I imagine few Christians objecting to the questions and messages teased out in “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “Spring Breakers” — themes like the dangers of greed and unrestrained freedom. But I imagine even fewer Christians finishing these movies and being gleefully thankful they saw them. Most objections are aimed at their content. These movies show the allure and underlying horrors of greed and unchecked selfishness, often graphically.

Are these good movies?

They certainly achieve their ambition while presenting their worldview effectively and powerfully. They are artfully crafted. Even if we object to their worldview, or even how they present it, there’s plenty to take away and internally contemplate. How much more effective is this contemplation when two people see it and talk?

But the problem is that we aren’t talking properly. Our movie discussions become reduced to how good the acting is or how much a joke, scene or character stood out to us. Rarely will we watch a movie like “Up” and talk about how we grieve. We don’t want to talk about the way we treat the LGBTQ community after seeing “Dallas Buyers Club.” It’s awkward, it’s difficult and we just aren’t good at it. Instead, weekend after weekend, we let the images wash over us.

If we are going to engage with culture, then we must engage. If you are going to watch movies, don’t just sit in a dark theater. Research the movie before and after. Find critics you trust, both secular and Christian — I recommend Peter Travers, Alissa Wilkinson and Jeffrey Overstreet for starters. Try and develop the eyes to perceive well and the language to understand movies. Join — or even start — a movie discussion group. Refuse to watch movies and know why you’re refusing. And if you have to, walk out of the theater.

So what do we do with well-made graphic movies? There are two opposite errors we should avoid. We could suspect and boycott anything R or NC-17. But in this, we’re just relying on the MPAA and secular values to assess what’s good and bad. The other error is the summed up in the phrase, “It doesn’t affect me.” That’s a lie. If it didn’t affect you, there’d be no need to watch. We wouldn’t laugh, cry, startle or care if it didn’t affect us.

I understand the push against these movies. To the surprise of many, I push against them too. Hollywood can be a dark and scary place, and I don’t think I could fully recommend a movie like “Wolf.” But at the same time, I can’t tell someone not to watch it either. None of us have the right to make decisions for another. Besides, I’m less interested in telling people what they should and shouldn’t watch. I’m much more interested in having discussions about why someone chooses to watch or not watch and asking how, as a result, they see and understand better.

For me, a film major, this industry is my mission field. I hope to eat and drink with these artists and filmmakers. I find it beneficial to watch these movies because they are the topic of discussion in cubicles and edit bays. Would we send a missionary to the Middle East without reading the Quran? Or expect a marriage and family therapist to not enter the brutality of adultery?

These movies are the texts — the theology books, if you will — of lost and broken people. And sometimes they hit closer to Jesus than they'd think. When we jump to point out what’s wrong with a movie, sweeping the movie away based on how they position their worldview, we can brush away the grace, human nature or truth they might have to offer. Even worse, we might blanketly condemn the people who made them, and — even more damaging — condemn those who watch them.

What if we Christians stopped pointing out what was wrong with others? Instead, what if we pointed out the goodness, truth and beauty in culture, the things that are excellent and praiseworthy — especially in places least expected? What if we interact with art in a way that encourages others to become more human and to love better?