So, you have been watching porn, but feeling a few pricks in your conscience since watching the https://brainheartworld.org/ documentary series and discovering that a lot of the women in pornographic videos aren’t actually the willing participants they appear to be. Many are literally slaves or have been forced to work in the industry due to circumstances beyond their control.
Just as you are thinking that you really should give up watching pornography once and for all, so as not to be a participant in such terrible practices, you hear about ‘ethical porn’. One description of ethical porn is:
Ethical porn (sometimes called feminist porn or fair trade porn) is pornography that is made consensually, treats performers with respect, and pays performers and filmmakers fairly for their work. There is a mutual understanding among everyone on the film set—everyone knows and feels comfortable with what’s happening.
Maybe if everybody being filmed is perfectly comfortable, and has agreed to what is happening, then it is ok to watch it? Think again!
What might be ‘ethical’ from the world’s point of view isn’t necessarily ‘ethical’ from a disciple of Christ’s point of view. Remember what Christ said on the mount?
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart
Matthew 5:28 NIV
It is impossible to look at pornographic images and not have your lusts excited. In fact, let’s state the obvious, the one and only reason you look at pornography is to excite your lusts! So in God’s eyes, we are either committing adultery or fornication in our hearts every time we do so, whether the people on the screen are willing participants or not.
Paul has the following to say:
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality …
Galatians 5:19 ESV
Here in Galatians, he lists sexual immorality and sensuality as works of the flesh and in Romans 8 he also tells us that “they that are in the flesh cannot please God”.
It simply isn’t possible to view pornography that isn’t sexually immoral and therefore a sin, regardless of how ‘ethical’ the makers may claim it to be. Either the parties involved are not married and therefore committing fornication, and in watching and taking pleasure from it you are a participant in their sin. Or, if they are married then you are looking lustfully at another person’s partner and so committing adultery with them in your heart.
Don’t deceive yourself. From the perspective of a disciple of Christ there is no such thing as ‘ethical’ pornography,
Get Off the Roof! 