WWJD with Porn? - Part 1

Well, nothing because photography was not yet invented.

Are you sure?

The word “Pornography” comes from the Greek word “pornographos” and originated well before Jesus. So Jesus was tempted by pornography and by those who sold themselves for sex. So What Would Jesus Do when faced with such temptation?

Check out this account in Luke chapter 7. Here it tells of Jesus having an encounter with a woman with a “reputation.”

It happened at a dinner party with a prominent religious leader named Simon. While Jesus is chilling at the table, “a woman in that town who lived a sinful life” came into the house and dropped down behind Jesus and started weeping. As her tears dropped on Jesus’ bare feet, she wiped them with her hair. Then she kissed his feet and poured an exquisite perfume on them.

Well, “When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

Personally, I’m wondering how many reclining around that table were her clients. Just saying.

Back to the story, whether Jesus overhead his muttering or the Spirit prompted him,

Jesus spoke, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him $120,000, and the other $12,000. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7)

Now I understand that this woman was not propositioning Jesus in the “Red Light” district and thus it is not an obvious answer to WWJD when tempted with pornography.

But as I started unpacking this story, I realized that it would take a few articles to address this issue. So in this one, I’ll be focusing on just one aspect of pornography.

Pornography is about stripping away the humanity of another so that one, without guilt, may use them as objects for their gratification.

To put it coarsely, fantasizing about a nameless body typically stirs much less guilt than fantasizing about a cousin or schoolmate.

(If there is no difference on the guilt meter, please ask God to break the hardness of your heart.)

What Jesus did in this encounter was typical of Him – He saw people who were struggling with life and often trapped in their mistakes.

Here was a woman who, for any number of reasons, had started selling herself for the sexual pleasure of others. And because of the prejudice of others, was trapped. No longer could she hope to be a respected wife. Sure, being a whore was profitable. Where else would she have gotten the money for an exquisite perfume? But amidst all her financial success, her heart was convicting her that before God and man, she was a sinner, one who deserved the condemnation she was receiving from those around her. This brought about a repentance expressed in tears and pouring out a very costly treasure.

And Jesus spoke the words of freedom, “Your sins are forgiven.”

So when you are tempted by pornography or just enjoying the beach on a warm sunny day, do what Jesus would do and look beyond the skin to see the person. Consider that they are a person like you with weaknesses and failures. This person may feel trapped by their choices. They may feel unseen, used, or even violated by others. They are doing what they can to fill the void within. Consider that they are someone’s daughter or son or perhaps a parent endeavoring to give their children a better life. See them as people.

And then ask the Spirit for what they need and pray for them.

Call To Action:

Choose one person who you may not see as a person and make an effort to bless them today.