You will never have authority over the things that you're entertained by. If a show, book, or series feeds your flesh more than your spirit, it doesn't matter how popular it is. The question isn't whether you're "allowed" to watch it. The question is whether it's building you into the person God is calling you to be.
Why This Conversation Matters More Than Ever
Every summer there's a new show that dominates the algorithm. Love Island. Euphoria. Whatever comes next. And every time, the same debate surfaces in Christian circles: is it okay to watch? The shows change, but the question underneath stays the same. What should Christians be consuming, and where is the line between cultural engagement and spiritual compromise?
Here's the tension most people won't admit: sex scenes in mainstream media function as a gateway to pornography. Not because watching one scene instantly creates an addiction, but because it trains your brain to seek out sexual content for entertainment. You're building a neural pathway that says, "When I'm bored, tired, or lonely, I turn to sexual content to feel something." Whether that content comes from Netflix or an adult website, the mechanism is the same.
What Does the Bible Say About What We Watch?
Jesus made one of the most unpopular statements in history when He said, "Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:28). That's not about legalism. It's about the reality that what you give your attention to shapes who you become. Romans 8:6 says, "To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace." Philippians 4:8 says to think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.
None of those verses say "you can't watch TV." But they do establish a framework: what you feed grows, and what you starve dies. If your media diet is heavy on sexual content, violence, and escapism, your spiritual appetite will shrink. If it's heavy on truth, beauty, and things that honor God, your capacity for the Spirit's voice grows. It's not a rule. It's a principle that works whether you believe in it or not.
How Do You Decide What to Watch and What to Skip?
Ask yourself: "How would I feel if Jesus was sitting next to me right now?" That's not about guilt. It's about awareness. Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). You don't get to invite Jesus into some rooms of your life and lock Him out of others.
There's a lens from Lisa Bevere that reframes everything: "You will never have authority over the things that you're entertained by." If you want authority over lust, you can't be entertained by sexual content. If you want authority over gossip, you can't feed on drama. It applies to books too. A Court of Thorns and Roses might not be "porn," but if it's feeding a fantasy life that pulls your heart away from purity, it's functioning the same way.
What's the Difference Between Engagement and Escapism?
Not all media consumption is equal. There's a difference between watching something as a form of cultural engagement and watching something as a form of escape. Engagement is being present, aware, and discerning about what you're taking in. Escapism is turning to media to numb pain, avoid loneliness, or fill an emotional void that only God can fill.
Ask yourself: am I watching this because I'm genuinely enjoying a story, or am I watching this because something inside me hurts and I need a distraction? If it's the second, the show isn't the problem. The unmet need is. And no amount of binge-watching will address it. You'll just keep coming back for another dose.
Is Watching Sex Scenes the Same as Watching Porn?
It's not identical, but the neural pathway is the same. When you watch sexually explicit content, whether it's on HBO or an adult website, your brain releases dopamine. Over time, your brain starts associating sexual imagery with pleasure and relief. That's the definition of a craving cycle. The packaging doesn't matter. A sex scene in a prestige drama is still training your brain to seek sexual stimulation through a screen.
1 Corinthians 10:23 says, "I have the right to do anything, but not everything is beneficial. I have the right to do anything, but not everything is constructive." You might have the liberty to watch it. But is it building you into the person you want to be? Is it moving you toward wholeness or away from it?
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Related Reading
- How to Break a Media Addiction That's Fueling Lust
- What to Do When You Find Out Your Partner Watches Porn
- Why Do I Keep Falling Into the Same Sin? Breaking the Cycle
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it a sin to watch shows with sex scenes?
The Bible doesn't list specific TV shows to avoid, but it does give clear principles. Jesus said lusting in your heart is the same as committing adultery (Matthew 5:28). Philippians 4:8 calls us to set our minds on what is pure, noble, and praiseworthy. If a show's sex scenes are feeding lust or building cravings for sexual content, it's working against your spiritual health, whether or not it fits a technical definition of "sin."
Where is the line between enjoying entertainment and feeding lust?
Conviction is personal, and the Holy Spirit will guide you if you let Him. But a practical test is this: are you watching for the story or for the sexual content? Do you fast-forward through sex scenes or lean into them? And honestly, after you watch, do you feel more drawn to God or more drawn to your flesh? Your answer tells you where you are.
How do I stop watching shows that I know aren't good for me?
Start by being honest about what you're getting from it. If it's escape, address the pain underneath. If it's habit, replace it with something that feeds your spirit. You don't have to white-knuckle your way through this. Ask God to change your appetite, get accountability, and start feeding the part of you that's hungry for more of Him. What you feed grows. What you starve dies.
