50 Shades of Grey is Not The Main Issue

As most people have heard, there is a movie that is gaining extreme popularity within our culture and even within Christian circles. Our culture is praising it and Christians are hating it. Now, before I go any further into the post, let me make myself clear that I obviously don’t support this movie, but this movie isn’t the main issue at the end of the day.

We (myself included) are often guilty of picking battles and fighting wars with our culture that put the main emphasis on the topic, which isn’t going to get us anywhere. Whether it’s something like yoga pants or a movie, why are we surprised when people who don’t follow Jesus…..don’t follow Jesus? EVEN WE still have a hard time following Jesus so when our culture is anti-God, why are we shocked?

Don’t get me wrong, should you support a movie like this? No. Does it go against God? Yes. Does it show what sex is really about? Absolutely not. Does it lead others down a dangerous and unfulfilling path? Yes. Should you encourage others to avoid things like this? Yes.

I just want to encourage you to be smart about how you talk about these things with others, especially people who don’t follow Jesus. There’s always opportunities to make much of Christ and these moments are no different…in fact…they are great opportunities and God is not shocked by what’s going on.

The Problem With Fighting The Topics

We have to be careful in spending too much time fighting the topics, and not addressing the root of the issue. The problem with only addressing the topics is that it becomes more like laying down the law, which is not what Christianity is all about.

Here’s an example, let’s say all we do is fight about whether or not to see a movie. People have their opinions, we go back and forth about it, some say the movie is bad…some say it’s good…and we express that “law” says don’t go see it or you’re not a Christian (something like that…this is just an example). Well, here’s what happens, someone will say to themselves something like, “At least I won’t go see that movie so I must be doing something right” as they go home to sleep with their girlfriend or boyfriend. See the problem there?

When we only focus on the topic at hand (and yes, we should still discuss them), we miss the main issue and people will just move on to whatever the next topic is. It’s a vicious cycle that is never truly addressed until you get down to the root.

Culture Will Always Raise The Ante

If you’ve noticed, our culture keeps raising the bar. Think about how the world was 50 years ago vs today and which way do you think we are progressing? We shouldn’t be shocked by this and the Bible actually teaches us this is the way things will happen before Jesus returns.

Why does culture have to raise the ante? Why do people do the same? I’m convinced people do this because they don’t know where else to go and who else to turn to. If they can’t “have fun” and “raise the bar” to find satisfaction, it would be a pretty depressing life because they would have no purpose in life. I know this personally because I used to do the same thing and still fail at times.

Without Jesus, it’s hard for someone to really know why they are here in the first place.

If I couldn’t look forward to the next party, the next drug, the next girlfriend, or whatever the next opportunity was, then life was depressing. I had no purpose in life at the end of the day, but I would never admit it because I always had “the next thing” to look forward to. Without Jesus, it’s hard for someone to really know why they are here in the first place.

That’s the beauty of the cross. That’s the beauty of Jesus. That’s the beauty of Him saying, “It Is Finished.”

Jesus Is The Main Issue

Topics aren’t the main issue. Movies aren’t the main issue. Living a great life isn’t the main issue.

Jesus is the main issue.

• Jesus provides life.
• Jesus provides purpose.
• Jesus provides satisfaction.

When we realize what Jesus really did for us and how we can have salvation through Him and Him alone, that is the moment we realize that He is everything and nothing on this earth will ever satisfy us. We don’t always have to look forward to “the next thing” because we have already found the ultimate thing.

As our culture continues to engage in godless things, we have the opportunity to engage the culture with the one true God. We can help point people to Christ and teach them that Jesus is so much better than things like trying to get attention or living in a fantasy world.

We get the opportunities to do this every time something like this comes up, so let’s not waste the moment on fighting over trivial things, but redeem the moment by sharing the Good News.

Mike Mobley

Follower of Christ, Husband to Joelle, Father to Peyton & Matthew, Finance & Operations Pastor at 121 Community Church, SAG-AFTRA Actor, Founder of Before The Cross, Owner of MMWCS, and Podcast Host for the Not Quite There Show.

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