Going to a Christian school means I get a lot of questions.

“What happens if you accidentally curse?”

“Do they kick you out if you drink?”

My personal favorite: “Does everyone really get married by senior year?”

And of course: “So you can’t go see R-rated movies?”

There’s a little truth to each stereotype, but as a whole, being a Bible student means I am a normal college student who happens to study the Bible. So when my siblings were both in town in February, we did what normal people do and went out to see a movie. “Deadpool” was the only promising thing playing.

My sister was really considerate. Having seen it once already, she expressed concern that I would get in trouble with my school or that I would personally take offense.

“They show a lot,” she said. “Like, a lot.”

Despite the warnings, I assured her that yes, I was perfectly OK with going to see the movie. I also assured her my school would not crucify me over this. And so we went, stereotypes or not.

Below are the reasons I, as a Bible college student, found it alright to go see an R-rated film in theaters.

1. I know my own maturity.
2. I was in good company.
3. I could expect more than just R-rated content.

Maturity is like hair: almost everyone has it, but it’s different for each person. Texture, length and color vary. Some tend to theirs with care, while others choose to ignore it altogether (or purposefully get rid of it). When my siblings brought up “Deadpool” as an option, I had to weigh my personal maturity level and ability to handle obscene content.

First and foremost, being able to handle something is not the same as condoning it. Personally, I couldn’t repeat a dirty joke if my life depended on it. Watching this movie would not transform me into someone who could. Going in, I knew my personal beliefs would contradict a lot of what I would see, and as a Christian, I do have a specific attitude and behavior to maintain. It was important for my siblings to understand that I could enjoy the movie for its worth, but I wasn’t abandoning my standards for the sake of fun. I approached the situation in full knowledge of what I would see, and how I would process it afterward. After all, processing completes the experience.

My siblings are great and also grew up in Christianity. While the particulars of their standards differ from mine, their maturity levels are well-suited for R-rated movies. Had any other group invited me to see “Deadpool,” I might have said no. I chose to see it with my siblings because I know them, they know me and we all understand each other’s comfort levels. I would only do the same with close friends who I knew could handle it, for I also have close friends who could not.

1 Corinthians 8:9-13 discusses this. Paul says it is important to consider others when exercising freedom within maturity. If I want to call myself a Christian, I must operate by my faith’s standards — and honestly, they’re just common-sense standards. Any normal person understands social constructs and how their decisions within those constructs will affect others. The Bible just gives faith-based meaning to these decisions.

This is a more movie-specific reason. “Deadpool” is a Marvel film, and I have been a Marvel fan since “Iron Man” came out in 2008. Because this studio has consistently produced entertaining, quality films, I knew “Deadpool” would have more meat to it than just sex scenes and dirty jokes. I could expect character development. Story and plot. A Stan Lee cameo. Marvel creators care about making good movies, and because they won my trust with their other works, I knew “Deadpool” would be worth seeing. Given Marvel’s almost flawless track record, I couldn’t help but give it a shot.

All in all, it went pretty well. I did end up hiding my eyes for the sex scenes — and there were a lot. The guy sitting behind me laughed at me every single time (why, I don’t know), but I was OK with it. It went beyond my comfort level, and I adapted to the situation. The important thing is that the story made me care. The characters are well-rounded and the story is solid. While many of the jokes were indeed dirty, the movie’s overall tone was hilarious. Ryan Reynolds captures the Deadpool character well and his performance buoys the movie from good to great.

So, even though I’m a Christian, I was able to enjoy myself at an R-rated movie. I do not recommend this film for everyone because it isn’t for everyone. Before deciding to watch it, viewers must evaluate their own maturity levels and know who is right to see it with. From there, it’s a matter of enjoying the movie (and if you’re like me, hiding behind your sister’s coat if you have to).