A Historical Perspective
The X rating of pornographic movies was introduced in 1968.
Back in the 1960s, pornographic movies (films) were mailed to home addresses in unmarked packages because it was unlawful to possess such materials and, therefore, unlawful to use the USPS to ship such materials.
How did pornography become lawful? It was not by an Act of Congress but by a Supreme Court decision. I quote from Wikipedia: Legal objections to pornography in the United States:
“In 1967, Denmark decriminalized pornography, and the following year, the United States Supreme Court held that people could view whatever they wished in the privacy of their own homes. These two developments contributed in part to Congress creating the President’s Commission on Obscenity and Pornography in 1968 to investigate the effects of obscenity and pornography on the people of the United States. Each member of the Commission was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson. In what became the most detailed and comprehensive investigation into pornography to date, the Commission in its final report found that pornography could not be shown to do harm to individuals or to society, and recommended the repeal of obscenity and pornography legislation as it related to adults. Released during the presidency of Richard Nixon, the report generated a brief bout of controversy but was ultimately ignored by the administration.” Posthumus kudos to President Richard Nixon.
Was the New Testament book of Jude written for the ancient Jews or for 21st-century believers?
Who was Jude? He was one of Jesus’ four brothers of the same mother; Jacob, Joseph, Simon, and Judah (Jude). Jude was not one of Jesus’ famous disciples before his crucifixion; he became a believer afterward. To kick-start this Bible study, view this brief video, an overview of the Book of Jude (less than 8 minutes).
Verses 3 through 4 explain Jude’s purpose for writing. I quote from BibleGateway.com, Jude 1:3-4:
“Beloved, while I diligently tried to write to you of the salvation we have in common, I found it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints. For there are some men who secretly crept in, who were marked long ago for this condemnation. They are ungodly men, who pervert the grace of our God into immorality and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.“
Focus: “who pervert the grace of our God into immorality and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.“
The King James version says, “turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.” The WordRefence dictionary defines lasciviousness:
- inclined to lustfulness; wanton; lewd: lascivious, girl-chasing old man.
- arousing sexual desire: lascivious photographs.
- indicating sexual interest or expressive of lust or lewdness: a lascivious gesture.
The Amplified Bible paraphrases the text: “for they distort the grace of our God into decadence and immoral freedom [viewing it as an opportunity to do whatever they want], and deny and disown our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.“
Again, the WordReference dictionary defines decadence:
- the act or process of falling into an inferior condition or state; deterioration; decay: Some historians hold that the fall of Rome can be attributed to internal decadence.
- moral degeneration or decay; turpitude.
- unrestrained or excessive self-indulgence.
Freedom of Speech?
The producers of pornography successfully argued for the legalization of porn as a matter of First Amendment free speech. The reason our Founding Fathers incorporated the Bill of Rights, Amendments I through X, was to safeguard our citizens from government tyranny. Yes, the Bill of Rights was ratified to protect us from our government, not to license pornography and profanity.
The problem for Supreme Court justices to decide what is and what is not obscene was humorously (sadly) illustrated by Former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Potter Stewart, who remarked, “I shall not today attempt further to define the kinds of [pornographic] material, but I know it when I see it.” Potter Stewart. (n.d.). AZQuotes.com. Retrieved May 12, 2024, from AZQuotes.com Web site: https://www.azquotes.com/quote/1432328
Always, when government officials in high positions overstep the boundaries of their authority, outcomes are calamitous. The U.S. Constitution does not assign the power of censorship to the federal government, as per Article I, Section 8, the enumerated powers. Amendment X reserves this power to the states and to the people because the Constitution does not deny the states from such authority.
Who has authority over pornography and related matters?
I point you to the Gifts of the Spirit described and explained in 2 Peter 1:3-9.
3 His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who has called us by His own glory and excellence, 4 by which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that through these things you might become partakers of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 For this reason make every effort to add virtue to your faith; and to your virtue, knowledge; 6 and to your knowledge, self-control; and to your self-control, patient endurance; and to your patient endurance, godliness; 7 and to your godliness, brotherly kindness; and to your brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if these things reside in you and abound, they ensure that you will neither be useless nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 But the one who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted because he has forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
My Spanish Bible states the English phrase self-control as dominio propio, self-rule, self-domain.
2 Peter 1:3-9 MEV describes our divine call and election. 2 Timothy 2:22 instructs us, believers in Jesus Christ, to “flee youthful desires [lust].”
Action
Believers in Jesus Christ enjoy the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit. We have the power to turn from seduction to wicked behavior. How so?
Look to Philippians 4:8. “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think on these things.”
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 