I have read a lot of stuff about the 50 Shades of Grey movie that is coming out; why you shouldn’t see it, why it’s ok to go see it …
I didn’t read the books when they came out, and to be honest I was a little shocked by the people who were. Almost every single woman I knew was obsessed with the series and devoured all the books as quickly as they could. Even little old ladies in the salon were reading 50 Shades while they sat under the dryer.
Finally, I succumbed to my curiosity and I bought a 3-book-bundle for my Kindle. Now, I knew what these books were about, and while I don’t actively seek out smutty content, I am probably more liberal than some. I made it through the first book, and then halfway through the second. And that’s when I knew I had wasted my $10 on buying the bundle.
It wasn’t the elicit sex scenes that got to me. It was the premise, the plot (or lack thereof), the writing … THIS is what all the hype was about? Some plain-Jane just HAPPENS to have to interview a 20-something billionaire who is wicked hot and instantly wants to make her his sex Goddess? Throughout the book I kept saying, “This reads like a 12-year-old girl with a filthy mind wrote it.”
I am no literary snob, but I just couldn’t read anymore. I found the bondage scenes to be uncomfortable and was outraged at the outright abuse and control being glorified.
Should we be telling each other whether or not to see the movie?
I think it goes without saying that I won’t be seeing the movie. Not only because the book was unreadable, but the movie looks poorly cast and completely uninteresting to me. But I have read a LOT of posts about whether or not Christians should be watching this movie, some for and some against.
I would never presume to tell anyone else what they should or shouldn’t do. I obviously at least tried to read the books, so I am not always vigilant when it comes to what I consume for entertainment. I don’t want to live under the grip of legalism, but I also don’t want to sin in the name of grace. Sometimes it’s a judgment call; a balancing act.
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. -Phillipians 4:8
There’s Just A Little Poop In The Brownies
I will never forget a sermon that Craig Groeschel gave a few years ago. He told the story of a boy who wanted to go to an R-rated movie with his friends. He asked his mother if he could go, and emphasized that there was just a little bit of sex and violence in the film. She said he could go, but first she would whip up some brownies for the friends to share. She asked the son to go out into the yard and pick up some dog poop and bring it in. Puzzled, he complied. The mother proceeded to add the dog poop to the brownie mix. Of course, the son was horrified and asked his mother if she really expected them to eat brownies with dog poop in them.
She replied, “But it’s just a little poop.
Touche.
50 Shades of Grey is a whole LOTTA poop, so a lot of people have declared it unfit for Christian eyes to see. But how many are watching TV shows or movies with just a little poop in them? Listening to pop songs glorifying poopy things?
(When I sat down to write this post I had no idea I would be using the word poop 26353746 times. Really.)
Instead of telling you what to do, I would encourage you just to be more intentional with your entertainment choices. Is it something that will encourage holiness in your life? Or is it something that adds temptation?
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23
Should Christians watch 50 Shades of Grey? That’s something you will have to ask God about.
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