Hi Jordan Hageman

Thank you for your comment at Provoketive Magazine (http://provoketive.com). We’re creating a space of rich conversation about life, faith, justice and culture without judgment. Our desire is to provoke the reader’s imagination through conversation and open up spaces of dialogue, learning, and hope.  We want to invite you to come back soon and continue to participate in the conversation. 

Thank you,
Jonathan Brink
Provoketive Magazine

You posted the following comment:
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More dialogue! Great! Although, Raelene, you've made a very generalized sweeping statement. What about if you ask your child not to touch a hot stove, or run out into the street. There are many times in parenting when it is appropriate to tell your child not to do something and explain why. I believe God operates the same way. The Bible clearly states many things that we should NOT do because it leads to death (as well as a lot of things we should). I don't think this gives power to the thing that can harm them, rather shows the child the rightness behind the request when they understand why. 

And Jamie, based on what you stated I could then assume that you would think it would be okay to look at something like child pornography (not that you would!) since you state you can expose yourself to <strong>anything</strong> and 'truth' will prevail. Again, it's a generalized sweeping statement that I will have to disagree with. 

I could also argue that by reading/viewing/writing 'anything' that's when those things have power. By reading erotica novels you showing publishers there is a demand which will then increase the amount of that type of content, same with viewing pornography (of any kind)—is that your intent? I think by choosing NOT to read/write/view certain things that's when you are taking the power away from that thing. I have had no issues engaging people in dialogue about something that they have read that I have not. I can ask them about the book, why they read it, what is it about, what I can see could be appealing and why I would choose not read it without having read it or making them feel judged that they have. 

There are some people that feel they can read "Fifty Shades of Grey" with a clear conscience before God. That is fine. I am not one of those people, and I know of many others. Some people aren't sure if they can or can't and I hope my article and these comments (thanks guys!) will help them make their decision with confidence whatever way they choose.

I do believe I hear both of your hearts. The Christian market does tend to censor things to the extreme where it ceases to feel "real". Showing real and raw situations and then showing how God can show up takes a lot of talent that few seem to have. One book that does this extremely well is "Redeeming Love" by Francine Rivers. The author manages to tell the story with scenes that have child molestation, rape and prostitution without giving you the nitty gritty but still letting you know it happened and hitting you in the gut with it.