Pornography: The Double Standard

When one asks whether a Christian can or can not watch anime, they are told that if it doesn't violate their conscience, then they can. But is this what the Bible says? I think looking at the topic of pornography can shed light on this issue.

Every Bible-believing Christian is against pornography, and rightfully so. However, many do not realize they are holding a double standard. This article is not in support of pornography as many more liberal websites are, I simply want to present a case for equality in our judgment of any media.

The average Christian, if you asked them, would tell you "No, we shouldn't watch porn," but if you ask why, the answers will vary. Some will say "It induces lust," to which, "What if someone isn't lusting?" Others say, "It's against the nature in which God designed that relationship," to which, "Is porn the only one?" Still another would state, "It's intent is wicked," to which, "What if it wasn't?"

See, the Bible is our sole authority, and as such, it gives us an objective standard by which to judge the things we watch and consume. Let's look at each of the three above reasons for pornography being wrong and let's see if they hold water.

It Induces Lust

This is what most Christian websites that are against porn will say. And, many times, yes, it will incite and create lust. But I have asked people "Theoretically speaking, what if someone didn't lust?" Like, for example, if you're at the store and see an immodestly dressed woman, you can choose either to or not to lust after her.

I don't see how this same choice wouldn't apply to pornography as well. Sure, it may be more difficult to choose not to in such a situation, but theoretically it could be done. So is this really the reasoning we want to use? Is there not a reason pornography is just wrong to watch, period?

Against God's Design

As with the last reason, there is much truth within these arguments. The problem is, it doesn't cover every edge case. It may be against God's design for people to be recording themselves committing adultery and fornication or (specifically in the case of anime) drawing hentai, but there are so many other things people watch that are as well.

If you have ever watched a show with magic or a show with murder, that was not God's design. Thus, how can you say porn is wrong when you consume other media containing things contrary to the Lord's design?

The Wrong Intent

Now, like the last two, there is some truth in this. Porn stars, we can assume, have the wrong intent. The intent of their videos are to get people addicted and to lust after them. This is wrong. However, we must be consistent. What is the motive of the creators of anything you watch/play? Is it to gain money? Is it to become famous? If porn is wrong because of its intent, what is the intent of other things?

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy 6:10)

The love of money is the root of all evil. If the intent of something is to get rich, then the intent is wrong. How can you possibly know the intent of everyone involved in creating a show, game, movie, etc.? You can't. So this argument is impossible to follow.

The Double Standard

We see that someone can lust towards a person who is simply sitting down and modestly dressed. That does not make the person who is sitting their minding their own business wrong. If it did, then simply watching anything at all would be wrong as you could lust. There is a double standard of not applying your logic to every area.

Next, the design of God. I basically laid the case out above, but it really is quite the contradiction to state porn is wrong for its opposition to God's order, but to watch other things which, even if they're not sexual, are likewise against God.

Lastly, there is the intent. It is a double standard to call pornography wrong for its intent but then to ignore the intents of other media forms. Like social media, its intent is to suck you in, to promote gossip, to distract you, and to consume your time. The intent may be bad, but social media can be used for good. Can pornography be used for good? Obviously not, thus this idea cannot be the proper way to label porn as sin.

The Proper Way

We have looked at the three ways people try and say pornography is wrong. We have also seen how the reasons don't work and people hold a double standard. So the next question one would naturally ask is, "How then is it wrong to watch?" That's the goal of this section. Let's begin by looking at the Scriptures.

"I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me." (Psalm 101:3)

We see here a clear principle. We are not to set (i.e., purposefully put) wicked things before our eyes. When one goes and watches pornography, they violate this verse as they either watch fornication, see a married couple undressed (thus immodesty), or both in the case of adultery. Doesn't this make the most sense?

Resolve

The solution is that we hold no double standard. This blog is for anime, but as you can tell, this specific post speaks little of it. But here I will make the application. We saw in the previous section that Psalm 101:3 says not to put sinful things before our eyes. Anime often contains these very sinful things we're to avoid. Most commonly, immodesty, alcohol, magic, murder, and (in the case of hentai) fornication/adultery.

God would not have us to watch these things. Hence, we, as Christians, are to not watch anime. To learn more, click the label "Anime essays" to see more content or "Anime exposé" for specific anime exposed.