Pornography for Women: 50 Shades of Grey

If we as Christians stay silent to social, ethical, moral, religious, and even political issues in our time then all boundaries of faith, purity, and righteousness will be washed away and forgotten for generations to come. We must not only preach salvation and faith but purity and consecration too. Our task at hand is to awaken slumbering believers to realize the dangers of spiritual apathy and the agony of sin it causes in ones life. One specific area I want to address is a series of books that have been circulating in Christian homes, specifically women's hands. It's a book series called 50 Shades of Grey.

According to the books publisher, Random House, they say, " it sold 70 million copies of the trilogy between the series' March 2012 debut in the US and December of that year. That figure includes print copies, audio books, and e-books sold in English, Spanish, and German." What's even more astonishing is that in a recent article by the Christian Science Monitor they state, "Random House recently revealed its sales figures for the series – a number high enough to boost the publisher’s operating earnings (before taxes and interest) by 75 percent." This is one of the fastest selling trilogy books ever published and keeps growing in sales exponentially. We must stop and ask the question, why is that? Why would women, liberal and conservative, Christian and unbelievers, from all different nations continue to flock to this series? Could the lure be that of a deep longing sexual fantasy that still lingers inside the hearts? 

Pastor and 30 year veteran of social work and christian counseling, Mark Peters, shares his viewpoint on this subject: "Porn for women starts more from an emotional point.  The guy in the movies is cute, seems like he would treat a women right, what a women is looking for in a man.  This is still fantasy and lust...  She may not be looking at his genitalia...but she most definitively is desiring him to take her away as Prince "Porn" Charming - the result would be sex.  Especially true of most of Hollywood movies - sex follows the attraction...  He has something her man does not: looks, body, talk, charm....interesting....it is still physical, all awhile starting in the emotions.  Remember Jesus said if we look after "woman[man]" to lust we have committed adultery." 
We are dealing with an epidemic of sexual perversion, elevated sexual fantasies, and a deterioration of righteous boundaries for purity. If we as the Church of Jesus Christ sweep issues under the rug we will come to find out the toxic effects of sexual sin and its practices. The first particular book deals with 50 different sexual positions the couple involve themselves to receive the highest pleasure and satisfaction. Thus, the title for the book '50 Shades of Grey'. 

More and more I hear discussions on the popularity of this book among Christian circles and even on a few occasions have seen this book inside the homes of Christian families. What continues to strike me with shock is how believers continue to approve, distribute, and even not see a problem with this type of writing. We must find ways to consecrate our minds and purify our hearts from the lures of the world. Jesus Christ did not die on the cross so we can continue to live willfully in sin, but He paid the price for our sin and gives us freedom from the stronghold of sin. Our hope is not in a sexual fantasy that degrades our mind, soul, and relationships but in the power of Jesus Christ and His love. 

Have you seen your friends, family, or peers reading this book? Have YOU personally read this book? 

Our assignment is not to condemn the world but to be free from it. We have no desire to bash those who rebel against the laws of purity but we do have a command to speak the gospel of truth. Our generation must have the willingness to fight against the Goliath of pornography in every form. Take heed friend that this is not reading material for the lover of Jesus Christ. This is a trap that entangles your heart and brings rebellion towards your spouse who will never fit the mold of the 'perfect sexual man' but will continue to divide until all is lost and destroyed.

Much Christian based warnings against porn has been geared towards men which is appropriate due to men's natural tendency towards sexual release. However, women have been entangled in this web of lies and deceit as well and both male and female need the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. I have learned in talking with many who have struggled with sexual sin that it takes accountability, perseverance  and most importantly a complete fruit of repentance change. We can all say a sinners prayer but will we allow the Holy Spirit to start changing and cleaning areas in our life that have been tormented by sin. Choose God's love and God's desire to make you whole emotionally. God still loves you!

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;" 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

Intimidated To Speak About Sin

We live in a unique and controversial period of time where much of the sin and its lustful pleasures that we hear on the news, radio, magazines, internet and the like has been foretold by the Holy Spirit inspired words of the Bible. We have prophets from the beginning of the Bible to the book of Revelations warning, reminding, teaching, exhorting us to stay faithful and be carriers of the truth of God. What has happened to the fervor of standing for the truth of God?  Have we become intimidated as disciples of Jesus Christ to speak of sin and its deadly effects? Are we trying just to change the terminology of the Gospel so people will not get offended? Is it possible we are too comfortable and used to our surrounding that we see no need to speak of God's truth and holiness?

Our approach, methods, and terminology may change but sinners will always remain sinners apart from the saving grace of our messiah Jesus Christ. If we dumb-down our message to make it more likable, more seeker-friendly, more nicer to the sinner than all we have done is let them find a comfortable seat on the road to hell. One example a major culture shift that has taken place is naming those who live in sin and rebellion to God as "unchurched" instead of sinners. It makes it sound more softer, more appealing, more relaxing to know that all I need is to find a church. But the truth is dear friend its not a church we need to find but Jesus Christ. Our society makes every effort to demote the "hurtful, mean-spirited, hateful" language of the Gospel. It's not our responsibility to make the world like us but to preach the Gospel in the whole counsel of God. It means we will be hated, we will be mocked and ridiculed, for Jesus has called the sinners not the righteous to repentance.

Ask yourself a personal question, do I conform to the world's standard of sin or do I speak on the Biblical definition of sin? Let me challenge you deeper, do you call sin in YOUR life a mistake, slip-up, error, or do you name it as sin and ask Jesus to forgive you? If we cannot be honest with our own heart, we cannot be honest with the world. Sin must be called sin not only in church or in the marketplace but in our mind, heart, and soul. God is after your heart and He sent Jesus Christ to cleanse you, forgive you, and renew you to live a righteous life. Don't let the temporary pleasures of the world dictate to you how you will live your life. Make the Word of God your standard, make your walk with God firm, and determine in your heart to speak truth not only to your friends and family but to your own heart.

We have many relationships we maintain. We have relationships in the family between parents, siblings, cousins, uncles, aunts, and relatives. We have relationships with friends, co-workers, bosses, teachers, church leaders, mentors, and such. We even have virtual relationships we maintain on Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Emails, etc. But what is the most important and highly sought relationship?
The honest person relationship. Even when we don't like hearing it, it brings an understanding that they are telling the truth about our lives. God wants a people of honest lips and truthful hearts. We become those people when the TRUTH of God's Word is filling our own hearts. Do you know that all of us have good friends? Do you know that many of us have even best friends? But did you know why we focus many times on a best friend(one person)? Good friends say great things about us, best friends tell us the truth, but a BEST friend tells us the WHOLE truth about our lives. Yet, we still want to be them. Jesus Christ is our BEST friend and He speaks only truth in our lives. Let His voice be the voice you hear every day and it will give you hope, peace, and joy. Drown out the world and its callings and be a committed disciple of Jesus Christ.

Challenge:
Are you intimidated by your friends, co-workers, church peers, or even ministry partners to speak about sin?

What's more important to YOU, honesty or likability?

Invite the Holy Spirit to speak into your life today. When you discover sin, call it sin, name the sin, and ask Jesus to forgive the sin. For the Bible reminds us that when you know the truth, the truth shall set you free.

Be Blessed.