Tragically many Evangelical, Pentecostal and Charismatic churchgoing parents in Australia allow their young children to watch sleazy soap operas or “soapies” produced in Australia or the United States. Because of foolish censorship laws in Australia, these shows are often shown between 6:00 to 9:30pm at night when many children watch television. These shows are not hard-core pornography. But some of them are soft-core pornography. The mildest of these shows contain periodic small doses of sleazy immorality justified as supposed “love” between teenagers.

In 1995, I visited a particular house on consecutive weeks and saw children of between 7 and 11 watching the below sorts of things on two of these shows which are on around about news time:

 

·           A young teenage guy and girl were saying they had had sex without a condom.

·           A young teenage couple were alone together kissing and had a packet of condoms ready. The boy had his shirt off when they were interrupted by adults.

·           A young school girl took her boyfriend to her bedroom. Then she lay back and pulled the guy on top of her. The young boy then left. The girl’s “groovy” stepmother later told the girl she had done nothing wrong throwing herself at her boyfriend. The girl also discussed with a school-age friend why the boy did not want sex. The friend said maybe he did not like doing it at someone else’s place.

Then later the girl and her boyfriend discussed at the beach why he did not want to have sex with her. The boy said the reason he could not have sex with her was because he was afraid she would die. His previous girlfriend whom he had sex with had died. As a fitting conclusion to this “devoted love” between these “faithful” teenage lovers, the two later broke off their relationship.

 

The above is only a small sample of watching two of these milder sleazy soapies a few times. Imagine what other demon-inspired evil I would have seen if I had watched them every week for years like many compromising Christians do! For example, in the year 2000, I saw a television advertisement for one of these sleazy soapies for teenagers in which a young single girl began to have a “love” affair with a married man.

Tragically, many churchgoers today know far more about the soapie characters than they do about Moses, Daniel, Elijah and other godly Bible characters.

Having years ago taught at a Christian school and having spoken to teachers from other Pentecostal or Evangelical schools, I know that a large percentage of Evangelical and Pentecostal parents allow their children to watch such garbage regularly. Such parents need to reconsider the warnings by Jesus found in Matthew 18:6-7.

Matthew 18:6-7 says: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe to the world because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom the offense comes!” In Luke 17:1-3, Jesus gave similar warnings.

Parents have God-given ownership of their television. So if they allow their children to have seeds of immorality sown into them by letting them watch such sleazy soapies, the parents will be held accountable by God. If you have done this in the past, you must confess your sin, turn from it totally and receive God’s forgiveness.

 

Relevant Bible verses

 

In Romans 6:13, Paul told us not to present the members of our bodies as instruments of unrighteousness or what is wrong: “And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.” In the original Greek, the word “members” is “melos” which means “a limb, any part of the body”. [1] Our eyes and ears are two parts or members of our bodies. So those who use their eyes and ears to watch and listen to sleazy soapies are disobeying Romans 6:13.

The consciences of many Christians have been seared about such matters so often, they do not operate properly anymore. 1 Timothy 4:2 speaks of religious people who have seared consciences: “…having their own conscience seared with a hot iron.”

If a television show or movie is known or advertised as including nude scenes, it is sinful for a Christian to watch such things. This is because of God’s teaching through Paul in 1 Corinthians 12:23: “And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty”. God’s will is for our unpresentable parts – our sexual organs – to be treated with special modesty. The words “greater modesty” refer to being covered up properly. Note after Adam and Eve fell into sin, God graciously made coverings for them as Genesis 3:21 states.

Tragically, too many modern churchgoers have little concern about Paul’s warning in Ephesians 5:3-7: “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.”

In his “Bible Background Commentary – New Testament”, Craig Keener says the following about Ephesians 5:3-6: “Premarital and other immoral sex, insolent speech and sexual humour were as common in ancient pagan society as they are today. Paul did not water down God’s standards to accommodate the culture; instead he warned that those who engaged in this lifestyle would not be among God’s people in the world to come.” [2]