Is It Sinful To Read Pornographic Books?
Yes. The reason it is sinful to read such books such as the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy and other Harlequin romantic books of this type of literature is because it is contrary to the things upon which a Christian is to think and meditate to glorify God. Philippians 4:8 states: "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things." A faithful Christian should read/mediate on things that "stir up your pure minds" (2 Peter 3:1).
The descriptive scenes of fornication and uncleanness in these books are very detailed and erotic. They are meant to arouse the works of the flesh in the reader, promoting lust, adultery, fornication, etc. (Matthew 5:27,28; Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:16-21). Reading and thinking on these things do not promote the mind of Christ (Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:23; Colossians 3:2). Ephesians 3:2 states, "...we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind." Such behavior will lead to a corrupt, ungodly mind (Romans 1:28-29; 8:5-7; 2 Corinthians 11:3; Philippians 3:19; 1 Timothy 6:5; 2 Timothy 3:8; Titus 1:15) and lead a person to worldliness (2 Peter 1:4). The faithful Christian is to "no longer...live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God (1 Peter 4:2-3). The faithful Christian is to "abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1 Peter 2:11).
Furthermore, the cover of these books are very shameful too because they depict immodesty and nudity.
A follow-up question might be, "How can we read the Song of Solomon then? Does it not contain sexual explicit material?" The Song of Solomon is a book designed to promote the marriage bed that is undefiled (Hebrews 13:4). The intimate aspect of a scriptural marriage is a precious gift from God that is not to be used in a fleshly manner (Genesis 2:21-24). Such a book celebrates the privileges of a scriptural marriage and not the sins of lust, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, etc. as the pornographic books do.
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