The Slippery Slope of "Just One Scene"

A common excuse given by Christians, in an attempt to continue watching anime, is that there is "just one inappropriate scene, the rest of the show is fine." This argument appeals to the flesh, but is contrary to Holy Writ.

In Scripture, we are given a very simple principle: "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (Galatians 5:9). One bad scene is one bad scene too many. When one begins to excuse wickedness merely because it's a minor part of an anime or show, they inevitably start sliding down a slippery slope.

One scene easily becomes two. What makes two wrong but one okay? And then two becomes three—"it's only one more scene." Three becomes four, and before you know it, you are involved in media crawling with sin and demonic activity! How many scenes does a show need to have before it's wrong? And where's the Scripture for that position?

Scripturally speaking, we are told not to set wicked things before our eyes (Psalm 101:3). That is a command that gives us the answer. It says, "I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes" (emphasis and underline mine).

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11)

Once more, it says to have no fellowship with the works of darkness. Does it say, "If it's just one scene," or "If it's just a little of the works of darkness"? No, it says we are to have fellowship with none of it—zero, zip, zilch, nada.

"Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thine house, lest thou be a cursed thing like it: but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a cursed thing." (Deuteronomy 7:26)

When God tells the Israelites they are not to bring an abomination into their houses, does He say "only if it affects you"? Or does He state that, as long as it's just a minor detail, it doesn't matter? That's not what the LORD says at all. Those evil things should be abhorred, hated, and detested. We should have nothing to do with it!

When a person compromises by saying a show is still fine, despite the "one sinful scene," it's like climbing a snow-covered hill, sitting in a sled, and expecting not to glide down.

 

"But I just skip those scenes," I can hear people saying. Does that make it okay to consume such media? The LORD commands Christians to be so set apart that no one can see them and even think they are violating the Scriptures. When you engage with (e.g., watch, talk about) anime that has bad things in it, no matter how much or how little, you are now giving off the appearance of evil. In 2 Corinthians 6:17, it says not to even touch the unclean things—have absolutely nothing to do with it! "Oh, but I skip the bad parts;" have nothing to do with it!