Pornography on Television and in Movies
Sadly, there is an abundance of pornographyon cable television and in movies. Professionally made pornographic movies bring in billions of dollars each year—more than the combined revenues of all professional football, baseball, and basketball games. While this type of pornography is very dangerous, the greater danger for Christian boys and girls is the kind of indecent material that appears on popular television shows and movies. It is more dangerous because it seems less harmful. Sexual relations have become so casual in prime-time sitcoms and dramas that people usually don’t think twice about a scene with a man and woman in bed, yet this may be pornographic, too. It may not be as graphic as some pornography, but it still has a subtle and negative influence on our minds.
The Bible says, “The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the Lord” (Proverbs 15:26). To the Christians in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote: “Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (13:13-14). “To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:6).
Fortunately, television and movie pornography is fairly easy to avoid. First, always check the ratings of movies you watch. You and your family should have a rule about what movies are acceptable for Christians to watch. Second, choose what you watch on television before it comes on. It is easiest to fall victim to pornography when channel surfing, especially when alone. Third, have your parents consider purchasing filters such as TV Guardian or Clearplay, which can remove most of the filthy language and/or scenes from television shows and movies.
Just remember to be on guard constantly so that you don’t fall victim to the continual temptations of the flesh. As Paul exhorted Timothy: “Keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22).
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