Truth Magazine

By John M. Trokey

Morality is concerned with establishing and disseminating principles of right and wrong in conduct or behavior. Morality and ethics are closely associated. “Ethics is that branch of philosophy which is concerned with human character and conduct…. It has to do with life or personality in its inward dispositions, outward manifestations and social relations (Alexander, 1013). “Ethics is that branch of philosophy that deals with how we ought to live with the idea of the Good, and with such concepts as right and wrong” (Pojman, Xiii).

Free To Choose

Morality is real only if mankind is free to choose. In a world of fate or determinism, in which all things are predetermined and fixed, mankind has no responsibility. “Freedom is an absolute essential to a truly moral universe” (Greisler, 58). The Bible clearly shows man is a creature of choice, free to choose whatever he wills (Acts 10:35; Deut. 11:26-28; Josh. 24:14, 15). Early in time, when God rejected Cain’s offering, “… the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Gen. 4:6b, 7). Cain was instructed that he had a choice between right and wrong and was responsible for his choice. Also, Cain’s choice would determine whether or not he would be happy.

John M. Trokey

“Ought”

“We are discussing no small mat-ter, but how we ought to live” (Socrates in Plato’s Republic). How we “ought” to live presupposes that there is an absolute standard of right and wrong. The study of “ought” in Deontic logic “is an attempt to put in formal structure the functioning of the word `ought’ in moral contexts, particularly in moral commands” (Geisler Feinberg, 29). In the Epistle of John, for example, John writes: “he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.” The idea is we “ought” (are under moral obligation) to walk as Jesus walked. Unless there is an absolute standard of conduct, one would not be under obligation (ought) to act in a certain manner.

God is the Standard

The biblical morality is rooted ultimately and inseparably in the unchanging nature of God. When God ordained the standard by which man should live, he set the standard in him-self. To have done otherwise would have been a denial of his own charac-ter and a denial of an absolute standard. Man may be unfaithful (unbelieving and immoral) but “he (God) abideth faithful; for he cannot deny himself ” (2 Tim. 2:13). The philosophic argument of whether something is right because God wills it or God wills it because it is right is answered in the biblical perspective that God’s expressed will of right is an expression of God’s essential and unchanging character. Right does not exist as something apart from God upon which he arbitrarily decides or upon which he stamps his approval.

God has revealed to man how man ought to live based on his own character. “Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust” (2 Pet.1:3, 4). God’s nature or character revealed in the Bible is that God is holy (1 Pet.1:15; Lev. 11:44); God is Light (1 John 1:5); God is love (1 John 4:8, 16; Matt. 5:48); God is righteous (1 John 2:29); God is good (Psa. 118:29); God is merciful, gracious, kind and true (Psa. 116:5; Exod. 34:5-7). What God “is” we “ought” to be.

Jesus the Messiah, God’s Son, came to this world and gave us an example of moral living. And, “the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). The apostle Peter stated, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21b, 22a). The apostle Paul said, “There-fore be imitators of God as beloved children” (Eph. 5:1).

False Standards of Morality

Might is right. Ancient Greek philosopher, Thrasymachus, is supposed to have held that “justice is the interest of the stronger party.” This makes right to be defined by “power.” There are many powers which are exercised upon others; political power, physical power, psychological power, and economic power to name some.

Morals are mores. Right is deter-mined by the group. In our schools, value clarification is this method whereby students themselves deter-mine what is right in any circumstance. A local news program (Sacramento, Ca.) on NBC  Jan. 26, 1996 had a report on “Teenagers and Sex.” The question was, “When should I have sex?” The question was answered by a round table discussion. (The conclusion was there is no real or absolute right or wrong on this issue. Right was whatever each individual would deter-mine for themselves.)

Man is the measure. Greek philosopher, Protagorus, said: “Man is the measure of all things.” Therefore right is whatever I determine is right. This was the error in the day of the judges when “every man did what was right in his own eyes” (Judg. 17:6; 21:25).

Right is whatever brings pleasure. This was the Epicurean philosophy of Bible times. It is the spirit of Hedonism.

There is no right. Antinomianism is the philosophy that denies that any-thing is right or wrong. Philosopher, A J. Ayer, insisted that all “ought” sentences actually translate to “I feel” sentences.

Conclusion

God has revealed to man the absolute standard of morality, which is rooted in his own character, exhibited by his own Son, and contained and explained in the Bible.

Today’s church must believe in, defend, and live up to the standard God has given. The great moral questions of today are all answered in the Bible.

God’s people discredit themselves and dishonor God when they complain the moral standard is too high. What the church ought to do is to do their best to bring their lives up to the standard. The church should never allow compromise on God’s moral standard.

Alexander Campbell summed up the standard of morality in seven words, “One God, one moral system, one Bible” (Campbell, 15).

 

Bibliography

Alexander, Archibald, I.S.B.E., Vol. II, Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1974.

Campbell, Alexander, The Christian System, Standard Publishing Co. (no date).

Geisler, Norman L. The Roots of Evil, Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.

Geisler, Norman L. and Feinberg, Paul D., Introduction to Philosophy, Baker Book House, 1980.

Poiman, Louis J., Ethics, Wadsworth Publishing House, 1990.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 13, p. 22-23
July 4, 1996

By Don Alexander

We live in a time in which the marriage and family relationship is in trouble. Abuse, molestation, adultery, secrecy, deceit, hatred, materialism, and selfishness  these all tell a sad tale about modern times. The church is not immune to the world’s values, but is susceptible to them. The world cites the decline of the “traditional family”  “two parents, kids, house in the suburbs, station wagon, a dog and a cat”  in sarcastic and cynical tones. Then the world offers us “alternative lifestyles” to replace the “traditional family” they snippily decry. It is time for God’s people to lead the way in proclaiming what the marriage relation is in the view of Jesus Christ. Jesus stated that “what God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Matt. 19:6). This article will address principles of Jesus for those whom “God has joined together.” Those marriages need to be preserved.

I believe that “marriage” is “. . . a personal relation arising out of a civil contract between a man and a woman, to which the consent of the parties capable of making that contract is necessary . . .”(State of California, Family Law Code, Division 3, Part 1, Section 300.) The law further speaks of the issuance of a license and solemnization of the marriage. But the “personal relation” called marriage pre-existed man’s civil code. God joined a man and a woman in the Garden of Eden, and sanctioned their being “one flesh,” joining their commitment, desire, bodies, and goals (Gen. 1:26-28; 2:21-25). They are bound together until death (Rom. 7:4). Their love and will pledge commitment (Eph. 5:25f; Tit. 2:4-5). Their union becomes the foundation of the family relation and the agent for teaching future generations about God (Deut. 4:7-9; 6:4-9). The civil laws of man must be honored regarding marriage (Rom. 13).

Since what we seek to preserve is something God has created, we are wise when we consult him as the expert. Contrary to many workshop tapes, videos, and books which are “not available at any store, but only through this toll-free number,” the Bible is freely available, and in multiple copies, in most homes. Jesus preached the greatest sermon extolling the virtues and principles of God’s people under the New Covenant in what we know as “The Sermon on the Mount.” While setting forth positive truth, he also takes the Pharisees to task for their distortion of God’s views of righteousness (Matt. 5:17-20). But at the core of the sermon are principles which can be applied to every individual, every marriage, and every family member while doing no injustice to the main thrust of his teaching. To preserve and strengthen our marriages before God we must go up to the mountaintop and listen, breathing in deeply the fresh air of his teaching, and returning to our homes to apply it to our lives. Consider some principles we can learn from Jesus from Matthew, chapters 5-7.

1. We must have character in the characters (Matt. 5:1-10). Husbands and wives must realize that we bring ourselves to the marriage. Our character is the driving force of a marriage relation. The marks of Christian character must be seen in Jesus’ disciples. Imagine a marriage and family relation in which spouses are “poor in spirit,” seeking the best interest of each other, that shows mercy in the place of justice when one partner makes a mistake; a husband and wife who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” together and whose motives are “pure in heart”; who become “peacemakers” who “mourn” over their sins, seeking together God’s comfort; whose anger is restrained and channeled constructively instead of abusively because they are “meek.” In truth, what we and our family members are when we walk into the church building for worship ought to be what we are when we sit in the family room or express our marital love in the bedroom.

2. We must be the preserving salt in the home (Matt. 5:13-16). The Christian has influence on a dark and lost world just as salt and light preserve and enlighten that which they touch. Christian character in word and deed influences for good because the character Jesus requires of his disciples permeates their being and spreads to those around them. A husband who seeks a good marriage cannot think that flowers, candy, and gifts will accomplish this while being hypercritical of his wife, selfish in the use of his time and money, and abusive in his words and actions (1 Pet. 3:7). A wife who seeks a good marriage will realize that adopting the “Barbieism” of the world in make-up and dress will not accomplish that which “a meek and quiet spirit” will achieve (1 Pet. 3:4). We must realize that salt is healthy, beneficial, comforting, and powerful. Let us seek to influence with the words of Jesus in our hearts. Let us influence “the world” around us. But let us understand that our “salt” and “light” begins at home.

3. We must seek the righteousness of Jesus which begins in the heart (Matt. 5:17-48). Jesus contrasts the Godheads view of righteousness with that of the Pharisees, pointing out that righteousness is not something that is purely outward and ritualistic. Jesus connects behavior and thought and motive, making the heart the source of behavior (Matt. 15:17-20). For a husband and wife to be righteous, hearts, not just behaviors, should be the focus. Jesus discusses the connection of character and obedient work to the righteousness for which they hunger and for which they are persecuted. Righteousness which develops the desires, will, and commitment of spouses will preserve their marriage. Jesus touched on factors that threaten personal righteousness and family relations:

 Improper anger  Matthew 5:21-26

 Lust in general and infidelity in marriage  Matthew 5:27-32

 Dishonesty in speech and life  Matthew 5:33-37

 Improper treatment of those in opposition and conflict  Matthew 5:38-42

 Making love of others conditioned on being loved first  Matthew 5:43-48

The solution to these is found not just in outward behavior control, but begins in the heart. “It’s O.K. to look, but not touch” is a sham. “She pushes my buttons and I get mad and can’t control my temper” is an empty excuse. “He doesn’t understand me like Jim does at work.” “My husband doesn’t deserve my love” is a dynamite stick whose fuse is 3/4 burned. “I can never forgive my mate for what was said to me” flies in the face of the forgiveness of the God who made us. Righteousness moves us to love our mate even in unloving moments (Matt. 5:43-48).

4. We must apply the “Golden Rule” in our marriages (Matt. 7:12). Before I speak or act toward my spouse, I must ask, “Is this the way I would like her to treat me? Will my words or actions likely move me toward her or drive a wedge between us?” Some husbands and wives treat the paper boy with more graciousness and mercy and respect than they do each other.

What a breath of fresh air fills our hearts as we sit at the feet of the “Great Physician.” Since the word of Christ in fact “holds all things together” (Col. 1:15-17), surely he can hold our marriages and families securely in the hollow of his hand and preserve us together.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 13, p. 18-19
July 4, 1996

By Ernie Sprinkel

One might ask why an article on smoking or the use of tobacco is appearing in an issue that is designed to deal with “moral issues.” Is smoking a moral issue? Or maybe the better question would be, “Is smoking a sin?” Those who try to defend the habit of smoking are quick to point out that the Bible does not have a “thou shall not” clause concerning smoking. They are right, but does this mean that smoking is not a sin. I believe this attitude stems from a lack of understanding of what sin is. Sin is defined in the Scripture as “lawlessness” (1 John 3:4, NASB). The Scriptures not only teach the negative (“thou shall not”), but the positive (“thou shall”). If we violate one of the “thou shalls” we are as guilty of “lawlessness” as if we had violated one of those “thou shall nots.” “Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17; NASB). I want, in this article, to show how smoking violates those basic principles, those basic guide-lines, the “thou shalls” of Christian living.

Love of the Brethren

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35; NASB). “In one year, passive smoking causes 37,000 deaths from heart disease, 3,825 deaths from lung cancer, and 1,200 deaths from other cancers” (Glantz & Parmley, UCSF 1991). “Children of parents who smoke have more bronchitis and pneumonia during the first year of life and more respiratory illnesses in subsequent years than children of nonsmokers” (Pedueira FA, et al. Involuntary Smoking and the Incidence of Respiratory Illness During the First Year of Life, Pediatrics 1985; 75:594-597). With the information available today, we now know the harm passive smoke does to those in the presence of the smoker. “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor” (1 Cor. 10:24; NASB). If I am not looking out for my neighbor by smoking in his presence am I not sinning? Or how about “love … does not seek its own” (1 Cor. 13:5; NASB). Why do people smoke? Is it not for their own pleasure, their own self gratification. When people smoke in the presence of those who do not, is that not selfish? Love, the love of the Bible, is a love which always takes the other person into consideration first. Does the smoker truly do that?

Self-Control

In John 15:1-6 we are told by Jesus that we are to bear fruit. In Galatians 5:22-23 we read of the “fruit of the Spirit” one aspect of which is “self-control.” Have you ever heard a smoker say, “I smoke to show my self-control”? I do not think I have. “Nicotine in tobacco products is as addictive as heroin and cocaine” (Surgeon General’s Report, 1989). When a person becomes addicted to anything he is no longer in control of self. Paul said, “I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27; NASB). If you are a slave to tobacco, you do not have control of your own body, but it is the tobacco that has control over you. Thus, the question is, should I be a slave to anything but Jesus Christ?

Example

I once heard a man who was defending the use of tobacco products say that “of all the arguments against smoking, that of example was the strongest.” Though all the arguments are strong, the one made from the point of view of the Christian example is very strong. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts” (2 Cor. 3:2-3; NASB). “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Every day people see us. Brothers and sisters, you are the only letter of Christ that some people will ever read. What can the worldly learn about our Lord by seeing you smoke? Is smoking a good work by which you can let your light shine and thus glorify your father who is in heaven? The worldly will only find justification for what they do and God will never be glorified.

One might then ask the question, “Does everything I do have to glorify God?” The answer to that question is simple, “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor 10:31; NASB). There it is, simple and to the point. What fits into the category “what-ever you do” must be done to glorify God. This would include smoking. For smoking to be acceptable, not a sin, someone is going to have to explain how a Christian can glorify God with their use of tobacco products. We are all to teach both by word and action. Is there anyone who wants the smoking Christian teaching his children that it is just fine to smoke or that it is not only OK but it has redeeming qualities? I think not, but is that not what is happening when all the smokers gather outside the building and smoke? Are they not teaching by their example that smoking is accept-able to God? Sure they are! When those of the world drive by the building and see brethren smoking outside the building what do they think? This argument alone should be enough to convince anyone, who will look with an open mind, that smoking is a sin.

Harm to Oneself!

This is an age old argument. Should a Christian do any-thing, whatever it is, that will knowingly do harm to his own body? “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor 6:19; NASB). There it is, that same old verse, but as long as this argument rages this verse will continue to come up. Why? Because it is pertinent, that’s why. Brothers and sisters, we are God’s creation not just in the spiritual but also in the physical. If I am to glorify God in my body (1 Cor. 6:20), how can I when I am killing myself day in and day out? Note the following: “Cigarette smoking causes more premature deaths each year than do all of the following causes of death together: AIDS, drug abuse, alcohol, automobile accidents, suicide and homicide” (Warner, K.E. Health and Economic Implications of a Tobacco – Free Society. Journal of Amer. Med. Assoc. 1987). Also “Smoking is the major preventable cause of premature death in the United States” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 1988 Reducing the Health Consequences of Smoking.).

Brethren who continue to smoke are killing themselves as assuredly as if they put a gun to their head and pulled the trigger, all-be-it slower. If we knew a brother or sister who ® was about to commit suicide we would do everything we could to stop him. We would not just sit idly by and let it happen. But I am afraid that is just what we do when wejustify smoking. For those who do not believe this is a strong argument against smoking read Romans 12:1: “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (NASB). This same requirement exists for the smoker as well as the non-smoker. Can the smoker present his body as a “holy sacrifice, acceptable to God”? Please explain to me how.

Conclusion

I once heard someone ask the question, “Are you then condemning all those who smoke and do not repent to hell?” My answer to that is that I condemn no one. Either the Scriptures teach something or they do not. Once again, it is just that simple. I do believe that all those who have over-looked this problem in the past and those who have tried to justify the use of tobacco over the years have in fact, al-lowed brethren to continue to live in a life of sin. “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, what-ever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phil. 4:8; NASB). Brethren, until we can fit smoking into this verse, we as Christians should not do it! I, a one-time smoker, who has repented of his use of tobacco, offer you these words in the love of Christ with the hope that any Christian who continues to smoke may read these things and have a more complete knowledge of the truth, repent and quit.

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 13, p. 20-21
July 4, 1996

By Tommy Glendol McClure

The morals of our nation and man-kind continue to erode and decay just as cancer slowly conquers its victim. Pornography, another moral issue viewed by many as being harmless, is a prime mover and largely to blame for this downward slide into the cesspool of moral decay and sin. Recently, pornography has risen its ugly head on the information superhighway, the World Wide Web. I am reminded of the words of Scripture, “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart” (Gen. 6:5, 6).

Pornography Defined

Pornography, an age old problem, can be traced back to first century Roman culture. By definition it is “the representation of erotic behaviour in books, pictures, statutes, motion pictures, etc. that is intended to cause sexual excitement. The word pornography, derived from the Greek word porne (prostitute) and graphein (to write), was originally defined as any work of art or literature depicting the life of prostitutes.”‘ Webster defines it as: “(1) the depiction of erotic behavior (as in pictures or writing) intended to cause sexual excitement; (2) material (as books or a photograph) that depicts erotic behavior and is intended to cause sexual excitement.”‘ Pornography will be on the battlefield until the separation of the sheep and the goats on that great and blessed day of the Lord. True are the words of Solomon, “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: andthere is no new thing under the sun. Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us” (Eccl. 1:9, 10).

The Worldly View

Pornography is one of the more controversial subjects of our time. There has been much argument on both sides and even in the courts. In 1957, in the case Roth v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that obscene material was not protected under the Constitution. Judge William Brennan wrote that the First Amendment had originally been written to allow “unfettered interchange of ideas for the bringing about of political and social changes desired by the people,” and that obscene material supplied little, if any, social value. The Supreme Court went on to define obscene material as that which “deals with sex in a manner appealing to the prurient interest.” “Prurient,” according to the court, meant “material having a tendency to excite lustful thoughts.”

In the 1973 Supreme Court case Miller v. California, a ruling was handed down that remains the foundation by which a work is judged to be obscene. In this case, Miller had been convicted for mass-mailing brochures that advertized sex-oriented books. The ruling set forth in this case required that “community standards” be applied in determining whether or not a work is obscene. This ruling tightened the Roth decision, that obscenity was not protected by First Amendment rights.

Even though many Americans oppose pornography, there is much argument and discussion and little agreement by society in general on what should be done about it. Some see any restrictions on it as “censor-ship” of their First Amendment rights. Others see it as a form of discrimination on the basis of sex. In a controversial paper written by two antipornography activists (Andrea Dworkin, a writer, and Catharine MacKinnon, a law professor), they wrote, “Most frequently, pornography promotes rape, pain, humiliation, and inferiority as experiences that are sexually pleasing to all women because we are women. The studies show that it is not atypical for men to believe and act on the pornography. Each time men are sexually aroused by pornography  the sexually explicit subordination of women  they learn to connect women’s sexual pleasure to abuse and women’s sexual nature to inferiority.”3

No matter how the world or the highest earthly court may rule on pornography, God’s people must appeal to the divine standard of God’s writ-ten word, the Bible, and “not to think of men above that which is written” (1 Cor. 4:6). Honest students of God’s word striving to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only,” will seek, search and submit to God’s principles of truth regarding this matter (James 1:21-25).

The Bible Teaches

Pornography is sinful because it violates the principle taught by Jesus in Matthew 5:27, 28!

Jesus said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” Jesus teaches that not only the act but the very thought that would cause the act is sinful. The magazine racks of our local grocery stores contain such porn publications as Playboy, Penthouse, and other smut publications purchased by those who have lust in their hearts (2 Pet. 2:12-14). Women who dress (or maybe I should say, undress) in sucha way that causes arousal of the sexual desires in men, are just as guilty as the men who lust after them (1 Tim. 2:9, 10). Jesus teaches a divine truth that is far reaching and this principle of truth applies equally to the male and female involved. Pornography violates this principle of Divine truth!

Pornography is sinful because it is lasciviousness!

W.E. Vine defines lasciviousness, saying the word “de-notes excess, licentiousness, absence of restraint, indecency, wantonness; . .. the prominent idea is shameless con-duct.”‘ Most certainly, pornography in any form is void of holy thoughts or actions. Pornography encourages a gross lack of self-control and self-denial. The mind or heart of the individual who desires to be party to this smut is without restraint and is condemned by God’s word (Mark 7:21-23; Rom. 13:12-14; Gal. 5:19-21). A Christian must subdue all fleshly lusts (1 Pet. 2:11).

Pornography is sinful because is promotes fornication!

All manner of unlawful and illicit sexual behavior is portrayed through this media. The so-called “soft core” magazines, such as Playboy and Penthouse, glamorize and glorify the life of a “Playboy” and teach that men can enjoy the sexual pleasures of the female without the commitment of a lifelong, lawful marriage relationship. The “hard core” forms promote bestiality, sadomasochism, homosexuality, prostitution, lesbianism, “kiddie porn,” and violent pornography. Fornication is defined by Thayer as “illicit sexual intercourse in general” (532). All of these sexual sins fall into the realm of fornication! Smut publications generally depict the woman as nothing more than a tool of pleasure, a thing to conquer and a mere piece of meat, rather than a lifetime mate who is an “help meet” (Gen. 2:18). The apostle Paul teaches that those who desire to inherit the kingdom of God must “flee fornication” (1 Cor. 6:9-20).

Pornography is sinful because it dishonors God’s law of marriage!

In the beginning God said, “It is not good that man should be alone,” and he made woman to be an “help meet” for man (Gen. 2:18). For Adam, God made Eve, not Steve! And in Genesis 2:24 the record says, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Cleaving to a wife is far different than one-night stands and live-in partnerships which are glamorized by pornography. A good majority of movies and T.V. shows (even prime-time programs) promote and condone unlawful sexual relation-ships. Hard and soft core pornography flies in the face of the God-ordained marriage relationship, and the sexual union is depicted as nothing more than a recreational activity to satisfy an outof-control desire. The Bible teaches that the sexual desire is to be satisfied within the bounds of a lawful marriage relationship. The sexual union is re-served only for a man and woman joined in lawful marriage by God’s divine standard (1 Cor. 6:9-20; 7:2; Heb. 13:4).

Pornography is sinful because it violates the principle of the Golden Rule (Matt. 7:12)!

The kingpins and servants of pornography violate the first and second great commandments as well (Matt. 22:36-39). Porn pimps dish out their smut at the expense of men, women, children and even animals, for the express purpose of gaining an easy dollar (Eph. 4:17-19). Alcohol and illegal drugs are some-times part of the package deal! No love for God and their fellow man is ex-pressed by the producers and consumers of smut! The words of the apostle Paul ring true, “For the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Tim. 6:9-10). And Paul teaches that those involved in such filth are given over by God “to a reprobate mind” (Rom. 1:21-32).

Pornography is sinful because it is destructive to society in general!

Consider the effects on society by the out-of-control AIDS epidemic! Study the case of Ted Bundy, a serial rapist and an admitted murderer of more than two dozen young women. Bundy said in his eleventh hour interview with Dr. James Dobson, “Pornography can reach out and snatch a kid out of any house today . . . It snatched me out of my home 20, 30 years ago … There is no protection against the kind of influences that are loose in society.” He also stated, “What alcohol did in conjunction with, let’s say, my exposure to pornography, was alcohol reduced my inhibitions; at the same time the fantasy life that was fueled by pornography eroded them further.”5 He also admitted how in the early days he was generally half-drunk, “almost without exception,” and alcohol diminished his inhibitions when he went on his rape and murder sprees! These are just a few examples of the poison fruit this sinful activity bears. Even though all consumers of pornography are not affected like Ted Bundy, this illustrates the destructive force of pornography on society. It is void of any good works (Gal. 5:19-21).

Conclusion

Brethren, do not be deceived and misled! Pornography is not just restricted to skid row or “adult” X-rated sleeze shows! It is in your local grocery store, in the words of pop music, and is even piped into homes through cable T.V. and computers that are “online” via the Internet, to name a few sources. This is a real problem that all Christians must battle! No judicial court decision can overrule the divine decision about this subject! In order to receive the inheritance that is reserved in heaven for us, God’s people must live under the constraint of Divine law, not under the influence of smut (1 Pet. 1:4; Col. 3:3-7). Without question, the Bible teaches that pornography is sinful! I urge all to adhere to the divine admonition given by the apostle James, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:21-25).

Bibliography

1 The New Encyclopedia Britannica, 15th Edition, pp. 615-616.

2 Webster, Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, p. 916. 5 Carol Gorman, Pornography, pp. 27, 28.

4 Vine, Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, p. 650.

5 “Fatal Addiction,” Ted Bundy’s Final Interview with Dr. James Dobson (Video Tape).

3318 Saint James Place, Antioch, California 94509

Guardian of Truth XL: No. 13, p. 16-18
July 4, 1996