Philosophy on Objectionable Elements

            It is very valuable to read books with objectionable elements. Reading about the nitty-gritty gray areas sparks thought and helps to strengthen my stances on tough issues. 

            When reading books with objectionable elements, everyone should be able to draw a line somewhere (the line might be different for each person). I try to draw my line where I think God wants it to be. While there aren't any explicit commandments to limit entertainment practices, I use general Biblical principles to guide me. For example, I like to refer to Philippians 4:8, which reminds me to avoid putting situations into my head that will cause me to constantly want to think wrong thoughts.
            A lot of the conflict comes down to how an individual responds to the objectionable elements. It's vital to be discerning--not readily accepting--when reading. Examining the purpose of an objectionable element is a good starting point. I try to avoid objectionable elements that are simply there to amuse, grab attention, or appeal to the desire for evil (e.g. lust). However, if the objectionable element is there to serve a helpful and positively meaningful purpose, I am generally OK with it. When I don't know the intent of the objectionable parts until after I've read them, I have to decide between continuing reading or stopping right there.
            Having a positive purpose isn't always enough to keep me reading. An objectionable element with a good purpose can still corrupt minds. Each person has a different threshold, so what made one person stronger could easily corrupt another person. One time, I stopped reading a book because the immorality and crassness was too much for me. It was really hard for me to get past the corruption to see the redeeming value in the book. In that situation, prayer really did make a difference. I kept telling myself that I could handle it, but later I felt God guiding me to stop reading it.
            If I'm ever required to read something that goes against my standards, the main problem would probably be my personal threshold because I don't think I would be forced to read a book that didn't have some type of redeeming value. I would pray about it and try to use my own discernment. If I do end up reading an objectionable book, I would make sure I keep the ethical perspective in mind so that I never justify evil.
            These principles about literature could definitely be applied to other forms of media. Books can be just as alive and powerful as music and videos. I can't unread books. I can't unhear music. I can't unsee videos. With every type of media, I really have to be careful to guard my heart.