Is it a sin to watch or read homosexual materials?

Is reading or watching homosexual (non-pornographic) books, TV shows, movies, etc. sinful?

Christians are accountable for what we watch or hear just as for what we do, so when we choose to read books or watch programming celebrating sinful practices, we may be committing sin ourselves.

We may be guilty of approving the content by our patronage. Our viewing or purchasing of the materials indirectly benefits the authors, actors and producers, giving them added incentive to produce more of the same.

Moreover, we are allowing the offensive materials to influence our thinking in ways contrary to scripture. As we become more comfortable with sinful behavior depicted in these materials, we may become sympathetic to such practices even though the word of God declares them to be offensive to God and an against His natural order. As Paul said:

Rom. 14:22 The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

Furthermore, we have allowed the enemy to gain a foothold in our hearts and our minds through the influence of these sinful materials. Whether the materials we consume promote homosexuality, adultery, fornication or some other form of sexual sin, we should steer clear of all of them and guard our hearts against their negative influence. As Paul says:

Phil. 4:8 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, dwell on these things.

So the problem isn’t what kind of sin we approve (i.e., homosexuality); the problem is that we approve any kind of sin at all. You may also find our related articles helpful.