In this month’s edition of A Wellrounded Woman Magazine, I am going to do something that I have never done before. For the most part, it has been our policy to teach Biblical principles and truth, and trust that women will be able to discern how they can apply these principles to their lives. We’ve made it our policy not to get involved with trendy controversies or specific political issues simply because we don’t feel that’s our calling. However, this month I’m making an exception to this policy to express my convictions and warn women of the dangers of getting caught up in the “50 Shades of Grey” frenzy that is sweeping the country.
Let me start by saying that I have not read the book or watched the trailer, and I do not plan on watching the movie. My information about the book and movie comes from women who have either read the book or had friends who read the book, and online research from other Christians who are taking a stand against the book and movie. The first time that I even heard of the book was through a young girl, a friend on social media, who posted that she was thinking about reading it. Within minutes, she was inundated with replies saying, “Don’t do it! Find something else to read!” Godly women called the suggested book exactly what it is: porn for women, and they encouraged our young friend to look for reading material that encouraged purity of mind and heart.
After that, I never really thought about the book again until the Today Show premiered the trailer in late July and suddenly everyone was talking about the book, the trailer, and the movie that will be released in 2015. Right from the start, it was clear that there were two distinct points of view on the subject: Satan and God’s.
Okay---that may have been a little blunt, but from my perspective, it’s the truth. There are those who are promoting Satan’s lie that the book and movie were just forms of entertainment. No big deal. It’s art. It’s harmless. It’s not going to hurt anyone, and of course, the popular old line, “Everybody is on the band wagon, you don’t want to be the only prude left behind.”
Those who were promoting God’s agenda, had a completely different message. They spoke boldly and called the movie what it was: Glorified Pornography, trash, demeaning to women, and completely against God’s Word. (I guess by now you can guess which side I’m on.)
Both voices will continue to be heard. In the end, what’s important is the choice that each individual daughter of God makes.
Even more importantly, what choice will you make? Will you read the book and/or watch the movie or will you abstain? Because after all the rhetoric in the world is quieted, it all comes down to each woman’s choice: Will you support the 50 Shades of Grey movement?
As you might have already guessed, I will not support it. I cannot.
This book/movie endorses and promotes things that are not only against the Bible, but they are completely destructive to the entire female gender. Honestly, I find it mind boggling that any woman would willingly support any of the things that are endorsed in this movie. For instance:
If you choose to support 50 Shades of Gray, you are supporting Pornography.
Sound a little drastic?
Well, let’s look at the definition of “Pornography”: It means: “the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement. Material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement.”
That’s the entire movie! All you have to do is read a review or description of the movie to know that this isn’t PG-rated sex---this is hard core pornography filled with bondage, dominance, sadism, and masochism. When you read this book of watch this movie, you are supporting the pornography industry as it uses this movie to popularize it’s filth into main stream entertainment.
Of course, you can read lots of Christian blogs about this. (I know. Where do you think I’m getting my information?) There is a myriad of articles questioning how the same women who have rallied against male pornography for decades are now embracing this movie. They bring up the points of how someone can rationalize the knowledge that pornography plays an active role in the crime of rape, the breakdown in the American family, and the disintegration of relationships, yet still endorse this movie that is filled with the same addictive pornography. They are very good articles all endorsing the point that if you support this movie you are supporting pornography.
Unfortunately, what I haven’t read much of is the next reason that I believe no woman should see this movie or read this book:
If you choose to support 50 Shades of Grey, you are supporting Abuse.
Since when is abuse—whether it is physical, emotional, mental, or sexual (which reportedly this movie has all of these)---sexy, romantic, or entertaining?
Let me to you straight out---it isn’t. At least, not in real life.
It isn’t romantic when a beautiful young woman’s face has been bashed beyond recognition by a boyfriend or husband.
It isn’t sexy when a woman has to move into a woman’s shelter after years of being manipulated and lied to be a controlling man.
It’s definitely not entertaining to see a young Mom being carried out in a body bag because she didn’t do exactly what the man in her life wanted.
After years of seeing the pain and heartache in the eyes of abused women, watching them struggle with the pain in their bodies from injuries that never completely healed, being there as they endured counseling sessions desperately trying to overcome the control an evil man gained over their minds, I find it appalling that any woman---Christian or non-Christian could see this crisis as entertainment.
In real life, the lasting effects are just too damaging, the stories are just too horrific, and the loss of those who never escape is just too tragic for me to give one cent of God’s money supporting this book or film.
Have no doubt about it---when you pay to see a movie or purchase a book, you are supporting the values and lifestyles that are being endorsed by the author, no matter how sick or perverted they may be.
Think about it: A few months ago, we all heard the argument that Christians needed to go see the Bible movies that came out in the theatres to send a message to Hollywood that there was an audience for this type of entertainment. (By the way, I didn’t go see those movies either.) Still, according to that logic, doesn’t going to see this movie or reading this book send the message that there is an audience for violent pornography and propaganda condoning abuse?
When it comes to entertainment, you vote with your dollars. When you vote to support 50 Shades of Grey, you vote pro-pornography, pro-defamation of woman, and pro-abuse. It’s something to think about before you make your choice.
What about those of us who have already made our choice to say “No” to 50 Shades of Grey?
Well, you, too, have a choice: Will you hide your light under a bushel or boldly speak out in an attempt to help other people make the right choice, too? Will you accept the responsibility that you have to warn people about the dangers of this movie and help others choose to say, “No”?
Will you follow the example of my friends and boldly say to any women who are on the fence: “Don’t read the book and don’t watch the movie?”
Will you speak about the dangers of this movie to your friends, your family, your church group, your women’s group, even your non-Christian friends?
Hold it?!!! Non-Christian friends?
Yes, you can still speak against this trash with your non-Christian friends. Just don’t use words like “the Bible says” or “sin” but use rational arguments like the dangers of pornography and the horrors of abuse.
Ask them, “Would you want your daughter, your sister, your granddaughter, your best friend, or even yourself to be treated the way the man treats the woman in this movie? Then why support it?”
Reality is that this movie is dangerous for society and the women who see it. As Christian women, I believe it is our responsibility to shine a light on the situation and help as many women avoid the phenomenon as possible.
If you are a Christian leader or women in ministry, than you have an even greater responsibility to educate women about the dangers of this movie. You are called to speak truth in your churches, your women’s meetings, your Sunday School Classes, and your youth groups.
Don’t be satisfied to simply do the right thing yourself. Instead, use your influence as a leader to raise up an army of women who say “No” to pornography and all of it’s addictions, “No” to abuse, and “No” to not just 50 Shades of Grey but ANY form of entertainment that even hints at these two atrocities. Maybe you could even encourage the women to donate the money they would have spent on tickets to this (or any other) trashy movie to a local women’s shelter. Encourage them to use their dollars to “vote for” or support things that build women up rather than tear them down. Take something that Satan intended to destroy women, and use it as motivation to start a movement of purity among God’s women.
I believe we have the power to do it. Of course, whether or not it happens depends on each lady’s individual choice.
Will you choose to say “No” to 50 Shades of Grey?
Will you choose to speak out against this movie, pornography, and propaganda for abuse in all forms?
Will you be an agent that advances good or evil, God’s ways or Satan’s?
It’s a pretty blunt question, but it’s a seriously dangerous movie. The fight against good and evil is black and white. There are no gray areas here---just choices.
What will you choose?
