Sometime ago I was listening to a radio station as they advertised for a video rental establishment in a nearby town. Expounding upon the wide selection of viewing material available they listed films for the entire family -- drama, comedies, horror pictures -- as well as films for the more "mature." Both you and I know what they mean by "mature' films. It has become the euphemism for "pornography" and "smut."

     Speaking for myself (and hopefully all of you), I resent the use of the term "mature" in such a context. I like to think of myself as mature but may God forbid that I should ever be enslaved to such ungodly entertainment. I don't want my children to grow up thinking that "mature" people watch such trash. If the world insists upon promoting such filth, why don't they call it what it really is and stop trying to deceive by using a good term to describe something so godless?

     Paul wrote in Eph. 4:11-13, "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ." Somehow I find it hard to believe that Paul's concept of the "mature" man was one who spent his Saturday nights watching porn.

     To say the least, there are different types of maturity: physical, emotional, spiritual, and even sexual. Though one may be "mature" in one area in no way proves he has reached that stage in others. No type of maturity, however, should be thought to include video garbage and sexual promiscuity! The watching and reading of such material can only result in the destruction of one's spirituality. A few passages and their implications are in order.

     "You have heard it was said, 'you shall not commit adultery'; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart" (Matt. 5:27,28). Is it not true that such movies are designed to create lust? Lust is sin!

     "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things" (Phil. 4:8). How can one follow Paul's encouragement and, at the same time, permit in his home such ungodly films of the type mentioned?

     My beloved, do not let down your guard! Satan is doing a good job destroying the moral fabric of our society a step at a time. We must keep our homes as fortresses of purity and chastity against every form of ungodliness. Remember, "Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge" (Heb. 13:4).

     My hope and prayer is that someday all of my children will truly be "mature" in every area of life. But may God deliver them from the world's standard of "maturity." Think on these things.