Is it a sin for Christians to watch strippers or go to a strip club?

Quick answer

Yes, it is a sin for Christians to go to strip clubs or watch strippers, as these activities convey a false view of human worth and promote lust and sexual immorality. Viewing people as mere sex objects and intentionally looking at them with lust is contrary to God’s character and His ways; strip clubs encourage such thoughts and are thus incompatible with a Christ-centered life.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Yes, it is a sin for Christians to watch strippers or go to a strip club. Strip clubs exist to promote lust, sensuality, perversion, and sexual immorality. They promote a view of humans as sex objects for self-gratification and laud sexuality as a god. Humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Sex is intended as a beautiful act between a husband and wife in the one-flesh covenant bond of marriage (Genesis 2:24–25; Hebrews 13:4). Marriage depicts God’s relationship with His people (Ezekiel 16; Ephesians 5:25–32; Revelation 19:6–10; 21:2). To use sexuality for one’s own pleasure—particularly at the expense of others—is to completely miss the point, pervert God’s good gift, sully the image, harm others, and harm oneself (1 Corinthians 6:18). God calls Christians to live in holiness (Leviticus 19:2; Hebrews 13:4). He also calls them to love others with His love (John 13:34–35). The Bible calls believers to avoid lustful actions and to guard their hearts (Psalm 101:3, Proverbs 4:23). Jesus teaches that even looking at someone with lust is equivalent to adultery in the heart (Matthew 5:28). Strip clubs, which reduce people to sexuality and encourage lust (and often other sexual immorality), are incompatible with a Christ-centered life. God calls Christians to live in holiness (Leviticus 19:2; Hebrews 13:4). Rather than seeking what we can "get away with," Christians are encouraged to focus on what is pure, noble, and good (Philippians 4:8).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

The Bible tells us that each person has missed the intention God has for us by sinning (Genesis 3:11; Romans 3:23; 5:12) and the punishment for sin is death (Romans 6:23). When questions arise about whether a particular activity is sin, we are often looking for a set of rules. Sometimes we think that if we can keep the rules well enough we'll earn God's favor. And, though God establishes His expectations about our behavior, our relationship with Him does not depend upon our adherence to rules.

Our relationship with God rests on our trust in what Jesus did on the cross—died for our sins to make us right with God (1 John 1:7; Titus 3:5). It is by God's grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:8–10). We are also made new (2 Corinthians 5:17, 21; Colossians 1:10) and our desires begin to bend toward wanting to please God. Our aim shifts from wondering about offending God or trying to earn His favor by avoiding certain sins, to wanting to live a life that pleases Him. We come to desire to live a pure, righteous, even holy life (Matthew 5:8; 1 Peter 1:15–16). Rather than simply avoid that which is bad, we seek after that which is good. As Christians, we are accepted by God and that acceptance births in us a desire to honor Him (1 John 3:1, 9–10; Philippians 2:15).

So, when we ask if it is a sin to go to a strip club or watch strippers, the answer is yes. But instead of looking for a list of sins, as Christians, our primary focus should begin to shift to activities that please God (Philippians 4:8).

UNDERSTAND

REFLECT

ENGAGE