More Than a Conscience
In the second chapter of Reading Between the Lines, Veith addresses how pornography is also obscenity. He states that “[p]ublic sex is obscene, not because sex is evil but because sex is sacred” (37). Several pages later, he goes on to say that “[p]rofane is the opposite of sacred” and that “profanity violates what is holy” (39). For this reason, I would go so far as to argue that pornography is not just obscene, but also profane. The aesthetic beauty of a text is cheapened when pornography is inserted not merely because it perverts the reader’s pleasure of the art to become sexual pleasure, but also because the very desecration of sex cheapens the beauty of this gift that God meant for a husband and his wife to share in celebration of their love for one another as a reflection of His love for His Bride. It is therefore that much more important to recognize that Christians who read or write under the authority of the Holy Spirit are not only violating the aesthetic value of a text when they indulge in pornography, but are also sinning against God Himself.
As born again believers, we are assured that the Holy Spirit dwells within us and resides in our hearts. Veith alludes to this concept when he writes that “[a]s long as we wince at profanity, it is probably not hurting us” (41). However, while it is easy for believers to wince at the things which are obviously profane such as using God’s name in vain, we have to be much more conscientious and aware of His presence when it comes to material that have the potential of crossing the lines from beautiful to perverted. When it comes to profane language, the distinction is clear. It grates at the spirit, it is repulsive, and it is easily forgotten. However, because of the fine line that separates sweet love that is appropriate for us to share in and enjoy in contrast to acts of love that we should not be spectators of, profanity in the form of pornography is that much more dangerous. It is enticing, it sticks in our memories, and if we are not tuned in with the Holy Spirit or if we shut out His warning signals, we could easily fall into temptation and, before we know it, addiction.
As Christian readers therefore, we have a privilege that non-believers do not. While every human being has a conscience, we have the Holy Spirit. When we read under His authority, He is our filter, and we cannot afford to ignore Him – we must in fact depend on Him. He created beauty, and is therefore the best judge for what is beautiful and what is not. When a reverent kiss exchanged between a groom and his bride at the altar during their wedding brings me to tears, I recognize such a display of love as beautiful and not wrong for me to share and be joyful with them. However, if the scene advances to the bedroom and my ears begin to get hot, that is because the Holy Spirit is reminding me that such intimacy was created only for that man and his wife. My rightful response then would be to set the book down or skip ahead. For me to read, imagine, or watch such a scene would be an intrusion on something sacred. It would a violation of something beautiful and holy. It would be profanity, and I would be sinning against God not only because I did not heed His prompting, but also because I would be guilty of desecration.
Work Cited
Veith Gene Edward Jr. Reading Between the Lines: A Christian Guide to Literature. Illinois: Crossway Books, 1990. Print.