Fifty Shades of Grey? No, Thanks.
This post was first drafted and shared to my original blog in January of 2015 – just a few weeks before the first Fifty Shades of Grey movie was released in theaters. My post was titled 3 Reasons Why I Refuse to Watch Mommy Porn. It immediately struck a cord with readers and For Every Mom reached out to ask if they could share it on their blog – titling it Why I Won’t Be Seeing Fifty Shades of Grey.
I have decided to revisit the three reasons why I’m not interested in seeing these kinds of films, and why – as committed followers of Christ – I feel we should be passionate about exhorting one another to a higher standard.
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I Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up.”
Fifty Shades of Grey?
No, Thanks.
Why?
#1 – I respect myself (and humankind in general) far too much to fill my mind with images that do nothing but objectify individuals. We were made in the image of Christ. We were created to honor Him with our bodies. We were designed to give Him praise…in the things we do…in the things we say…in the way we think.
Philippians 4:8: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.”
Have I read any of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades writings? Many would say I need to read her work before making any judgments regarding its content. No, I haven’t read her books – nor do I intend to do so. You see, a quick synopsis of her story lines…a television interview featuring her own description of her work, a few images from the movie trailers…these have been enough for me to know that we are not dealing with content that is true… noble… right… pure… lovely… admirable… excellent… or praiseworthy.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ is only ‘romantic’ because the guy is a billionaire. If he was living in a trailer, it’d be a ‘Criminal Minds’ Episode. – Matt Smethurst
#2 – I respect my husband far too much to fill my mind with images that distract me from him. He is God’s gift to me. The romantic love that we share is between us. No one else is invited in to that. Nothing else deserves to share in our relationship. Period.
So you’re planning to throw on your little black dress and head out on the town with your girls to see this movie – to have a little “girl time” with the intention of having some harmless fun together? May I encourage you to ask yourself a question? How would you feel about your husband going out with his buddies for the sole purpose of enjoying time spent in a fantasy world that does not include you? It seems that many women expect their husbands to be accepting of them watching pornography (yes, pornography) but if their husbands decide to join their buddies at a strip club, the wives are furious. Or when it is discovered that a husband is struggling with a porn addition, the wife feels completely betrayed and asks for prayer for her spouse. See the double standard here?
The whole scene is disturbing. A bunch of adults sitting together in a room to watch bondage porn based on an erotic novel written at a third grade reading level. –Matt Walsh
There is no explaining this away. There is no rationalizing it. This distortion is so clearly the work of the Enemy – the one who comes as an angel of light seeking to destroy anyone who is willing to be deceived.
Friends, he is desperately after us, and he would love nothing more than to destroy our marriages – using whatever tool he can find to do the job.
Hebrews 3:13 “But encourage one another every day, while it is called today, so that not one of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”
#3 – I respect my Savior far too much to fill my mind with images that bring Him tremendous sorrow. He died to redeem us from the very things that many rush to the bookstores and theaters to celebrate. When we choose to laugh at – or enjoy in any way – displays that brings Him sorrow, He is grieved…and that is absolutely the last thing we should want to do.
Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.”
As a Christ follower, I wholeheartedly desire to have the mind of Christ. Do I struggle with this? Of course, we all do; but my passion is to honor Him, and I want to share in His attitude…His thoughts…His perspective…wisdom and discernment that comes from Him alone.
Bravo!! Thank you for sharing.
Appreciate you reading, Anne – Thank you for being here!