This past weekend 50 Shades of Grey movie was released. A new movie based on the book. The three-book series has sold over 100 million copes worldwide. But it is known for its erotic theme. This movie and book just represent our culture’s growing indulgence of sexually-charged material. Pornography is a huge problem in our culture occurring in various forms. It dominates the internet and is easily available in video.
How does the Bible picture pornography?
In Revelation 17, the great prostitute is described. Notice this description:
““Come, I will show you the judgment of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, with whom the kings of the earth have committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of whose sexual immorality the dwellers on earth have become drunk.” And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality. And on her forehead was written a name of mystery: “Babylon the great, mother of prostitutes and of earth’s abominations.” And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.” (Revelation 17:1–6 ESV)
The greek root of porneia is found 5 times in this text. It is where we get our word pornography and refers to any illicit sexual sin. Notice that Jesus describes this prostitute as beautiful and extremely appealing. She is arrayed in the finest and wealthiest clothing of the day. She has precious jewels adorning her while drinking from a golden cup.
Though in the context of Revelation this vision has a greater meaning, this is an accurate picture of pornography today. It is a wealthy industry with revenue in the billions. It obviously looks appealing and beautiful in fleshly appearance. It entices and temps like this great prostitute of Revelation.
Yet, when we look a little closer at Jesus’ picture, we see that the golden cup is actually filled with the blood of the saints. If we continue to read we will learn that this prostitute will suffer defeat at the hands of Jesus.
When I consider movies like 50 Shades of Grey, internet pornography, magazines, and adult films today it reminds me of this picture. They look appealing from the outside, but they will cost people their blood! Pornography costs children their innocence, men their families, wives their true acceptance, and can motivate child sexual abuse, rape, and murder. And chiefly it is costing people their souls. Our society is paying a heavy toll for its seduction by the great prostitute!
Christians must be aware. Parents must be on guard. We must see pornography for what it is, before we are enticed by her and have our own blood spilt at the alter of sin.
3 comments
I have worked with many men who struggle with the issue of lust and pornography. It is all around us and we have to stay on guard and flee from it when it gets near us. I Corin. 6:18
Since the book was so widely accepted, I shouldn’t have been surprised they made the book into a movie, but I was. I still can’t get used to pornography becoming mainstream. It used to be in the shadows — now it’s out in the open.
Though I don’t believe it’s the norm yet, those who push such books and movies would have us think it is — and that we’re somehow out of touch if we don’t accept it.
It seems to me that our knowledge of and submission to God’s Word is more important than ever. Nominal Christians won’t last long.
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“nominal Christians won’t last long” – Amen!! Thanks for your thoughts and I think you are so right. Also, I think it says something about you when it does surprise you – We should be upset and shocked more.
thanks Josh