What is normal for a secular society should not be normal for a follower of Christ.
I heard a story a few years back about a pastor who liked to play golf. During the front nine, the language among his friends was sprinkled with obscenities. They started chatting when they went to grab a hot dog at the turn. The guys asked the pastor what he did for a living, and, of course, he told them the truth. The entire back nine was like three different men playing. They cleaned up their act and their language. All because they now knew they were playing with a pastor.
Is that how it should be? Should our behavior and our standards change because we are near a pastor?
“For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?” - 2 Corinthians 6:14
Is Obscene Language Sinful?
Is watching sinful behavior or listening to sinful language in movies or music sinful?” Should Christians expose themselves to obscene language and immoralities in the entertainment they consume?
The apostle Paul taught about Christians' freedom under the new covenant of grace. We no longer live under a set of specific rules. In his letter to the Galatians, Paul writes that Christians have freedom in Christ (v. 5:1 and 5:13.)
Parents often limit how many sweet treats, like ice cream, their kids can have. My kids used to tell me they couldn’t wait to eat as much ice cream as they wanted. As adults, we know we could eat as much ice cream as possible. That bag of potato chips has a neon sign with my name on it – calling me to come and enjoy! And yes, I could sit with a bag of chips or a plate of nachos and watch football all afternoon. But is any of that good for me? Is it ok?
Even though we know we have that freedom, we control ourselves because we also know we need to be responsible. We tend to become what we allow to fill our lives—including the movies we watch and the music we listen to. What we are watching affects our hearts. If we are watching a scene – any scene – that fills us with lust, anger, or hatred, then yes, we have sinned. Jesus taught us that very lesson:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28
That means – we then do whatever we must to avoid that happening again. Usually, that means turning off the TV and not watching what we suspect might bring us to that brink again. In fact, Jesus' words were a bit stronger:
"If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell." (v. 5:29-30)
When we come to salvation through Christ, we pass on from the sinful life we used to live and are adopted into a new family. As a result, we are called to live differently. We have the freedom to watch or listen to whatever we might choose—but is it helpful to us? Is it constructive to our faith and our family?
Indeed, in Christ there is freedom – but...
"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh…” -Galatians 5:13
“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. - 1 Corinthians 10:23
What Does the Bible Mean by Instructing Us to Live in the World, but Not of the World?
"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." - 2 Peter 3:11
In his second letter, the Apostle Peter wrote about how the world will end:
“The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”
Not just everything in it—but everything done in it—will be laid bare. Peter used what Jesus taught him to pass on a lesson that begs us to consider: "What kind of lives should we live?" Then he answers his own question, teaching that we are to live holy and godly lives. So, what part of watching or listening to garbage on our TVs, computers, or in movie theaters fits into a holy life?
-Don’t want to be seen as a prude or killjoy? That would mean the opinion of men is more important to you than the opinion of God.
-Do you just want to be “one of the guys” and join in the fun? Yeah, well, the day you gave yourself to Jesus, you stopped being “one of the guys.”
-Don’t want to be considered a legalist or fundamentalist? It isn’t about following a rule – it’s about following the Holy Spirit.
-Think you’re okay because you don’t do that stuff, just watch it? Better think again, because the stuff we’re watching has an impact on our minds and hearts.
We cannot stand in a doorway and remain on both sides. When the door shuts, we will be on one side or the other. Either we follow Truth, or we accept everything that isn’t truth. In other words, a mugwump – our mugs on one side of the fence and our wumps on the other.
Is it sinful to watch sinful things? No. But is it the responsible thing to do as a follower of Christ? Likely not. Will it lead you to accept what is impure or ungodly, or will it lead you to support others who endorse an impure or ungodly message, financially or with ratings? In other words, if it leads to or supports a form of ungodliness, we ought to rethink our choices.
If that recognition is in our hearts, we can only attribute that source to the Holy Spirit. After all, it is His leading we ought to follow.
"If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." - John 15:19
How Are We Supposed to Live as Christ Followers?
"Finally, brothers and sisters, 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." -Philippians 4:8
I have fought – and continue to fight – the very same temptations and battles as everyone else. I don’t propose that this is an easy thing. We must each let ourselves be led by the Holy Spirit as to the right or wrong of whatever it is we’re watching or listening to.
Does the Bible make any mention of what ratings or language we should be watching—or not watching? Of course not. But, as new creations in Christ, we are called to live differently. We are called to be set apart—the very definition of holy.
When we give ourselves to Christ, we are given His Holy Spirit to live within us to guide our hearts and actions. Jesus tells us that the Spirit will guide us in all truth. (John 16:13) One way He does so is through our conscience. If our conscience – the Holy Spirit – tells us what we are watching is wrong, it's wise to listen.
We are to dwell on godly things so that we might become more godly. By intentionally bringing the ungodly before us, we hurt ourselves.
But more than that, as members of the body of Christ, we are hurting others who look to us. We are hurting the message of Christ. Jesus taught us in Matthew 5:14 that we are called to be “…the light of the world.”
Let us do all we can to let our light shine before others.
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/Nanci Santos
Greg doesn’t pretend to be a pastor, a theologian, or a Bible expert, but offers the perspective of an everyday guy on the same journey as everyone else – in pursuit of truth.
Greg can be reached by email or on Facebook @ Greg Grandchamp - Author.
