One of our nation’s leading Christian publishers conducted a survey asking respondents to name the most influential book they had read in the past year. A startling number of women – Christian women – said “Fifty Shades of Grey” was their favorite book of the year.
Why is that so noteworthy?
Because the “Fifty Shades of Grey” books are a written form of pornography, plain and simple. It’s a book series that’s become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon, having sold more than 100 million copies in just a few short years.
The demand has been so intense a feature film is set to be released on Valentine’s Day weekend and talk of it has flooded mainstream entertainment news shows.
There are reports that sex scenes comprise one-fifth of the film.
Of course, it would be easy to simply slap a label on the material and dismiss it out-of-hand.
But there’s a deeper issue we’d be missing.
How and why has pornography ensnared so many women, including Christian women?
The truth is, underneath the use of pornography and carrying out the harmful sex practices promoted by “Fifty Shades,” are valid human emotions and needs longing to be met.
The challenge for men and women alike is to discover a healthy and holy fulfillment for those God-given desires.
I’m reminded of the woman in Scripture who was judged by others and so full of shame she went to the well alone in the heat of the day to draw water. And who shows up, but Jesus. He extended her grace, broke through all the lies she told herself, and rescued her heart.
And that’s what today’s program, “Exposing the Lure of Romance and Erotica,” is all about: rescuing the female heart. Joining us today are Dr. Juli Slattery and Dannah Gresh who have written a book together called “Pulling Back the Shades: Erotica, Intimacy and the Longings of a Woman’s Heart.”
Whether it’s the “Fifty Shades” series that has drawn some in, an affair someone doesn’t know how to get out of, or some other escape they’re using to hide from their pain, this conversation is for all those looking for help. It isn’t about judgment or heaping shame on anyone. It’s about helping those who feel trapped break away from the false intimacies that are leading them down a dangerous path.
I know this isn’t an easy topic for many people. But I believe it’s the exact discussion we need to have in the Christian community. This two-day program isn’t graphic, but it’s still not suitable for younger children, so please use your discretion. Tune in and listen on your local radio station, online or via our free, downloadable mobile phone app.
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