50 Shades of Compromise

I heard on the radio last week that Spem in Alium, a piece of music by Thomas Tallis, had unexpectedly appeared at no. 7 in the classical-music chart. Unexpected because these days those charts tend to be topped by compilations or well-known artists (or both, eg: André Rieu, an Austrian violinist/conductor with Willy-Wonka hair). So why has Tallis suddenly popped up there? Because the music is referred to in the book 50 Shades of Grey.

Later that day, a neighbour started talking about this same book. She heard it was rubbish, so wasn’t going to waste her money on it. But before I could rejoice in a non-Christian having a moral objection to something that’s basically degrading porn, she told me she’d borrow it from her sister-in-law instead.

50 Shades of Grey is the fastest-selling printed book to sell a million copies, and has sold even more for the Kindle. It’s being referred to as “mummy porn” – erotic books aimed primarily at women. The reviews say it’s very badly written, though that clearly hasn’t affected sales. This isn’t porn relegated to the top shelf in a newsagent. It’s mainstream – even our libraries are having to order extra copies.

I don’t know how you respond to this. One of the things that struck me is the increasing ease with which porn can be accessed without anyone knowing. It’s online, on TV, in magazines, and now considered mainstream reading. And all of those make it harder for Christians to live pure lives for our Lord. I’m reminded of a youth leader I worked with nearly 30 years ago. He defended his decision to go and see the latest “X”-rated movie (it would now be an “18”) on the basis that members of the youth group would watch it and so he needed to be up-to-date with what they were watching so that he could relate to them. If that argument was valid, we’d all have to read 50 Shades as quickly as possible (though it strikes me that the Lord Jesus didn’t need to experience sin in order to understand and relate to sinners).

I’m aware this topic may make some of you uncomfortable. Maybe you’ve already read this series of books, or downloaded porn in the last month, or slept with someone you’re not married to. If that’s you, please can I encourage you to do something about it? These days it’s so easy to keep our actions hidden – after all, no one knows what you’re reading on your Kindle. So can I encourage you to pray honestly about this, asking the Lord to show you how He wants you to live. Then talk to an older Christian you trust – if they’ve been a Christian for some years, and know their Bible, they almost certainly won’t be shocked – and ask their help to set up some kind of accountability system where they, or someone they suggest, asks you regularly how you’re getting on with living a holy lifestyle.

And this doesn’t just apply to porn. Maybe that’s not a problem for you, but you struggle with gossip, or resentment, or laziness, or being scrupulously honest with expenses, or…

“For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly” (Mark 7v21-22).

We’re all in there somewhere!

And if none of the above applies to you at the moment, then thank God for that. Then please pray for those for whom it does; and pray for your leaders, that they won’t fall into sin; and for yourself, that you will be protected, too.