Part 7: Today's Problems and Questions
Pornography must never be confused with works of art. The purposes of the two are worlds apart. Art is usually intended to glorify the creations of God. But the purpose of pornography is only to arouse man’s lusts and make a profit for the seller.
In a court where a pornographer was being tried, his attorney asked a witness if he had ever paid to enter a museum where nude paintings by great artists could be seen.
“Yes,”
the witness nodded
“If
you pay to see nudes in a gallery why is it wrong to buy what you call
pornography?” The attorney roared.
The
witness answered, “Tell me sir is there no difference between a fine filet
cooked by a master chef and a pot of road kill boiled by a homeless bum at the
side of the railroad tracks?”
It makes no difference if the pornographers’ versions are of outstanding art or are shoddy. Their object is to entice the lusts of buyers. It is suggested here that the Christian shun nudity even in fine art. In this way lustful thoughts that might result will be avoided.
A somewhat humorous incident is said to have occurred when the famous artist, Michelangelo, was a student. His instructor asked him why he painted nudes. Michelangelo replied that he wanted to see people as God sees them. His instructor then said, “But you are not God.”
Those who would separate religious beliefs and righteousness from human behavior seek to place every thought and emotion at the lowest possible level. One of them put it this way, “That cold, sweet glass of milk you just drank is no different from all other excrements of a cow.” This is an obviously erroneous equation. Pornography lowers human morals by equating the “cow’s milk’ to the wastes of the cow.
The Apostle Paul writes in Philippians, Chapter 4, Verses 8 and 9: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
The Bible, the Word of God, leads us to higher thoughts and actions. Pornography does just the opposite. It does more than to just entertain; it cheapens the readers’ thoughts and lowers the standards of mankind. This leads to increased incest, rape, adultery and violence.