He is Just Seeking For a Toehold

A year ago, a very popular Hollywood movie hit the world, and became the talk of town. If you didn't watch that movie, I bet your colleagues would look at you with strange eyes. I hadn't watched it then but upon several hype of the movie on social media and by other people, I finally watched it. Truth be told, the story line was great, acting on point, and almost everything about it seemed flawless. It was a nice movie, but there was a number of explicit sex scenes. 

Some Christians had no problem inviting fellow Christians to watch it because they probably saw nothing wrong with it. Some parents were fine with their children watching it. But there is something wrong with it that is worth considering. For ethics sake, titles of movies cannot be stated in this piece.

We abhor pornography because of a number of reasons ranging from spiritual to psychological but how do we treat a few scenes of explicit sexual activities and offensive languages that occasionally or sometimes consistently show up in some movies we watch?

If a brother walked up to you and said, hey, let's watch porn. You would probably look at him twice and cast the demon in him out, or you are likely to say, something must surely be wrong with you. That's because a lot of us find it difficult and feel uncomfortable at the mere mention of the word "porn", talk less of watching it. Let me be clear on this, I am not addressing everyone.  This message is particularly for people who claim not to watch porn but get glued to their gadgets and watch movies with sex scenes and other sexually explicit videos.

So I ask, if we find it hard or morally wrong to watch pornography, why don't we feel the same way when we watch movies and videos with offensive language and explicit scenes? What am I driving at? My point is simple, we often deceive ourselves that we don't watch pornography but then we willfully watch other contents that have sexually explicit scenes. What's the difference then?  It could be just a scene or two, but you still watched it. It is the few scenes we watch that make up the pornographic movies. Eventually, it achieves the aim pornography is intended to achieve. A popular adage goes, little drops of water make a mighty ocean. A few sexually explicit scenes corrupts you just like pornography does.

Let's not be deceived, the devil is smart and very patient. He has cunningly led a lot of people (believers and unbelievers) to this place without they noticing it, making them believe that once it's not ‘porn’, it is fine to watch it. Sometimes, he brings the issue of maturity just to mislead you. Never say you are of age so you can watch it. Precious one, I believe you have ever chanced on a couple movies whose opening credit indicates; "18+, Strong Language, ACT OF NUDITY, Violence (LNV), viewer discretion advised.” That is their standard, and they mean the viewer should make a conscious decision whether to watch it or not. The choice is always yours. But truth is, depravity, corruption, perversion and the other effects of pornography and its close counterparts know no age. Nobody has the will to choose consequences when the harm has been caused. These days, sex has been reduced to a very common commodity that sells almost everything including water. Filmmakers, advertizers and all those in the media business understand this worldly principle and they are making good use of it. They don't mistakenly or accidentally put those scenes out there hence you don't have to "accidentally" watch them. You must be intentional about your choice of movies, TV shows, music videos, ‘funny clips’ etc.

Unfortunately, many of us are careless and have fallen for this trick. Understand that once the enemy gets you to watch in bits exactly what is shown in pornography, he is gradually getting a stronghold. The truth is, many of us, believers, watch movies with rigorous sex scenes, smooching and caressing, deep kissing, and all forms of sexual provocations and perversions. And the saddest part is, we watch every scene vividly. Once the eyes sees it, it registers in the mind. We are in a highly deceptive age, so all of us who desire sexual purity must be very intentional about it. A little indifference and carelessness is all it takes to be carried away. We must be selective!  Ephesians 4:27, "Neither give place to the devil". Understand that the enemy is just seeking a toehold to operate, a foothold is even too big. Don't give him the least opportunity! Beware, watch what you watch. Never permit your eyes to delight in watching anything that does not glorify God. Pray daily like the psalmist, Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word. ~Psalm 119:37. Never forget that the devil has no place unless you give him one.

It always starts with you. You decide! 

 Our next lesson on pornography will be out soon. Never forgets there is still hope for the viewer

For help and counseling on any sexual issue, email us on separatedyoungsters@gmail.com