Jesus to make it through work without going crazy. I agree children should not be exposed to such intense violence. But as they mature, restricting them and sheltering will be a hinderance to them. The way I grew up and what I was exposed to I never recommend any parents to teach. At the same time I'm am who am through my struggle and suffering caused by my sinful behavior. I think teaching a young adult or teen what they should do when they find themselves at that edge is extremely important. I think many Christian parents have the same idea as you and tend to over censor things. I was just thinking today about how many "Christians" walked away from God because of a restrictive upbringing and they now realize the freedom they have without there parents monitoring there every move. As you said a balance is important I agree. What that is I suppose depends on the child. Either way I think the OP is old enough to make his decisions for himself.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

Either way I think the OP is old enough to make his decisions for himself.

Maybe so, but unless it was a merely rhetorical original post on the OP's part, he is asking for advice.

Your biblical anecdote is about wrong choices, and that made by the 'strongest' man in Israel. He arrogantly assessed his own strength as being all powerful and put his toes in where he shouldn't have gone, and ignored God's standard directive for Israel that they should look for a companion amongst their own kind.

Samson suffered the consequences of his arrogance and disobedience accordingly. The depiction of that event has been displayed pictorially in the past without showing people carrying out violent physical attacks against each other. I'm not suggesting that is what you were considering doing. If you are able to convey the real message to us behind what happened with Samson, and God's warning from it, without showing any blood or gore, or physical punch ups, that would be fine, but that's a different kind of imagery to what the OP was referring to.

 

[Kojikun]

Maybe so, but unless it was a merely rhetorical original post on the OP's part, he is asking for advice.

Your biblical anecdote is about wrong choices, and that made by the 'strongest' man in Israel. He arrogantly assessed his own strength as being all powerful and put his toes in where he shouldn't have gone, and ignored God's standard directive for Israel that they should look for a companion amongst their own kind.

Samson suffered the consequences of his arrogance and disobedience accordingly. The depiction of that event has been displayed pictorially in the past without showing people carrying out violent physical attacks against each other. I'm not suggesting that is what you were considering doing. If you are able to convey the real message to us behind what happened with Samson, and God's warning from it, without showing any blood or gore, or physical punch ups, that would be fine, but that's a different kind of imagery to what the OP was referring to.

I don't the op needs to censor anything unless his message is skewed. Samsons battle and defeat where bloody and the Bible discribes it as such. Getting your eyes gouged out and crushing thousands of people to death sounds rather messy. If I read the Bible and picture this image in my head it's not much different drawing it. Christ's blood paid for our sins, so I'm afraid the fear of blood for Christians seems odd and a bit counterintuitive. I think showing a beat up Samson and his broken body, betrayed and destroyed by his own ambition would send a powerful message. Either way my artwork is not intended for children and the game I'm creating isn't either so I suppose I really don't have much to say about it.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

I don't the op needs to censor anything unless his message is skewed. Samsons battle and defeat where bloody and the Bible discribes it as such. Getting your eyes gouged out and crushing thousands of people to death sounds rather messy. If I read the Bible and picture this image in my head it's not much different drawing it. Christ's blood paid for our sins, so I'm afraid the fear of blood for Christians seems odd and a bit counterintuitive. I think showing a beat up Samson and his broken body, betrayed and destroyed by his own ambition would send a powerful message. Either way my artwork is not intended for children and the game I'm creating isn't either so I suppose I really don't have much to say about it.

It's not necessary. You are allowing your desire for sensual expression and fulfilment to misguide you.

 

[ChristianTonyB]

Soft shoeing a message can be as damaging as a hard hit delivery, it's just not so obvious a fault. What seems to be paramount to some is their need for self-expression, rather than simply conveying a biblical message and being careful not to embellish it through personality inclinations. The evil one can make use of that, and give the message an unbalanced slant, and the point of it missed!

 

[ChristianTonyB]

An example of something well constructed, and without any gratuitous violence depicted, and loaded with poignant messages, is the pictorial version of Pilgrim's Progress.

 

[Kojikun]

It's not necessary. You are allowing your desire for sensual expression and fulfilment to misguide you.

I disagree. But either way it's up to OP to take our advice. I don't mind cutting out the blood if nessecary but if sending a message is so difficult than we might as well give drawing.