Do I Cause SCANDAL?

This is a homily based on today's gospel reading.

He said to his disciples, “Things that cause sin will inevitably occur, but woe to the person through whom they occur. It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin. 

- Luke 17:1-2

Encouraging sin and contributing to it willingly is the sin of scandal.

Scandal is the reason sex scenes are grave sins in writing or visual media--they invite lust, a mortal sin. The state of the characters' relationships doesn't matter--married or not--because it invites lustful feelings in the audience. The same goes for foul, lewd, and vulgar language and dressing immodestly, by women and men. And on and on.

We must be prudent about our behavior and words. The word "prude" comes from prudent, which is basically to be wise and careful. There's a reason the word "prude" has become a slur--because demons don't want you to be wise and careful, which are gifts of the Holy Spirit. "Do whatever feels good" is what Satan uses to destroy souls.

This is why I pray for all writers, actors, and anyone else involved in producing entertainment including sex scenes or even the foreplay, and a list of other number of sins darkening modern entertainment. I don't engage in it anymore and my life is far more peaceful--because I've repented, confessed it, and avoid it and the demons it invites into one's life.

Romance books may sell well, but demons are pushing that. They love it when you lust, because it separates you from God, so they encourage it and make it desirable, even if it's so-called "Christian" romance including sex scenes. Demons love to twist things to make you think you can have your cake and eat it too, but they LIE. To love God is to follow His law and resist temptations of this world.

Obeying God is difficult; it takes an act of the will. However, it doesn't mean to avoid entertainment. It just means to avoid those things that scandalize, whether consuming or producing content. The more you give into sin, the easier it is; the more you seek to align your will with God's, the easier that becomes yet it's not as easy as it is to sin. Demons will always try to make it difficult to do what is right by God. They're like toddlers--always pestering--while God allows free will and never imposes Himself; you're free to love him by doing all you can for Him or not. It sometimes takes an immense act of will to resist, and the battle will continue until death. This whole life is a struggle, a test to prove our true love for God and how deserving we are of eternity with Him.

Love is not a feeling, but lust is. Love is willing the good of another, no matter what you may have to sacrifice--Jesus, the word of God made flesh, loved us so much that he became human just to suffer and die as the final offering (the spotless Lamb of God) so that we could know salvation and reunite with God, our creator. He showed us how to love and love greatly, no matter the cost.

We should never cause scandal in our words or deeds--these only add to the suffering of Christ in His passion. Never take God's mercy for granted.

So decide who you serve while producing your content or consuming it and what you want for your soul and the souls of others.