Would kissing in a play be considered fornication?
Question:
You guys do a great job with your answers to some very open, graphic, and very personal questions. Keep up the great job!
I've been a Christian for almost 40 years and I have never heard this question before, but a couple of weeks ago someone asked this in Bible study: if a married actor and actress kissed on a show or movie would it be fornication? Obviously, some kissing is more "passionate" than others, but is the principle the same?
One answer that I got from another Christian is he doesn't think it's fornication, but it is sin.
Thank you so much.
Answer:
Fornication is sexual acts between two unmarried people. Those sexual acts involve the genitals. See Notes on Sex.
Kissing may be inappropriate or it may be fine. You might kiss your aunt and no one would think twice about it even though you are not married. In some cultures, a kiss is a greeting. That is why Paul spoke of greeting people with a holy kiss (Romans 16:16; I Corinthians 16:20; II Corinthians 13:12; I Thessalonians 5:26). However, some kisses express sexual interest or are meant to incite sexual passion. Such would be inappropriate between unmarried couples. Actions during such kisses could be labeled as lewdness (acting like animals without limits on behavior).
Acting sinful behavior is still sinful, especially if the message is that what is being done is not wrong. See What Is Tolerated Today Becomes Accepted Tomorrow for a discussion of how movies, plays, etc. have badly influenced society.
