I read a blog the other day - a very good blog - and it pitched a very beautiful understanding in why women, especially young women, might be attracted to see 50 Shades of Grey and it shed light on our desires and how it truly aligns with God's desires.
However it bothered me when she seemed to pitch those people who decried the movie as "sin!" or "pornography!" or "abuse!" as being "holier than thou." Maybe some see those who decry the sins of our culture in such a way as so, maybe others who do so even figure themselves to be the "righteous Pharisees."
However, I disagree with the assumption that just because someone asserts something as sin, especially who makes themselves more vocal against the sins of our culture, as someone who thinks they're "holier than thou." I think that's presumptuous. We can't attach the action of "crying out" against dehumanizing sins to a person as acting out of self-righteousness...but our culture loves to do that so we don't forcefully battle against the sins of our time.
On Speaking Out Against the Sins of our Culture
If we are zealous for God, we will be zealous for souls. We will burn with the desire for others to know and love the Lord. We would be willing to suffer if that's the price we had to pay for others to come to know the love of God.
This is the constant reoccuring theme in all the various diaries of the saints: Suffering love for the salvation of souls and the love of God.
This is so foreign to our culture, even to the Church within because such zealous love that we see imitated in the saints is not often shared. Yet this is the stuff of saints.
It is only just and a Christian duty to decry demoralizing actions as sin - not because one thinks they're better than others, but because one is deeply aware that God made us for more.
I say to you, do not ever be afraid to assert something as sin if you well know it is. If you are afraid people will read you wrongly and assume you carry a "holier than thou" attitude by doing such, cast such fears aside and be concerned only about pleasing God over men, as St. Paul preaches: "But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the gospel, that is how we speak, not as trying to please human beings, but rather God, who judges our hearts" (1 Thes 2:4) If people assume you to be so - "holier than thou" - then so be it. Lay down your pride and your desire to be esteemed by people and open yourself up to the fire of humiliation so that you will always remember who you are before God, not before others. Speak up and do not be afraid of the opinions and assumptions of others for you will have done your duty before God out of love for your fellow brethren.
Love is the fulfillment of God's commands, and love is the fulfillment of our Christian duties.
Speak up against the sins of our culture and time. Speak up to family, to friends, to co-workers, to strangers you encounter in the store - wherever the Lord puts that on your heart. Each opportunity God invites you to is met with its own circumstances, so we must pray to be lead by the Holy Spirit in those situations and listen to how He is calling us to move and react. Each way is different from another.
Never fear any worldly losses for Christ is gain, as the Scriptures remind us. We may lose all but we will have all if we have Christ.
Sometimes, just like Christ, there may be a price we have to pay for speaking the Gospel and admonishing against sin (which is one of the spiritual works of mercy - see Acts 8:35-39; Acts 2:40, 41; James 5:19-20). We may lose that friend, our family may not want to speak to us, we may rub someone the wrong way...and that is ok. Not everyone has to like us. This is hard for us to accept - rejection. But is this not imitating Christ? Christ was rejected by many. Perhaps that loss for us will be the price we have to pay to show God we are willing to suffer and give up anything to be faithful to Him and to lead others to Him. Perhaps that will be the price we have to pay - to lose that friend, lose the esteem that others had of us - in order for Christ to take action by using our sacrifices we made for love of Him. We have to remember to offer our pains and losses to Christ, and know that they do not go in vain and that our eternal reward is in heaven as we hope and long for others to share in that reward.
True discipleship is willing to endure suffering and endure the sacrifices God calls one to make for the love of Him and the salvation of souls.
Remember, it is only just and a Christian duty to decry demoralizing actions as sin - not because one thinks they're better than others, but because one is deeply aware that God made us for more.
We speak out, not being afraid, but also remembering our weaknesses and that we ourselves are sinners with wounds too. "Were not for the grace of God, there go I!" and that "by the grace of God, I am what I am" (1 Cor 15:10). We must walk humbly with others out of compassion, but passionately and zealously decry those sins of our culture which cheat these same souls of sharing in the great dignity God made them in, and prevent them from partaking in the glory and love of God!